Sunday, May 29, 2011

May Poker Studs Championship: Twos Beat Nines

It's not easy to become "Stud of the Month." Especially when 875 other guys (well, at least one had a woman icon) want the title along with you. But we qualified for the monthly contest at National League of Poker for the first time since January -- and it was a fight:

:11 IN: We have A-J of clubs under the gun. We try to limp in, but a huge bet leads us to fold. Good thing: that player had K-K, and would up with a third King.

:20 IN: We have 2-2, and call a doubling of the blind. The flop is a lovely J-2-10! We push in our remaining 370, and get called by players with 8-10 and a Queen high. The turn and river are 3-K, earning us a fast $1,400.

:25 IN: We have A-7 under the gun, and call a doubling of the blind. The flop is 7-2-5. A player bets 220, and we call with top pair. The turn is 5, and the opponent bets 320. We call again. The river is 10, and the opponent goes all-in. We smell a higher two pair or three of a kind, and fold -- thus taking a big loss.

We reach the half-hour break at 460 -- only 19 from the bottom, with 385 players left. It's time to be extra-careful.

:44 IN: We have 10-A of diamonds in the big blind. It's time to move -- but the table folds, and we get a walk to pick up only $100 in blinds. How did they know?

1:01 IN: We have 4-4 with blinds climbing, and decide to push all-in with only 175 left. The flop is J-7-A, the last two diamonds. The turn is 8d. The river is Qd. Hey - did we mention one of our 4's was a diamond?!? We're the only player to have one, and we escape with $1,220 and a "2GTBG."

1:08 IN: Right after the second break, we have 9-9 and limp in. The flop is 6-8-8. We dare to push with an overpair, and 395 left. Trouble is, a caller has J-J. The turn and river are 4-3, and we're eliminated at #145. Nope -- not a stud yet.

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