Poker News

Ashley Adams

In the long run, the difference between wining and losing is almost entirely due to a difference in skill. We all know that. We write and read about it all the time. But sometimes, winning is just a question of having an amazing string of good cards. I had the hottest 90 minutes of poker in my life the other night. I’d like to share what happened, not to demonstrate good play on my part, but rather to let you know what types of positive experiences may be out there for you - if you have the patience to wait for them.

As I’ve mentioned before in this column, an on-line poker publication pays me by transferring funds to my Party Poker account. Though I usually withdraw the money immediately, receiving payment in the mail a few days later, sometimes I am drawn to play. This was one of those times.

I was playing $5/10 Stud. My $650 had diminished slightly - to $400 or so. I wasn’t concerned. The games had been fun; the players appropriately loose. I was confident that with good tight and aggressive play that I’d rekindle my stack and then some. All of the $5/10 games were full except for one that was heads up. I made myself the third in the heads up game.

Shortly thereafter, a fourth player then a fifth and, in a short time, a sixth player joined in as well. After 10 minutes or so of very short play, we played six handed 7-stud. .We played together for about 90 minutes before I had to leave.

I kept careful records of my hands. During those 90 minutes we were dealt 52 hands. I folded 28 of them on Third Street (twice when my bring-in was raised). Of the remaining 24 hands, I raised with 15 of them on Third. Of these 15 times when I raised, 7 times I won immediately on Third with everyone else folding. 4 times my raise was called on Third, but when I bet on Fourth my opponent or opponents conceded. 3 times I bet on Fifth and won when my opponent folded to the double bet. And one time I made Trips on the board on Sixth Street and won even before I could get my chips out - as my opponent gave up when he saw my third King hit my board. I never either called the bring-in nor called another player’s raise on Third Street.

Total hands:…………………………..52

Folded on Third……………………..28

Raised on Third……………………..15

Won on Third with bet………………7

Won on Fourth with bet…………….4

Won on Fifth with bet……………….3

Won on Sixth with bet……………….1

Called on Third………………………..0

Folded on Third (I was bring-in)….2

This leaves nine hands (52 - 28 -15 = 9) that are unaccounted for. I was the bring-in eleven times. As I’ve noted, twice I folded to a raise. But nine of those times when I brought it in, everyone folded to me!!!!

Imagine that. It was the perfect session for a tight-aggressive player. Not once did I raise or bet without winning the pot. And I won nine bring-ins by having all five opponents fold!? Having one such event in a session is rare. Nine must be a record in a 90 minute session.

Great sessions like these are out there. The skill is not so much in how you play them. They play themselves. The skill is in being patient enough to wait out the bad hands and the bad runs until you fall into a cherry patch like this. They do happen. Be patient!

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