Pondo's Poker V

 It all started with 5 simple words, Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza.

With the new indoor setting for Pondo's Poker, eventually, our players were seated and ready to play cards.

The usual suspects Bestie, James, Vern, Mc and Andy were joined by Beewell who had made the 100 mile journey and Crilly had come back to the fold to complete the 8 player line up.

With league points purely on point, Mc pushed everyone out preflop with a 500 raise (on 25/50 blinds) claiming the first hand win, but he did it with extra flair showing his 7 2 off suit and claiming a further 5 points!

Crilly pushed in a 225 raise preflop which was called by Pondo, 7,7,3 (rainbow) was met with a 500 bet from Crilly and another call from Pondo.  A 3 on the turn and another 1k bet from Crilly, Pondo called again.  Finally a 3 on the river completed the full house on the board.  Crilly's pocket 8's stood strong against Pondo's pocket 4's.  

With some chips in front of him now, Crilly seemed to be playing most hands, but also holding some monster cards.  A 1k preflop raise from Vern was re-raised to 3k by Crilly.  The flop of A,5,6 (rainbow) was met with a 1700 raise from Crilly and an all in from Vern (our first of the night and points claimed).  Crilly deliberated for a matter of seconds and called.  With pocket ladies, Crilly looked strong against Verns pocket 10s.  The cards did not fall in his favour and Vern was the first to cash in his bounceback token.

This put Crilly in a very early chip lead.

With a board of 10(h), 2(d), J(c) and 3(h), Bestie was next to shove all in and surprisingly he was called by Crilly.  Besties J 10 looked strong until another pocket pair (3's) was turned by Crilly a 2 on the river was no help, Bestie cashed in his bounceback and Crilly took another big pot.

DD was confident holding pocket cowboys that this would be the hand to break Crilly's pocket powers.  With a board showing 5,2,K and Ace trip Cowboys could surely not be trumped, Crilly couldn't be so lucky to hold pocket rockets? No, he didn't.  With an all in bet from Pondo and a Call from Crilly he was happy to show that he held a fantastic 3,4 off suit claiming the straight and Pondo cashed in the bounceback.

Still realing from the straight beat only a few hands earlier, and a perilous board of 4,5,6, Pondo put in a hefty 1500 raise to be called by Beewell.  A 4 on the river and an all in from Pondo was called by Beewell ready to take out the host even before the break!  Thankfully, the two 4's on the board where matched with the pocket 4s in Pondo's hand and quads struck triumphant.

Vern wanting some action pushed 500 preflop to be called by Beewell and Andy. 3(c), J(c) and another 3 saw another 500 raise from Vern.  This time only Beewell called.  A 5(d) on the turn and Vern checked to see his position, Beewell raised 500 and vern walked away empty handed.

A Q, 6(h) and 4(h) on the board saw James shove 1200 into the pot to be called by Bestie.  2(d) on the turn and a further 2k bet by James, called by the fearless Bestie, the river brough the 4(d) and another 3k bet from James.  This was too much for Bestie and he reluctantly folded giving James a nice pot in return.

Bestie was down to a chip and a chair!

It was only a few hands later that Bestie was all in, Mc was not going to let him get away that easy and followed with a call.  Cards turned, Bestie held pocket Q's and Mc A(d) 3(d).  The flop gave Mc a multitude of additonal outs as it fell 3,4,5, however a 4 on the turn and a king on the river put Bestie back in business.

A board of 4,10,8 (rainbow) and James with a 2k bet saw only Beewell follow.  The turn revealed a lady of spades, an all in bet from James and a call from Beewell.  Pockets being in abundance this evening both players turned thier cards. James with his pocket 4s completing his trips could only to be trumped by a knave on the river to match Beewells pocket Jacks, surely this was all in James' favour.  The poker gods thought it was time to play and the Jack delivered on the river. 

Vern raised the pot to 18 times the blinds hoping to get a bite....too much and a fold all round.  Maybe a little too much of a bet for pocket Aces.

A final board before the break of 8(c), 2(c) and 7(d) saw a standard 600 bet from James and a call from Andy, Crilly and Mc.  9(h) on the turn had James checking, Crilly shoving 1200 in the pot and then folds all round.

Bounceback tokens cashed by Andy, Mc, Beewell, James and Crilly.

As the winner of the previous game, Andy had recruited Mrs Andy to put together a meat and tater pie, pickles, red cabbage and gravy.  A truly magnificent treat for the boys proviing that this night is becoming both a game of cards and come dine with me.  The dessert from Vern of sugary ring donuts added an additional flair!

We were now in the business end of the tourney.

Crilly started the proceedings the same way as the first half with a 2k bet on the river forcing James to fold.

Next was Bestie's all in called by Crilly.  Crilly with more pocket Queens versus Besties Q, 6 of clubs. The flop produced 10,7 and 8 of clubs to complete the flush and put Bestie back in the game again.

James raised 1200 preflop to be called by Andy.  The flop gave our players two queens and a king, with a check from Andy and a 2k raise from James, Andy shoved all in.  After a good deliberation, James reluctantly folded.

With the blinds starting to hurt now, Vern pushed all in pre-flop with his A5 clubs to be called by Mc who turned pocket Jacks.  King, 4 and 9 on the flop, 4 on the turn and a 6 on the river did not help Vern at all and he claimed 2 points as the first out.

Bestie was next to push all in, but the poker gods were not in his favour and after a little tussle with Andy and Crilly over the split pot, it was time out for Bestie finishing in 7th place.

James decided enough was enough and raised all in 4,500 and Andy was quick to follow again.  James' A4 was up against strong competition with Andy's AQ.  With a Q on the turn is was lights out for James and a 6th position finish.

Blinds now at 500/1k meant that descisions needed to be made and with pocket 8's Danny made an all in manouver one card too late.  Called by Mc who tripped 6s on the turn and then hit a full house on the river meant the hos was out in his usual 5th place (4 games, 4 x 5ths!)

Now the battle for the bubble began and the chip stacks fought hard, big bets from Mc, Andy and Crilly had the chips moving around but Beewell sat quietly hoping for some relief.

Mc raised 5k pre flop saw Beewell shove all in and Andy call as well.  Was this the end of our plucky brummy?  The flop of 3(d), 8(s) and 6(d) saw Andy check hoping Mc would do the same, but Mc shoved all in.  Andy folded and it was now head up.  Mc turned his 7 and 8 of hearts hitting top pair, but a Queen on the turn matched to Beewells KQ(h) doubling him up ready for action again.

Another big raise pre-flop by Mc was called by Andy.  10(d), 8(s) and Q(s) was checked by Andy followed by a 10k raise from Mc...Andy shoved all in, Mc called.  Jack 7 off versus K7 off saw two more spades on the turn and river completing MCs flush and Andy out in 4th place.

Now with the blinds at 1k/2k and a board Q(s), J(c) and A(h) Beewell considered his pocket Queens to stand strong pushing his chip all in.  Luckily for Mc he had the nuts with K 10 (off) and Beewell claimed his third place podium finish.

Crilly and Mc took the deal and ended the tourney here, I think Mc was in fear of Crilly being strong and making a come back and purely thinking of the league points, but I will let him convince me otherwise (hahah)

Crilly takes second place and Mc takes his 3rd first in three games.