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 he Guardian Poker Column |
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| Victoria
Coren |
| Wed 24 November 2010
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The misdeal that proved a
winner
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You might
think you've seen everything on the poker table, but you haven't
After a few years
playing poker, you can start thinking that you have seen every possible
situation. You haven't.
At the casino the other night, after some
betting, it was discovered that the big blind had only been dealt one card. His
hand was declared dead and he grumbled.
"I like your ambition, wanting
to play anyway," I said. "What the hell – I'll try it." |
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On the next deal, I only looked at one of
my cards (10?) and raised to £15. I got five callers. No re-raise, when
they knew I was playing half a hand! This was a good game.
The flop
came 8? 10? J?. Two players checked. Having at least a pair, I bet £50.
RC, on my left, raised to £165. Another player called. JB, who had
originally checked, moved all in for £1,200.
Of course, I now had
to look at my other card. 10?! I had flopped a set!
Under normal
circumstances, I would probably pass. This was a cash game, not a tournament.
Facing a raise, a call and an all-in checkraise, I should be in third place
– second at best. Why risk £1,200 when I could fold for £65?
But these weren't normal circumstances. They all knew I had bet on a
one-card hand. So RC could raise with nothing. JB knew this, so the big shove
could be a good play with almost any hand. So I had to call. RC called too, and
the fourth player passed. Turn: 9?. River: 10?!
RC had missed a flush
draw. JB never showed his hand, so he couldn't have had much. I didn't need
quads; the set was good anyway. I won £2,600, just because I was messing
around for £15 after a misdeal!
Practice and experience are the
best ways to improve at poker. But never think you have seen everything.
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