The Dave Worley Blog 
« Playing Poker on Full Tilt… Creating Discussion… | Being the plaything of a High Street giant – week one. »
Poker: My Greatest Moment?
Right so I was playing at Source League last night. There was this terrifying Scandinavian/German guy called Mathias who really put the fear of God into me – he just looked hard as nails.
Anyway, as I’m directing the tournament, I obviously – sod’s law dictates this – end up on his right. First hand is a misdeal and I get AJ. The flop was dealt just to piss me off and it comes like 4-9-J and I have a little bit of a tilt. This guy goes “you think that was strong?” and I was like “yeah in this case”. And nothing more was said.
Now, I’m not a brilliant poker player – I get the game, and I can play it well, but for me the concept of pot odds, equity/value and even the basic maths are pretty much foreign. What I can do well, is judge a character, and this guy was the typical Scandinavian – ice cool. He was sharp as a pin and I was trying to avoid him.
So much for that, I get dealt 88 and I’m compelled to raise the 300/600 blinds to 2000. Mr Scandinavia calls, as does the small blind; the big blind folds. The flop comes 8 high and I’m checking so hard I almost knock my chips everywhere. Icecool also checks, as does the small blind. The turn is the 8 of hearts. Quads. Thanks. Another tap of the table, and the Scandinavian bets 5k. Small blind gets out of the way. I call, not instantly, but quick enough to give him the idea I’m there for a reason.
River is obviously a brick. Here’s the kicker – I CHECK. Everyone since has been like “thanks for checking quads on the river”, but here’s where I think my approach to the game comes through: I KNOW he’s going to bet.
I have no reason. He has no reason to bet, but I know he is – its more than a hunch, I would bet with anyone before the river that he is going to bet. I have just called 5k and have only 8k behind, this guy appears to like the situation, or he wouldn’t have bet the 5k (which for me is about right for the size of the pot, and isn’t suggesting any sort of deviance – he might have spiked two pair after a floaty call pre-flop or something). This guy looks at my stack, and looks down at his own, and announces that he’s “all i-CALL”. I flip my quads and the table recoils. This guy smiles and says “ah”. I walk away for a hand to tell the world about it. When I return he shakes my hand and says “excellent slow playing of the 8s” and fixes me with a piercing stare.
I might just have beaten the bastard, but I’m still fucking terrified of him.
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Poker.