Some times you can analyze the hand closely but still come away with a poor result.
Getting a game started short-handed is sometimes profitable and sometimes not.
Early and five-handed at Bellagio in a limit game, peek down and see J-10s under the gun (UTG).
Seems like an opportune time for a raise so we pop it and make it two bets to go.
Very pleased with a J-10-3 rainbow flop and proceed to bet out.
We get one call, from a crusty and talkative older person who is yammering about the action at The Venetian the night before.
Now we have to think: What does he have? Let’s give him credit for a jack, likely with a big kicker and possibly a draw.
The turn is a harmless 8. And the Crusty One, who is in the big blind, proceeds to bet out.(!)
Information confirmed: He has a jack.
Proud of our flopped two pair, we pop it again and make it two bets to go.
The dealer burns and turns the river … And it’s a nine.
Uh-oh. If he’s holding something like queen-jack, he just rivered a straight.
He cautiously — or cleverly — checks and of course, we check behind.
He turns up … queen-jack for a rivered gunshot.
And we calmly toss our two pair in the muck.
We think we played our hand in an optimal way.
But it is an early game, and there’s another option: We could have slept late.
