Good Play....Bad Timing!

Our Poker Club hosted a High Stakes game with a $250 buyin last week. We only had 13 players, so I felt that if I could get past the first hour I was in pretty good shape to get into the money.

This would not be the case.

First player out was Nick (a fairly good player) who raised pre-flop with pocket Kings. He was re-raised by the Big Blind who had AJ suited in clubs. The player with Kings raised All-In, and was called by the Big Blind. The turn card was an Ace and that was all she wrote for Nick.

So I was reading in the book a few weeks ago that one of the best ways to bluff at a TIGHT table is to make a big bet (min 2x Big Blind) from middle position. This makes players think that you have at least AK and may have KK or even AA. Typically the blinds will fold unless they have A with a big kicker and you will only get action from pocket pairs or really good hands. I have found that this strategy can save me an information bet after the flop if I even get that far.

Back to the tourney...

About 2o minutes after Nick was knocked out, I am in middle position with 10-7 offsuit. I raise 3xBB and there are two callers. Flop comes 10-6-9. BB checks, and since I have top pair, the bet is 50 (BB), and the two other players call. Turn card is a 7. BB bets 600. I have two pair with the top pair on the board, but there is a nasty straight draw out there. I have to worry about an 8 out there, probably with an A or K as the high card. BB has been playing crap hands all day with some bluffing so he probably has the 8, but I think about it and figure that a big bet takes the pot. I push all in with my remaining 3800 chips.

Button (still in the hand) immediately calls. Uh-Oh! BB calls. Button flips over K-8 suited, and BB shows 8-7 offsuit! I flip my 10-7 over knowing that I am toast.

With only 4 outs, and hoping for a 10 or a 7 to complete my boat I run through the hand again through my mind. 8 times out of 10 a good player will fold hands like that preflop. And I know that I should have bet heavy at the flop as well to scare off at least one of the two players still in the hand. Flop comes another 6 and I am the second one out.

Would'a, Should'a, Could'a...

It was only one of two hands that I played poorly all day. Too bad it cost my $250!

-see you at the tables!