I tried a temporary return to drinking while playing poker on Saturday night. The game came at me unawares, and I’d already decided it was a great night for tying one on, as I’d had a miserable day. The only poker that had been mentioned were a few mini-tournaments that the wives and girlfriends were welcome in, so being drunk shouldn’t have been too big a deal. As a surprise to me, all the women folks left to go watch a wedding video and grab more supplies, so I was left in a three-handed game with Aaron and Anthony until they returned, and my buzz was coming on fast. It worked out okay though as I took a quick lead and built on it, only starting to fizzle a little right before the game turned coed.
A couple hands stood out, one during the cash game and one later in the tournaments. Actually in the tournaments it was a two-hand combo.
In the cash game, we were playing a bit of five-card stud low. As always we play every game except 7-27 for table stakes, and I had about a one-ten, Anthony about seventy-five, and Aaron around fifty-five. I drew a 5 down and an 8 up. Anthony was showing a Ten, and Aaron had a 9. I bet six, Anthony called, and then Aaron raised ten dollars. I was a little drunk by this point in the game, but it suddenly occurred to me that I was a favorite to win and should bet all-in, especially since it would likely push Anthony out, and might just win right there. Anthony thought about it for longer than I was comfortable with, but then decided to fold. Aaron thought about it for a long while, and even though I was drunk I knew that I wanted him to fold. I also realized that with a pot effectively containing the amount of his call, around 40 to 45, plus an extra 41, he was getting about two to one on his money. He also had to consider the possibility that I might just be bluffing, and have a face card in the hole. He would be a fool to fold! I debated the wisdom of placing fifty dollars at stake on what would almost certainly be a near coin-flip, and realized that five card stud low for no limit is a tough game. I think I ade the right decision in doing so, since I was calling and raising a total of 51 with the potential to win 72, only 7 of which started out as mine. The effective money odds for the whole hand were 65 to 58, and the playing odds had to be in my favor, since no hand he held was better than mine when the bets were made. Finally he did call, making the right decision, but, fortunately for me, paired on fourth-street, granting me a commanding chip lead.
The other interesting little scenario played out during the tournament, after I’d been drinking a bit more. The game was No-Limit Holdem and I drew an AQ. I made the announcement, being drunk and knowing my near-lie might pass for truth, that I held the “Doyle Brunson,” and called a bet larger than anyone should with a Ten-2. The AQ off-suit is supposedly referred to among Doyle’s friends as the Doyle Brunson because he refuses to play it. This predates the Ten-2 having that nickname, which became the Doyle Brunson in the late 70’s when he won back to back main events holding that hand. The flop contained an ace, and I took down fair change after forcing a fold from Mona after the turn. The very next hand I got a Ten-2. I was privately amused, and called the flop for the hell of it, since winning with both in back to back hands might make an interesting story. Sure enough, the flop came T-2-9. When I saw the flop I snickered, and Anthony picked up on it. He asked if I was laughing at him, since he bumbled some chips or something. The drunk me stated, “Ah, no, it was something else. I’ll tell you after the hand.” The turn contained trash and was met with more betting and calling. I was puzzled by what Anthony might have, but I was keeping it light, sine there were no flush possibilities. I put him on AT, or maybe an AK bluff. I should have assumed a medium pair, but the possibility was concealed by the alcohol, I guess. The river was a two and I doubled my bet in the previous round now holding the full house and expecting to complete my little yarn about the back-to-back Doyles. Anthony pushed. I had a full house. This was great. Except after I called, he showed me the two nines he’d been holding, being ahead of me all the way. He said after my little snicker he was 99% sure I was holding the Ten-2 and was just waiting for the right time to strike. That second 2, giving him the bigger boat, sure worked out well for him.
A couple hands stood out, one during the cash game and one later in the tournaments. Actually in the tournaments it was a two-hand combo.
In the cash game, we were playing a bit of five-card stud low. As always we play every game except 7-27 for table stakes, and I had about a one-ten, Anthony about seventy-five, and Aaron around fifty-five. I drew a 5 down and an 8 up. Anthony was showing a Ten, and Aaron had a 9. I bet six, Anthony called, and then Aaron raised ten dollars. I was a little drunk by this point in the game, but it suddenly occurred to me that I was a favorite to win and should bet all-in, especially since it would likely push Anthony out, and might just win right there. Anthony thought about it for longer than I was comfortable with, but then decided to fold. Aaron thought about it for a long while, and even though I was drunk I knew that I wanted him to fold. I also realized that with a pot effectively containing the amount of his call, around 40 to 45, plus an extra 41, he was getting about two to one on his money. He also had to consider the possibility that I might just be bluffing, and have a face card in the hole. He would be a fool to fold! I debated the wisdom of placing fifty dollars at stake on what would almost certainly be a near coin-flip, and realized that five card stud low for no limit is a tough game. I think I ade the right decision in doing so, since I was calling and raising a total of 51 with the potential to win 72, only 7 of which started out as mine. The effective money odds for the whole hand were 65 to 58, and the playing odds had to be in my favor, since no hand he held was better than mine when the bets were made. Finally he did call, making the right decision, but, fortunately for me, paired on fourth-street, granting me a commanding chip lead.
The other interesting little scenario played out during the tournament, after I’d been drinking a bit more. The game was No-Limit Holdem and I drew an AQ. I made the announcement, being drunk and knowing my near-lie might pass for truth, that I held the “Doyle Brunson,” and called a bet larger than anyone should with a Ten-2. The AQ off-suit is supposedly referred to among Doyle’s friends as the Doyle Brunson because he refuses to play it. This predates the Ten-2 having that nickname, which became the Doyle Brunson in the late 70’s when he won back to back main events holding that hand. The flop contained an ace, and I took down fair change after forcing a fold from Mona after the turn. The very next hand I got a Ten-2. I was privately amused, and called the flop for the hell of it, since winning with both in back to back hands might make an interesting story. Sure enough, the flop came T-2-9. When I saw the flop I snickered, and Anthony picked up on it. He asked if I was laughing at him, since he bumbled some chips or something. The drunk me stated, “Ah, no, it was something else. I’ll tell you after the hand.” The turn contained trash and was met with more betting and calling. I was puzzled by what Anthony might have, but I was keeping it light, sine there were no flush possibilities. I put him on AT, or maybe an AK bluff. I should have assumed a medium pair, but the possibility was concealed by the alcohol, I guess. The river was a two and I doubled my bet in the previous round now holding the full house and expecting to complete my little yarn about the back-to-back Doyles. Anthony pushed. I had a full house. This was great. Except after I called, he showed me the two nines he’d been holding, being ahead of me all the way. He said after my little snicker he was 99% sure I was holding the Ten-2 and was just waiting for the right time to strike. That second 2, giving him the bigger boat, sure worked out well for him.
posted by Brinton at 1:33 PM
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