Even though there are various odds and possibilities for certain situations, the reality is anything can happen at any given time.
Every action has a reaction; there are so many variables in each hand that interpretation and discussion of a way it was, and could have been played is endless.
I was involved in a hand the other night which not only illustrates this point, but shows how lucky and blessed I am.
I was sat in a £1-£2 game with a dream line up.
There was Victoria and Valentine in the game for starters.
Let me take a minute to profile these two.
Valentine is as far as I can make out a Prince (or some sort of Royalty) from Monaco, over here in London studying. He has a basic understanding of the game, meaning that he knows that he will get two cards, and there will be a flop, a turn, and a river.
Not a “hope-a-tron” simply a “noob” who wants to have fun.
He is a lovely guy, and is rich (not being gay but I would also have to describe him as good looking…).
Victoria is his girlfriend. Simply put she is gorgeous (although I know you are reading this babe, not as gorgeous as you!). But again we have to accept and recognise facts she is very good looking. I must admit though I think she has a crush on me. I must have impressed her with my poker skills and my general poker table charm! I have told her on several occasions that I have a girlfriend, and that Valentine is a nice guy...but well what can I say…
Anyway Victoria is no push over at the poker table. Don’t get me wrong she is a complete fish, but she is very aggressive and simply can’t be bluffed off pots.
These two play every single hand. Victoria will raise most hands, and for some reason Valentine has a game theory of raising up all hands that add up to less than 11.
If they get stacked they re load.
So we are a couple of hours into the session, with the table chipped up. I am winning about £300-£400, and content to simply pick off a pot here and there.
It is also worth mentioning Samir the Egyptian from Luton is in the game, I will have to dedicate a complete post to this lunatic but lets just say he is also a catalyst for some pretty good action.
So onto the action; I look down to pocket Kings under the gun, and decide to limp raise. Pretty much every single pot to this point has been raised and I have no reason to believe this hand would be an exception.
To my horror its a family pot and Victoria in the big blind checks.
I only have £2 invested in the pot, so trust me when I say I am not going broke in this hand.
Flop is 5 5 8 (two spades). The action checks around to Valentine in middle position (I check too), who bets £5. There are several callers before the action gets to me.
Here is the sickness of the game, my action at this juncture of the hand will effect which way the hand ends up getting played. There no standard line here, the outcome is not decided, it’s not a case of whatever is going to happen is going to happen. It’s just sick.
Valentine has about £100 behind, and I not quite ready to fold my Kings to a £5 bet, but I don’t want to give cheap cards for gut shots and flushes. Also as I have mentioned in previous posts I want to avoid playing my hand deceptively as the other stacks are deep, I want to make it known I have a big hand, so I decide to raise it up.
But here is another variable which comes into play; as I reach for my chips to make it £25, one red £5 chip falls across the betting line. Although it is obvious to see my intentions were to make it £25, the rules are pretty clear and I should be more careful. The £5 call should stand.
However in this instance Emily was dealing and she ruled (sensibly) that the £5 chip falling from my stack was an accident, and allowed me to raise. Obviously she has a crush on me too, hence the favourable ruling...what can I say...
At this crucial point in the hand this decision could of gone either way, and as a result could of had massive implications on the hand (and my stack!), as you will see.
To my immediate left is Mus. He is a very competent and successful tournament player, however he has shown nothing tonight to impress me. I have seen him call flop bets with bottom pair, and limp call raises with ace rag hands pre flop. So although I respect his tournament success I wouldn't say he is a solid cash game player (although he may be a winning cash game player, he plays "funky".
He pretty much instant cold calls my check raise. This is obviously very alarming, and indeed there is a huge possibility he has a 5. However equally so he could have a flush draw, or even the gut shot straight draw (or both), or a pair (under or over). His range his huge in this spot. But I am pretty much convinced he would raise with a 5 now it has been check raised.
Anyway, the action comes back around to Valentine. He now min. raises to £50 (leaving about £50 behind). Everyone folds around to me.
After dwelling up for a while, I am pretty sure that he has a 5. Its a pretty marginal spot, and I really didn't know what to do. If Mus wasn't behind me, I probably would flat call (I am not folding no matter what comes on the turn, but just in case he is bluffing, I don't want to push him out -this guy does not have any comprehension of "pot commitment" he will bluff and leave £10 behind).
But in this spot I decide to fold.
Mus now tanks, and I am sick in my mouth because I know he doesn't have a 5, and I beginning to second think my decision.
Reluctantly Mus puts Valentine all in. Valentine snaps, and shows 5 9 off suit.
Turn is a king, and I vomit. At least I was right I suppose.
The river is an ace. Mus tables pocket aces!
There is so many variables in this hand that went my way in order for me not to lose my whole stack.
Pre flop Mus, is thinking along the same line as me, limp raising. The one pot that is not raised, we manage to see a flop for £2. I would easily get the kings in pre flop versus Mus for a £800 pot.
On the flop, if my accidental call stood, and I turned the nuts. I would no doubt slow play (I would bet but not enough to chase Mus out), and Mus would probably see the river -obviously I cant put him on aces and we would get it in.
Truly sick.
Anything can happen in this game. I accept this reality, and am prepared to lose (as equally I am expectant to win in the long run).
Has anyone seen the following poker player around:
Name: Pratik "Hope-a-Tron" Ghatge
Missing since: April
Please bring him back.
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