Out of My League

I've seen lots of hands, and I've been at lots of tables with players far better than myself. Nevertheless, this one hand in particular smacked me in the face; it showed me just how far out of my league I was at this particular table.

And that was one of the best things to ever happen to me - my play has improved tremendously since then. I guess I needed something to take me down a notch; to show me I'm not all that I think I am.

Anyway ...

Let me set it up for you first. I was at the WSOP this summer past - first time - playing in some of the side, non-bracelet tournaments and cash games. My friend was flying out a little later in the week, and we were going to play in some of the bracelet tourneys, including the main event lottery if we hit the money big in one of the other events.

Apologies too (to all of my 3 followers) ... I need to really keep up with my posting. I have quite a few stories from that trip, and at least a few are interesting.

Getting back ... I decided to play a 1k single table sit-and-go for 10k in Tournament Chips. These are chips that can be used to buy-in to any tournament, but not redeemed for cash. Because of this, the rake was significantly less than a regular tournament played for cash. I entered because wanted the short game experience, and I wanted to get me and my friend into our tournaments as cheaply as possible. Besides, the non-redeemable nature of the chips didn't really matter; there was always a ready supply of buyers for those chips. They really were just as good as cash.

So ... I'm sitting at this table, folding and watching, when I see this one hand in particular go down. I had already decided everyone at this table was pretty good - that was my default view while in Vegas; the WSOP was quite intimidating - but I had no idea just how good until this hand.

The hand was pocket Jacks vs A-Q off-suit, with the Jacks outta position. Jacks raised pre-flop, got two callers (including A-Q), and the flop: Q-J-4 rainbow.

Jacks check, A-Q bets, third dude folds, Jacks call.

Turn's a queen. Jacks check, A-Q bets, Jacks call.

Now right here, that sounds like a mistake. In a cash game - where my main experience is - you punish the hell outta the trip Queens on that turn. That turn is your money card - take advantage of it! But this wasn't a cash game; this was a tournament. And it was early in the tournament too; there was a lot of poker left to be played. Reserving your move until the river makes sense.

So, the river came. Ace. Ouch.

The Jacks - absolutely cool - check. A-Q obviously bet out. Jacks look at him - not a staredown, just a look - and then say, "that's the one card I didn't want to see." He tables his hand and folds.

A-Q is shocked. He tables his hand too - not sure why - and his jaw hits the floor. In that instant, A-Q realized to things: First, he realized just how lucky he got. Second, and much to his dismay, he realized just how little money was in that pot.

And that's what shocked me. I knew A-Q had a Queen, and probably had an Ace, too. And I knew Jacks was strong (I thought perhaps Q-J, although that didn't make perfect sense given the preflop action). But Jacks had a clearer view than me, by far. He knew *exactly* what A-Q had; he was dead certain. What's more, he *knew* exactly how his opponent would act; he *knew* he could wait until the river to make his move, thereby protecting his chips against the yahtzee wonder card without sacrificing any upside on the action (his opponent would have called virtually anything on virtually any river). But, more than that, he had the *discipline* to act on his read. There wasn't any real hesitation to him either; he only briefly looked at his opponent on the river before folding. I was ... impressed.

Everyone gave Jacks huge credit in future hands (perhaps that's why he tabled his hand - me, I'd be afraid people would then try and steamroll me). He ended up in a two way chop, a well-deserved 5k win.

Oh .. that chop was offered to him after a maniac busted me out in third. And that pissed me off to no end! You see, as I was leaving, the maniac - in full earshot having just busted me out - turned to the Jacks and asked, "Chop?" I was pissed. But ... that's another story ...