I played this guy bawaa heads up on a couple of tables the other day. He played well and it was a wild match, with me taking an early lead, then getting stuck 6-7 buy-ins, then clawing my way back to even. After more than 1000 hands, I was up just $350 even though I ran several thousands dollars above EV. Remember though that that only counts all-in EV, and as you’ll see here, he had a couple of lucky catches himself.
When we were done playing we talked for a minute or two and he was really gracious. Even when his luck turned and he lost back all his winnings to, among other things, a few bad beats, he never complained or said anything but “nh”, and he was perfectly friendly when all was said and done. I invited him to come check out the blog, so bawaa, if you see this, leave me a comment!
Strangely Played Aces
Notice we’re 400 BB’s deep. I don’t want to play for stacks post-flop, so I convince him to value town himself instead:
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Hero (BB) ($4304)
SB ($4484.25)
Preflop: Hero is BB with A
, A
SB bets $30, Hero raises to $111, SB calls $81
Flop: ($222) 4
, 3, 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $145, Hero calls $145
Turn: ($512) 10 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $333, Hero calls $333
River: ($1178) 4
(2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $888, Hero calls $888
Total pot: $2954 | Rake: $0.50
Results:
SB had J, J (two pair, Jacks and fours).
Hero had A, A (two pair, Aces and fours).
Outcome: Hero won $2953.50
This One Will Make You Throw Up in Your Mouth
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
BB ($2000)
Hero (SB) ($5659.50)
Preflop: Hero is SB with 3, 5
Hero bets $30, BB calls $20
Flop: ($60) 3, 5, 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $44, BB calls $44
Turn: ($148) 5 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $111, BB raises to $330, Hero calls $219
River: ($808) 8 (2 players)
BB bets $670, Hero raises to $5255.50 (All-In), BB calls $926 (All-In)
Total pot: $4000 | Rake: $0.50
Results:
Hero had 3, 5 (full house, fives over threes).
BB had 8, 8 (full house, eights over fives).
Outcome: BB won $3999.50
Another Nice River
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Hero (BB) ($4814.25)
SB ($2005)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, Q
SB bets $30, Hero raises to $111, SB raises to $250, Hero calls $139
Flop: ($500) 10, 7, 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB checks
Turn: ($500) J (2 players)
Hero bets $345, SB calls $345
River: ($1190) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $4219.25 (All-In), SB calls $1410 (All-In)
Total pot: $4010 | Rake: $0.50
Results:
SB had 3, 7 (three of a kind, sevens).
Hero had Q, Q (two pair, Queens and sevens).
Outcome: SB won $4009.50
A Nice River For Me
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Hero (SB) ($3272)
BB ($5523.75)
Preflop: Hero is SB with J, J
Hero bets $30, BB calls $20
Flop: ($60) 3, 7, J (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $44, BB calls $44
Turn: ($148) 5 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $111, BB raises to $256, Hero calls $145
River: ($660) 3 (2 players)
BB bets $400, Hero raises to $1999, BB calls $1599
Total pot: $4658 | Rake: $0.50
Results:
Hero had J, J (full house, Jacks over threes).
BB had A, 6 (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $4657.50
Straight-Up Outplayed
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (2 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
Hero (BB) ($3075.75)
SB ($3739.50)
Preflop: Hero is BB with K, J
SB bets $30, Hero calls $20
Flop: ($60) 4, 8, 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets $40, Hero raises to $99, SB raises to $240, Hero raises to $666, SB calls $426
Turn: ($1392) 10 (2 players)
Hero bets $777, SB calls $777
River: ($2946) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $1602.75 (All-In), SB calls $1602.75
Total pot: $6151.50 | Rake: $0.50
Results:
SB had J, Q (straight, Queen high).
Hero had K, J (one pair, fours).
Outcome: SB won $6151
Even though I’ve got him dominated on the flop, I think he very much has the upper hand in this spot. I’m giving up most turns, and the one I do choose to bluff is the one that gives him the nuts. Then, I convince myself that he wouldn’t have slowplayed any monster except a straight on the turn, and for that he would have had to have called me with a gut shot….