If you are sitting at home reading this article, chances are you’re just like me – you can’t get enough of online poker. Whether you’re in it for the thrill of the game or you’re trying to make a living, playing online offers several distinct advantages over the “live” game. The online game is a faster game, which essentially means more and potentially larger pots and more risks per hour than a standard B&M (brick and mortar) game. When you see a larger volume of hands, chances are that during each session you play, you are bound to see something that leaves you speechless, shaking your head, mystified, or (shudder at the thought) having to re-buy. In this column, each week we will take a look at a different hand that fits the previously mentioned criteria. My involvement in the hand notwithstanding, I will try to remain as impartial as possible, and for the hands that I didn’t win, I will keep my bitterness to a minimum. (At least, this is my intent)

The more you play the game, the more likely you are to see something you didn’t think was possible. That’s part of the allure and mystique of playing the game of poker. Because of all the different players and situations that arise during a session, you will very rarely see the exact same thing happen over and over again. Some of the situations are so mathematically improbable, there are some hands that occur which are indeed once in a lifetime type hands. Other people may argue that some of the time, the hands are just plain crazy.

No matter how you look at it, these statistical anomalies are what makes this game so great that people from all walks of life are playing the rush. On that note, here comes this week’s Hand of the Week.

I was watching the action at my local $1-2. The game was full and I was waiting for someone to leave so I could get in on the action when I observed one of the wildest ads ever. An under the Gun player made it $15 and was called by one player before the Big Blind made it $30 to go. There were 3 players in the hand and $90 in the pot.

The flop came down and it was one which figured to have hit everyone somehow. It was the Kd-Qd-10d. The Big Blind quickly checked. The early position raiser bet out $45 and was immediately raised to $90 by the late position player. The Big Blind hesitated before making the smooth call.

The turn was the Qs. Again the Big Blind checked, the initial raiser checked and later position made a $100 bet. Both players called. This was getting pretty wild. There was now $660 in the pot with the River to come.

The River came and it was the blank of all blanks, the 3c. This card in no way shape or form could have changed anything. The Big Blind moved all in for his remaining $300 and was IMMEDIATELY called by BOTH players. What was going on? Well, when the cards were flipped over my mouth hit the floor.

Late position – Pocket Kings giving him Kings full of Queens
Early position – Pocket Queens giving him Quad Queens!
Big Blind – Ad-Jd, giving him a FLOPPED ROYAL FLUSH.

I don’t know what the odds of flopping a royal flush are but I couldn’t believe my eyes. This pot was over $1200 and Quad Queens got nothing to show for it except busting out. At least I got my seat I was waiting for…On second thought, that seat may be unlucky. I’ll wait for the next one.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

Click here for the Hand of the Week Archive