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Hand of the Week

I was in the small blind holding the Ks-10s, by no means a great hand, especially out of position but a hand that could be played at the right price. The under the gun player made a small raise for this game, $12 and 3 players called before me. I decided I had good odds to call so I did as did the big blind and we saw the flop 5-handed and there was $60 in the pot.

The pot was music to my ears, As-7s-2s. Yes, I had flopped the nuts. I was faced with a decision, do I lead out into 4 other players and chase away everyone fearing a flush? But what happens if I lead out small. Perhaps they will see it as a weak steal and play back at me. Then the trap will have worked. I just didn’t like a check-raise here because if I end up giving a free card, only someone holding the Qs will stick around.

So I bet $15. The big blind folded and the under the gun player thought for a while and raised to $60. Everyone else folded back to me. Holding the nuts, I wasn’t afraid of anything. I did however realize that he just might have a set of Aces in which case he won’t fold no matter what I do, hoping to fill up. So I min raised to $120. He came over the top for $200 and I pushed all in for $500. I had his $450 covered. There was close to $1000 in the pot and it was now out of my control. He didn’t have a set of aces. He had a set of 7’s.

The turn was a nice brick, the 10h. But the river sunk me. Another ace paired the board and I lost a pretty big pot. That really stunk.

Could I have played the hand any differently? I don’t think so. I played it strong, didn’t slowplay and got my chips in with the best hand. Sometimes you get drawn out on. It’s never fun, but part of the game.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.



by Johnson