Cash Game: 25/50 blinds

Minimum buy-in: 2K 

Got my stack to 3,300 after not getting a bad beat with my rockets during a heads up game.  It’s not hard to win with a pocket of aces pre-flop but it does not mean it’s unbeatable –depending on how you play it, it’s easy to get your aces beat too.  So make sure that the bullets hit their target.

I was sitting on the big blind position when 6 players call the 50 blind.  In my hands are 8 and 10 suited diamonds.  I was tempted to raise the bet because I love an 8 and 10 on my hand but I decided to play conservatively and just checked.

Flop: 8s 9d Qd

I hit a favorite number of mine and gave me bottom pair. 

First to act, I bet 100 to test the mettle of the table and have a feel of what the other players have.  The one under the gun folded.  Gary re-raises to 400.  Joy in middle position calls.  Right beside Joy, Gervais unfalteringly pushes two stacks of 100 on the betting arena and raises to 2K. 

My move. 

2K, that’s committing more than half of my stack and his hand might already be made.  I requested for time and calculated the situation.  I was also flush draw and gut shot straight draw –which means 13 outs, plus I might hit my trips with my bottom pair.  Looking at Gervais and that betting move –it was either he was 2 pairs (Q 9 or Q 8 or 8 9 or more dangerously, he might be straight, meaning he must have J 10.  If he had 2 pairs, I can kill that with trips if an 8 lands on the board.  However, if his 2 pair included a number that gives me trips then that makes him full house.  Abandon ship on the trips.  I have to have a winnable 5-card hand.  I’m more inclined to believe he has a straight.

That move showed he was scared of the flush draw.  He couldn’t have flush draw with his hand because I had the 10d.  He feels his hand was strong enough to duel with at least one other player.

Now, what about Gary –he was the initial re-raiser, it means he’s also confident with his hand.  I look at Gary.  I put him on Ace high flush draw.  If he’s flush draw then we both have lesser outs –plus I was only 10 high flush draw.  Any Jd, Kd, and Ad mixed with any #d can flush me out.  Another diamond might prove to be more damaging.

But Gary was playing tight earlier.  He couldn’t be re-raising my bet to triple with just a flush draw.  He could be top pair or also two pair.  More than anything else, I was straight flush draw –second in line next to the unbeatable royal flush.  But that gives me only ONE out.  One card that can spark this coal mine.

I’ve only invested 150 in the pot to risk 2K of my stack, while I’m bottom pair with 13 outs that may never come or with 6 outs that can give my opponent a higher flush.  There’s only one card that can buy me out of this jam.  JACK diamonds.  Betting 2K means I’m only risking 700 of my money because 1,300 were won anyway.  It is after all for a huge sizable pot. 

Gervais called time.  I had to clear with the dealer if that means 1-minute.  It does.  30 seconds into my time, I pushed the 2K inside.

Certain: 13 Outs

Uncertain: What they have on their hand.

I like the fact of 13 outs better than my assessment of their hands.

Gary calls also.  I don’t remember if Joy called or folded, I was eager to see the turn.

Turn: Jd

I pushed all in quickly with my 1.3K.  It’s now up to them to decide whether or not I’m only “representing” the flush without the hand or I really hit it.

I have the nuts but I shouldn’t slow play it and give them a free river card if they don’t bet. 

Gary thinks about it considerably.  Gervais called time again.  Finally, Gary calls reluctantly.  Gervais went all in, which means Gary has to add some 1K more.

Flop 4s

Show time for side pot:

Gary’s Hand: 10s Jc

Gervais’ Hand: Qs 8c

Gary wins their side pot.

Show time for main pot:

I show two sterling diamonds of 8 and 10.  Straight flush.

It was my best cash game to date.

Diamonds are truly a girl’s best friend.  🙂

“Diamond is a chunk of coal that is made good under pressure.” ~Henry Kissinger

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