Pondo's Poker III
Struggling to get the right date for a poker night is always a difficult task trying to match everyone's calendars to a single date, but it is always worth it in the end. With a brisket smoking away in Mc's magic Wi-Fi enabled smoker, it seemed a little easier to tempt new recruits to the table. Now we have twenty players in the league
The new recruits consisted of Andy, Crilly, and Tom, all eager to join the Pondo Poker league table and all eager to play some quality cards.
With positions allocated, chips distributed and small blinds in, it was time to Poker
First hand of the night was raised by Andy (first to act) stating his position at the table. With a couple of callers and a flop of the Jack and Queen (s) and 4(d) a further raise was thrown in from Andy. Too much too soon? Folds all round claimed Andy his first league point.
Ste W was the next to raise pre-flop with a massive 500 bet but was called by Bestie, Vern and Tom. The flop produced a rainbow of 5(d), 7(c) and Ace (h). Another 500 bet and another round of calls from all gave a 4(d) on the turn. This was now the turn of Vern to throw in a raise after it checked round to him, 1500 saw Tom and Bestie fold but our pre-flop raiser stood strong and called. With a 9(d) on the river and a potential flush draw Ste W pushed all in (Claiming his league point), after some deliberation Vern pushed in his cards and the hefty chip stack moved towards Ste W who did not reveal his cards.
With Vern feeling the pinch a little with his short stack, he pushed all in with the board showing 6(s), 3(d) and Jack(c), a call from Tom meant cards on their backs. Vern with Jack Seven (s) and Tom with 8 & 7 (h). The turn gave Vern his second Jack (h) and a 5(h) on the river doubled his chip stack. Tom asked how many cards a needed for a run....?
The table was aggressive tonight with preflop raises going in left, right and centre. The next in this action was newcomer Crilly. A 1100 preflop raise to be called by big stack Ste W gave a flop of A(h), 2(c), 6(c), with a check from Ste W, a 1500 raise from Crilly and a call the turn card of 3 (d) could not have been anyone’s friend. Crilly pushed a further 2k into the pot but this was too much for Ste W and a decent pot for Crilly.
Also playing the short stack, Pondo pushed all in after a preflop raise from Bestie. This was also called by Every Hand Tom. The flop of A, 4, 4 did not work in Pondo's favour pushing his pocket 10s to the bottom of the ranking as both Bestie and Tom had a spare Ace in their hands. The 8 on the turn and the K on the river gave Pondo the first cash in of the night and a split pot between Bestie and Tom.
What followed next was the biggest collection of side pots in any poker game. Andy raised 60 pre-flop as his standard move, this was called by big stack Ste W and Mc, however, this was met with a hefty raise of 2k from Bestie who was also managing a mighty pot. A fold from Crilly, Pondo made them safe from the carnage about to ensue. Vern called, Tom obviously wanting to play pushed all in, our pre-flop raiser Andy pushed all in, Ste W and Mc both called to join in the fun. 3 side pots formed and a flop of 8(d), 6(s) and 9(s). Ste W and Mc both checked to the big preflop raiser Bestie who threw in a further 500, not to be bullied Vern pushed all in forming a 4th pot. Mc decided enough was enough and walked away, but both Ste W and Bestie were in for the action. The turn produced an almighty 3(s) putting a flush draw on the table. Our remaining players checked to the river Jack (h).
The cards turned revealed:
Bestie's pocket 7's (up and down straight draw on the flop), Tom's Jack Queen suited, Vern's K5 suited, Andy's King Ace off, but claiming the monster pot, Ste W had caught his Jack on the river to pair with his Jack Ace suited.
Vern, Andy and Tom all cashed in their bounce back tokens.
A few hands later Mc pushed all in with 1675 to be called by both Vern and Ste W. A flop of 6(h), 9(c) and 8(d) saw Vern be the first to present his princess to the group by going all in. Ste W did not fancy claiming the princess on this attempt and folded. Vern's King 9 off held strong against Mc's 10 9 (d) with a 8(c) on the turn and 5(d) on the river. Mc cashes in his bounce back token.
Proving to still be the most aggressive table in the Northwest, Crilly (who had been quiet for a while) shoved in a massive 4600 pre flop raise only to be met by Tom (as he did have two cards in his hand). The flop of A(d), Q(h) and 4(s) was checked by Crilly but raised 5k by Tom. This pushed Crilly all in. Tom revealed his might Ace Queen (s) whilst Crilly turned over pocket cowboys (KK). An ace on the turn gave Tom the unbeatable AAAQQ hand and Crilly was the final player to cash in his bounce back token before the break.
10-hour slow roasted brisket, 100 buffalo wings and 3 garlic breads were no match for this Poker bunch, a feast for kings. well, most of the kings, Bestie had to nip home to use the facilities to make room for such a feast.
After a spectacular banquet followed by Tunnocks Teacakes (courtesy of Bestie) for dessert it was time for the business end of the tourney. With all remaining bounce back tokens cashed in (Bestie & Ste W), an All-In now would be accompanied by a princess.
Our first flop of 5, 9, 3 saw Vern raise 1300 only to be called by Tom (surprise surprise!) and Bestie. A 500 raise from Tom made Bestie leave the pot and Vern follow through, not literally. With checks to the river, both gentlemen turned a pocket Jack, but Vern's Ace kicker took trumps.
Andy's Princess was next to enter the pot with a Jack (c), 9(d), 9(c) and 2(h) on the board. Luckily, his Queen high club flush was enough to beat both Tom and Bestie and reclaim his Princess.
The table was heavily weighted to one end with Andy stuck in the middle, however, all this was about to change. Tom had not played a hand for one round so thought he should get back in the action shoving a lovely 5k white chip in after a 10(h), 2(h) 10(s) flop. The tables chip leader was not to be bullied and shoved all his chips into the middle, Tom called. Ste W had the Queen and Jack of hearts looking for one more heart to trump Tom's trip 10's with his 9 kicker. The heart did come for Steve completing his flush but unfortunately, it was the only heart he DID NOT want to see. The 9 of hearts also completed Tom's full house pairing his kicker. Ste W was down to a chip and a chair in an instant
The next hand and Ste W was all in again, called by Bestie but with each having a pocket Ace and the board giving the duo higher cards than their kicker, a split pot was formed.
Bestie shoved all in hoping to claim a tidy blinds pot but was obviously met by Tom who had taken a one hand break. Unfortunately, his pocket 3's could not stand up to Tom's 8 & 7 diamonds as an 8 on the board claimed his first princess and Bestie's 2 league pity points. Bestie out in 8th position.
Crilly was the next to shove all in and the players were all blown away as Tom decided to fold his first hand of the night pre flop. The river boat hailed Jack, 6, 2 6, 5 and with no matched cards in either hand it was Vern's Ace kicker over Crilly's King kicker that was triumphant. Crilly leaves the game in 7th position.
An all in again from Ste W saw calls from Vern and Tom, however a 4k raise after a flop of 7(d), 4(s) and Ace(c) saw Tom retreat. This did not turn out in Ste W's favour though as his K7 was trumped by Vern's A8. Steve W out in 6th place
A Queen(s), 9(s) and 4(h) flop gave Vern a little confidence boost as a 5k raise was pushed in, not surprisingly Tom called. The 2(s) on the turn convinced Vern to push all in against the big stack and was called. The nut flush for Vern put him back in the game.
The next big all in came from Pondo with Ace and 10 hearts against Vern’s King Jack off. The Poker Gods seemed to be fancying Vern now as they dealt a Jack on the turn and Pondo out in 5th place.
Not wanting to go out on the bubble the fight for glory began.
Mc, who had been quiet for a while, shoved all in with a flop of 10(d), 4(h), J(c). Vern loving his recently claimed stack took up the challenge. Mc’s pocket ladies (QQ) stood strong against Vern’s A9 off with a Jack on the turn and 5 on the river. Mc was back in the game.
An up and down straight draw on the flop 8(d), 7(d) and 6(s) had tow of our big players battling. A 4(s) on the turn made things even more interesting but the Poker Gods had now given up on Vern and his 9, 3 pocket cards did not find the 5 he was looking for. Probably because Tom had two of them in his hand already. With a straight of five cards this time Tom claimed Vern’s princess and Vern out in 4th.
Many weeks passed, or it felt like. A couple of all in’s from Andy and Mc with obvious calls from Tom started moving chips around the table in a more evenly manner.
One all in from Mc of 18400 called by Tom saw an Ace match with MC’s on the river. Another saw a post flop battle of Andy and Tom with an A(s), 9(h), 8(c), Tom pushed Andy all in (14,400) and both players turned their cards. Tom with A, 10 off and Andy with A, 2 off. A 7 on the turn made no difference, but the 2 on the river was evil and saw Tom’s stack diminishing slowly.
Finally, Mc pushed all in with Tom calling. Mc’s A5 had claimed a fellow Ace on the flop but Tom’s 4 hearts failed to find a fifth and Tom departed in 3rd place. Not bad for someone who thought we were playing Pontoon all bloody night!
Andy and Mc declared a truce and made a deal to finish the tourney. Whether this was out of respect or fear of losing league points, Andy claimed his debut with a 2nd place finish and Mc finished in 1st place. That is 2 plays and 2 wins for Mc – he is the one to watch.
All league points updated.
Highest Hand – Tom AAAQQ
No 7/2 off suit (although Mc tried to win with 7 2 suited!)
No Royal flush
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