Sports Articles Johnson

Hand of the Week

Sometimes, you really need to trust your reads and instinct at the poker table. You really need to learn about and understand your opponents if you have any chance of being a winning player. Otherwise, you will only win when the cards dictate that you will. It is with this in mind that I tell you about this week’s hand of the week which occurred in a $2-$5 no limit game at my local card room.

I was in late position with KQ of hearts. I had been playing very tightly up until this point and the only times I went to a showdown, I had Aces in one hand and Kings in the other. So I decided to make a smallish raise for this game, only to $20. I wasn’t really looking to steal, I was inviting callers with a drawing hand hoping to build a nice pot in the event I won the hand. An aggressive player was about to call when he saw that I was the one that raised and he said “oh nevermind”, before folding. That was a great thing he inadvertently did for me. The small blind and an early limper both called. Neither was a strong player and I was confident I could outplay them in the hand.

The flop was 10h-8c-7c. Both players quickly checked to me and I noticed they both were intently staring at me. I figured they might have draws so I bet $50. They both took they’re time before calling. There was now $210 in the pot.

The turn was the 4 of hearts which gave me a flush draw. Both players clearly looked disappointed. I deduced that one was on a club draw while the other was on some kind of straight draw. I had $275 left, but I did not want to go all-in. Both players were fairly loose and if one called, I would very possibly have to make my hand to win if either was ahead with Ace high. So, I decided to make a nice bet of $150 here on a semi-bluff, leaving me with $125 behind me to bluff if I missed the river and also thought they missed as well. Both players took a very long time to call which reinforced my thoughts of what they held. There was now $660 in the pot.

The river was a beauty for me, the 2 of diamonds. I knew this was the ultimate brick and both players faces showed this was the case. They both quickly checked, I shrugged my shoulders and casually tossed the rest of my chips in. They both threw their cards in the muck face-up and both had a hand with an ace, one with Ace 9 for a straight draw, the other with 2 clubs for the flush draw. This one time, I showed my bluff and drew quite a nice response. Next time, I won’t be bluffing, I’ll have the nuts and hope someone looks me up.

I played that hand very well, both my thinking and my actions were sound. Hopefully I can take that into my next session and hopefully, you’ll think things through the next time you get involved in a hand.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.


by Johnson