It’s great to win a big pot. I can’t think of a more satisfying feeling than when the dealer is pushing a mountain of chips in your direction. Sometimes however, it’s better to not have been involved in the first place. Knowing just when to get out of the way can save you a ton of chips in the long run. Sometimes it is better to just get out of the way and allow your opponents to duke it out. Keeping that in mind, here comes this week’s hand of the week.

I was at my local $1/$2 game and we were shorthanded with 5 players playing. I was in the small blind and looked down to find the Jd-Kd. Fairly strong holding in such a short-handed game. One player called and the player on the button made it $12 to go. Liking me hand, I called as did the other caller. There was $38 in the pot and 3 players.

The flop came and it was Ad-Qs-4c giving me a gutshot straight draw and backdoor flush draw. Not the greatest of drawing ands but it was possible. Acting in poor position, I decided to check and see what happens. The early position caller checked behind me and the initial raiser bet $40. I thought about my odds for a second. I didn’t need to be a math genius to know that the odds simply were not there for me to call. I had a 4 outer, any of the 10’s and I’d be dreaming to think I could get to the river cheaply while still drawing. So I folded fairly quickly. That’s when the hand got interesting.

The early position player now check raised to $100. The initial raiser sat up, thought for a second or two and announces, “another $100 on top, $200 straight.” At this point I’m mystified. I’m trying to figure out what these people have. This raised is called and there is now $438 in the pot. There is now officially no way for either of them to get away from this hand.

The turn is the 6h and it’s about the most insignificant card that could have fallen. The early position caller announces he’s all in for his remaining $250 and is called immediately. The turn over their cards. The early position caller had pocket aces, and the initial raiser had pocket Queens! They flopped set over set and the initial raiser was drawing dead to the case queen. It didn’t show up on the river and the guy with the Aces scooped a pot over $900. How’s that for a good day. I’m just glad I didn’t have pocket 4’s…

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

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