Ok so I this week I found my self playing in a cash game on Chanpoker and in one particular hand I found myself with pocket Aces or Bullets.  Now for those of you not all that familiar with the game, pocket Aces is the best possible starting hand and on a full table one of the only big hands you might not raise with as it is the kind of hand you want to invite action with.  Anyway since I wanted to get some people into this pot I just called the big blind as to not scare anyone off and risk winning the hand before the flop and not maximize potential earnings with this monster.  There are 3 other callers and the big blind checks.  The flop comes Jack – Ace – 5 with 2 diamonds.  At this point I am dancing as I have flopped top set meaning any hand anyone else could have hit is beat by mine as it was prior to the flop.  This might be a time I want to slow play and just check allowing the other players to either bet into me or see another card hoping to pick something up on the turn if they have nothing on the flop.  However in this situation, as big as my hand is, it is quite vulnerable.  I have to protect myself against both a flush and straight as both draws are out there.  I want bet big enough to hopefully push out people with the flush or straight draw so they don’t catch up on the turn or river yet small enough so that if anyone with a big Jack or a weak Ace can still call looking to pick up more later on or thinking they have the best hand.  Anybody with 2 pair or a smaller set at this point will most likely call any bet if not re-raise me so I am not worried about pushing them out.  I chose to bet a third of the pot, which in hindsight was probably not enough to accomplish what I wanted to do as it gives anyone on a draw 4 to 1 on their money and anyone with a flush has roughly a 36% chance to hit it with 2 cards still to come, making calling academic.  Anyway what ended up happening was everyone folded, meaning they all had no hand and no draw, so me betting was probably the wrong move but still one I think I would do in the future given the same situation, as I am a player that always protects my hands against any drawing hand.  Any thoughts?  What would you have done?

Hello loyal readers.  Full Tilt Poker has opened up a tournament only for Badbeatchronicles.com readers. 

Open your Full Tilt software

Go to tournaments and then the Private tab

The tournament will take place Saturday, May 31 @ 1pm Eastern Time

You will be able to play yours truly and take your shot at making me look like the donkey I am. 

Tournament Information:

Tournament #49245189
Tournament Name: Bad Beat
Password: badbeatc

Tournament Date: 31 May 2008
Tournament time: 1:00 pm ET
Game: Texas Hold’em
Limit: NL

Good Luck everyone.  See ya on the tables

Have you ever had that moment when you know you are going to get blasted in the face but you just had to turn around and kneel down anyway?  I am playing and cash game on Chanpoker.com and I am on the button with J-10 suited.  There is one caller of the big blind and I raise to 4 times the big blind in an attempt to steel the blinds.  The blinds fold and the original caller calls my raise.  The flop comes 6-7-8 with 2 hearts.  My opponent bets 75% of the pot.  I don’t think there is a chance they hit the flop other then a flush draw so I raise to 4 times his bet which they call.  The turn brings a 10 of hearts.  Now there is 4 cards to a straight and a heart flush draw.  I have top pair and an inside straight draw and he goes all in.   At this point I know I am beat.   They either called with the flush draw or a straight draw which the 10 of hearts would have most likely completed either.  I can only beat a bluff and he has represented strength most of the hand so a bluff is not likely, but for some reason I cannot lay this garbage hand down.  I know I am beat.  There is no chance for me and in true donkey fashion I call this for all my cash.   As suspected my opponent turns over pocket 9s giving him an over pair at the flop and a completed straight on the turn and me drawing to 2 outs in the deck.  5% PERCENT TO WIN!!!!  WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?!?!?!?!  The river brings air and I hand my opponent my money.  What a donkey.