Interim Poker GrovelIt was one of the most enjoyable hands I’ve ever watched at Signor Ferarri’s home game—Not least because I wasn’t in it.
The game was Anaconda: each player is dealt seven cards. Pick three and pass them to your right. Then two. Then one. Plenty of opporunities to draw to a monster hand—and to screw the guy to your right.
This was a high-only game and, because it was the last hand of the night, the stakes went up to $10 per bet. The game was 4-handed, and I drew trip tens right off the bat. Not bad if I could pair up as well, because although a boat is usually the minimum you need to win, a 10s-full house is pretty good, especially when, with only four players, I figurred the hands would be slightly less spectacular overall.
Once the passing is done, each player arranges his 5 best cards in the order he wants them revealed, and the first card is turned. I never paired up, so I folded to the first bet ($5, from Pauly, showing a K). Swish raised with a 4, and Signor Ferarri folded. The betting was capped, and the next card turned.
Heads up, Pauly shows a 3, Swish a 4. Massive betting ensues, and the next card is turned: Pauly shows another 3, and Swish shows a blank. Stacks are running low, but Swish reaches into his back pocket and Andrew Jackson joins the pot. Next card.
Another 3, another 4. Now, it is helpful to understand here that although Pauly’s been playing pretty tight, he’s also run some monster bluffs, and called in the face of absurdly high cards to prevail over equally bold (but less successful) bluffs, inclluding a hugely expensive one by yours truly. Swish, on the other hand, has developed a table image of being willing to see almost anything to the river, and has an erstwhile tell that may or may not be reliable anymore.
Anything could have happened at that point, but because neither of them was betting quite as aggressively as they could have been, my money was on Pauly having 3’s full, with Swish having 4’s full, with Pauly was betting that Swish was bluffing the boat, which he was—but not the way anyone thought.
At this point there’s got to be near $80 in the pot, and Pauly bets. Swish calls, and Pauly turns over his fourth three. Kazaam!!! Swish sees it and looks away, clearly stunned (Swish is one of the most gracious winners and losers I’ve played with), and then, ever so casually, still looking away, flips over a 4.
Everyone went nuts. We were high-fiving all around. We might have been a little punchy at that point. But all I can say is, Swish’s play was Oscar-worthy, and I am so glad I didn’t make my full house!
Read Less...
