More Poker
Poker? I Don't Even Know Her!I've abandoned my attempt to get into Full Tilt Poker's WSOP Freeroll. I need to rack up 10,000 points by Saturday, and I have just over 600. Don't think I'm going to make that one.
So I'm focused on winning their satellite tournaments, and since I'm obsessed with doing things on the cheap, I've discovered that the satellites actually have minisatellites, which in turn have miniminisatellites. Conceivably, I could get into the Series for as little as $4.40. There's a big satellite that runs every week with a $216 buy-in, and a super-big one on June 19 that will send at least 30 people to Vegas for a $535 buy-in.
I made it a step and a half last night, winning the minimini (despite intermittent server issues in a raging thunderstorm that caused me to miss several hands at a time) and getting oh-so-close to qualifying in the mini before being dealt a crippling blow when my A/10 lost to a suited A/8 because he made his flush.
After that, I settled at the 25¢/50¢ ring tables. I got humiliated at the $1/$2 level and figured pounding on some really terrible players at the quarter-half level would be just what the doctor ordered. I sat down with $10 and logged off two hours later with almost $25. Six of those dollars came from this hand:
I was in middle position with 9¨/8¨ and limped in to see the flop with three other players.
I don't trust suited connectors; all things being equal I'd rather play big cards. But when the flop came 10¨/7©/Q©, I had an open-ended straight draw. I bet with it and got two callers, one player immediately on my left and the player in the small blind.
The turn was 7¨. This paired the board but gave me an open-ended straight-flush draw. I've never had a straight flush. The thought gave me chills. I bet, the player on my right called, and the small blind raised. I immediately figured him for a 7, and, giddy over the prospect of a straight flush, reraised.
This was profoundly stupid. If I was right and he did have a 7, I'd need to hit the straight or the flush to win. If I still underestimated him and he already had a full house, I'd need the straight flush. All things considered, my odds were less than 30% to win, and there I went idiotically dumping more money on this hand — a good draw, yes, but as of that moment it was only nine high.
The poker gods, however, often reward the moronic, and after the player on my right folded and the small blind called, the river was 6¨. The heavenly chorus rumbled up, lions laid down with lambs, and unicorns and fairies reigned over all the universe, for I had a straight flush. He checked. I bet. He called.
He had 3©/7ª.
I told you they were really terrible.
posted by Marsh @ 5:54 PM
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