Play A Poker Hand With Me: Pocket Kings

I entered the local poker tournament today. It is a $120 buy-in. First place is a guaranteed $3,500. You get $4,000 in chips. No rebuys.

On the second level of blinds, one player limps for $100, and this aggressive player only raises to $250. He had been more aggressive with his pre-flop raises since the start of the game. The big blind and the limper calls. There is $800 in the pot.

The flop is K-Q-5 rainbow. The limper checks. The aggressive player bets $800. The big blind moves all in for $4,000. The aggressive player has about the same amount in chips and without blinking calls all-in. What do these players have?

When the big blind moves all-in, I put him on K-Q. But when the aggressive player calls without even thinking, I figure he must have a set of Kings or Queens. I was wrong.

The big blind had the two pair with K-Q, but the aggressive player just had pocket Aces. He didn't get any help and he was out.

Now, let's play a poker hand with me.

It's the third level. You have $3,100 in chips and you are on the button. The blinds are $100-$200. The player under the gun limps. You know this player and he likes to raise with big hands under the gun, but limps with strong drawing hands in this position.

A second player and a third player also call the $200. Players have been tight overall, so you figure they have drawing hands or low pairs. The player on your right with $3,200 moves all-in.

You look down on your hand and find pocket Kings. Easy decision. You move all-in. Everyone else folds so it is heads up.

Your opponent turns over A-J. The player who limped under the gun says, "I had the same hand." Another player who called and folded speaks up, "I had the Ace 10."

How are you feeling? There is only one Ace in the deck that can beat you.

The flop comes and....yes, it's the Ace. You get no help and you are driving home.

That was a quick ending. Yet, there is nothing you can do in that situation. It's just one of those things.

What was the probability your opponent would hit an Ace?

He has 5 tries at hitting one card.

Do you think it was a bad beat?

It doesn't matter. You made the right play and lost. It's called poker.

At least you have a story for your poker blog, right?