Walking through a hand

Let’s walk through a poker hand which did not go the way I was expecting it too… pretty much at any point. As I (or pretty much anyone) plays, you put someone on a hand, based on their actions and history. I knew pretty much nothing about these two players, but let’s look at what I thought was going on, and then what was really going on:

we're playing 5/10 limit hold em here.

Dealt to pokerjl [Kd Jh]

cemre1: folds

WizardOfPozz: folds

JC-TheGuide: folds

pokerjl: raises $5 to $10

Oldmistyman: folds

hot daddy: folds

MrTictac: folds

badactuary: folds

therubeguy: calls $8

dacro42: calls $5

so far, nothing particularly unusual. These guys may have suited connectors, KQ, a pair, or a pretty good suited ace.

*** FLOP *** [6d 2d 4d]

therubeguy: checks

dacro42: checks

pokerjl: bets $5

therubeguy: calls $5

dacro42: calls $5

OK, no one went away. We can parse the possible hands down a bit. It’s possible someone has the ace of diamonds. Someone could have a flush and be slowplaying it. Other diamond broadway cards could be out. Gutshots are also possible. An over pair between 77-99. maybe a 6, maybe a pair and a gut shot. I like my hand, with the K of diamonds and the two overcards. If someone raised, I would at least call.

*** TURN *** [6d 2d 4d] [3c]

therubeguy: checks

dacro42: bets $10

pokerjl: calls $10

therubeguy: calls $10

Uh Oh. Seems like somebody hit his gutshot. I don’t know why the rubeguy is calling unless he has a big diamond or also made a straight. Doesn’t seem like anyone has a flush, unless dacro slowplayed it in a strange way. I'm still looking for my diamond, and would call on the river if a K or J hit also.

*** RIVER *** [6d 2d 4d 3c] [5c]

therubeguy: checks

dacro42: bets $10

pokerjl: calls $10

therubeguy: calls $10

Now I’m pretty sure dacro has a flush, or a better straight than is on the board. He’s betting into two guys, not sure why he’d do that if he couldn’t beat the board… one of us could certainly have a 7, especially the rubeguy. I can't fold on that board though... I'm also hoping rubeguy doesn't suddenly raise. Then I'm certainly beat.

*** SHOW DOWN ***

dacro42: shows [4c 4h] (a straight, Deuce to Six)

pokerjl: shows [Kd Jh] (a straight, Deuce to Six)

therubeguy: shows [Ad Ac] (a straight, Deuce to Six)

And… it’s a chop. How about that… I was drawing dead on the flop except to runner runner straight with no diamond. No one played this in a way that made sense, I believe. Why did the set slowplay on the flop? Why did the aces slowplay before the flop and on the flop? We could have capped on the flop… instead we got one bet in. The aces could have raised the turn even… but no go. Very oddly played.

But considering, these were the only cards I could catch once the flop hit to get my money back, I’m happy it went the way it did.

By the way, if I ever play aces like this, please hit me lightly over the head with something metallic.