If you play enough poker

You see the most amazing things.

In a 10hour game at The International on Wednesday (which started out as a tag-cash game - not something you often see) I think there were more "omg" hands than can be expected in that timeframe. Definitely many hands where if it happened online there would be a chorus of derision ("it's soooooo rigged" etc.)

However, these hands really happened, I assure you. I will post up some more of the session later. But here is one hand that I will always remember I think.

It's about 3am, and I've come back from my low point to be sitting on about £600 in a £1-2 PLO game. There are some well-known players there from the club.

The key player in this hand is Chen - a PhD. student from Cambridge, known to be a very good player (who often plays much higher stakes) and is a proven winner. I haven't played that much with him, in fact, but I know how good he is and I think he's also willing to gamble. An excellent combination for him (in the long run).

I have picked up KdQdXX and posted the £5 straddle. 5 players call the straddle, and I check. Six players see a flop, and the pot is £30. My hand needs help !

Help comes in the form of a Td9d3d flop. I flopped the 2nd nuts, but in PLO we have to be afraid that if a lot of money goes in, someone has the Ace-high flush.

In fact, no one bets the flop.

The turn is the Ace of clubs. Chen, in the small blind, now bets £22. I'm not folding yet, even though he might very well have the Ace-flush to lead into 5 players. I call, and it's just us to the river. How much will I call if he bets again? Would I bet if he checks ?

The river is the Jack of diamonds ! I have a King-high straight flush, the second best possible hand in any form of poker - only a Royal Flush is better. In this hand, of course, it is the absolute nuts. What's more, Chen may have the Ace-high flush.

How to proceed ?

Before I can think about that very much, Chen bets the whole pot (£74). How much to raise ? I opt for a raise to £250 - a little less than the maximum possible.

It's now an agony for Chen, who is having the worst run of luck I have ever seen. The clock is called on him (not by me !) and eventually he finds a crying call rather than a hero fold.

What a tough spot for him, especially as his actual holding was Ad8dXX so he knows I can't have the straight flush from 7-J or 8-Q. He is only to losing to one possible hand !

There's a really funny post about it by Chen here on the forum.