Doing battle at wsop.com, we elect to call a min-raise from late position with Ah-6h.
Not a bad decision and the the flop comes down 6-7-8 with one lonely heart.
The villain leads out for a small bet, roughly half the size of the pot. So he has A-K or an overpair? Hmmm.
We decide to call, a decision that might charitably be called debatable. After all we have bottom pair with a back door flush draw.
The turn comes an offsuit five and the villain leads out for a larger bet, this time perhaps three-fourths of the pot. We have to figure he’s not got much. He almost certainly didn’t raise with 10-9. Middle pairs such as eights or sevens are possible but pocket jacks or perhaps 10s are more likely.
But do we have enough chips to drive him off the pot? An all-in raise would certainly make him think but if he does call, we don’t have much of a draw other than another six or an ace.
We again elect to call and in retrospect, it’s a questionable call. In fact, “questionable” is being generous.
A 10 falls on the river.
The villain again leads out for about half the pot, likely wary of what is now a very coordinated board. But it would take an all-in bet to force a possible retreat and our chip position is tenuous, and there’s really not enough fold equity.
So we have to retreat and concede the pot.
Not well-played.
Calling is often weak. Betting and raising are strong.
We sulk a bit, fold through a few rounds, then limp with 8d-7d from late position — only to be greeted by a raise from the big blind.
Damn.
We decide to call and proceed cautiously.
The flop comes down 8-5-5 — not too bad for our hand.
And when the raiser leads out, we tack on a raise. He thinks for a second and calls.
Then lightning strikes — another 8 falls on the turn. The raiser checks and it’s tempting to bet the nut full house. But let’s figure him for a big overpair or A-K. Is he likely to call? Perhaps not.
Surreptitiously, we check behind.
A nasty-looking queen falls on the river, and the villain leads out for a pot-sized bet. Well, his range certainly included pockets queens but also aces, kings, jacks, 10s and a few other hands.
Without hesitation, our hero moves in for his last remaining chips. And the villain just as quickly calls. He shows … pocket kings, and our eights full of fives takes it down.
Not a bad hand.
Ah, but what would we have done had a blank fallen on the turn?
So many questions.
So few answers.
Ain’t poker great.
