Mr. 21

This past Friday was the first Friday I had not hosted in quite a while. It was cool though. I got a little change in scenery. We only had 12 people sign up for Friday night’s game. Our attendance has been suffering lately (for various reasons).

So I get there, draw my table, and am absolutely loving it. Now, before I go on I am not saying that every player on my table was weak by any means. There were a few players that have earned my respect both on and off the tables. I am just saying I liked my table, as well as my position. I started off real strong. I was playing some pretty good poker. If I had it I was getting paid most of the time, and if I didn’t have it I was representing it well. I think I only got my hand caught in the cookie jar once or twice (for minimal losses).

The thing I loved was when I had to go to show down (not that often) I showed pretty solid hands. This is the best. This gave me a huge advantage. Since I had only showed solid hands they had to give me more respect than if I was showing garbage to win pots. This opened the door for me. It gave me a wider range of hands I could play.

There was one new guy at my table. I had never seen him play before. He made me laugh. I would say the guy was an ABC player, but really….he was a really weak/tight ABC player. He horribly misplayed aces on one hand. He won the pot but he could have gotten so much more if he would have been a little more aggressive. I mean really…how tight do have to be to play aces scared?? I know they get cracked (trust me I know) but man, you have the best starting hand in NLHE. Play those things harder.

So, one hand cracked me up. I was on the button. The new guy was in the BB. I looked down to find the lovely 6c8d. I took my time and went through my options (as I had the whole night). Raise to steal, smooth call, or fold. I decided just to call from the button. I had raised for about the last 6 or 7 buttons. As the BB (the new guy) checks his option he says, “you took 21 seconds.” I really didn’t know who he was talking to. I asked him what he said. He replied, “Just a second ago you took 21 seconds before you called. You must have wanted to raise.” I just smiled and nodded, but inside I was cracking up laughing. This guy was counting how long it took me to make a call. What an idiot. I applaud the guy for trying to pay attention at the table (a common mistake of the beginner player), but geeze..."you took 21 seconds before you called." What a bone head!! I wonder what it would have meant to the guy if I had only taken 17 seconds, or what about if I had taken the dreaded 23 seconds?

Not only did he think I had a strong hand (because it took me 21 seconds to call....HAHAHA), but he told me that he thought I had a strong hand. That is just giving me a free pass to bet. I know that some players might use that to try to induce a bluff or whatever (another weak play), but this guy was being 100% serious. Anyway, I bet out on the flop (with pure air) and took the pot.

As for the rest of the tourney. I got to the final table as the chip leader. Although, it doesn't really matter when you go to battle with the guy who is second in chips, and loose. I had aces...they got cracked by his kings. I should have known better though...the guy who I went to battle with- we nicknamed "Gold" because he always gets so freakin lucky, like Jamie Gold!

Once I lost that hand I was crippled, and exited shortly there after! BUT...at least the night wasn't a total loss. I played strong early, and I can't think of too many better pre-flop situations for building my stack (aces Vs kings). But I still think the best part of the night was the good laugh I got...thanks to Mr. 21!!