I had to fly out to Southern California a few weeks ago to attend services for a friend who passed away, and after that solemn task was accomplished I went on to happier places and things. Saw my parents and one of my brothers with his (now) fiancé and enjoyed the famously mild Southern California climate – wind chill was 80° F and we could sit out on the patio conversing until well past dark.
I was able to swing by the Commerce casino in deepest, darkest Los Angeles just as they began the LA Poker Classic. The Commerce is a clean, well-appointed casino; very secure (one guard saw my pocket knife and advised me that no weapons of any kind are allowed in the casino) and offering a wide range of poker games ranging from small stakes to oil sheikh-level buy-ins. They have a hotel attached to the casino and, mentioning that I was there to play in the tournament, they offered a poker room-rate that was quite reasonable for Los Angeles.
I played that evening in one of the first tournaments of the series and, suffice to say, was as card-dead as a man could be. Absolutely nothing worked and I felt fortunate I was able to eke out survival until approximately half the field was gone. Being tired of all the driving that day – and don’t ever believe that Denver freeways are bad. They have in Southern California freeways 8 lanes wide – in both directions – and may the good lord save you if you are going slower than the guy behind you wants you to go. We have it so good out here in Colorado… but I digress…
I woke up the next day having nothing to do and nowhere to be until that evening, so I checked out of the room, had the bell desk hold my bags, and went in search of the elusive juicy live action poker game. And glory be; I found it. A nice $8 – $16 Limit Hold’em game with average stacks about $300 and one Asian with part of the Great Wall of Chips in front of him. I bought in for $200 and began to watch the other players so to make the table.
It quickly became evident I was at a loose-passive table with one – the Keeper of the ‘Great Wall’ – the only aggressive one there. Cool – and I was seated two to his left; absolutely perfect position to isolate, cut off and destroy. My first shot at him came at about the half-hour mark after I had sat down; I looked down at two red Kings.
He made a raise as he had done almost every hand prior, so to cut off the other players and isolate him, I three-bet causing all the others to fold. He appeared shocked at the idea that someone was coming after him and after a moment of recovery made it four-bets. I called to see a flop of small, non-coordinated rags and receive his obligatory follow-up bet. I felt that if I raised him back he might suspect a set or what I indeed held (a large pair) and might just fold, however unlikely that might be. He might even reraise again to get a better read on my hand’s strength, so if I re-popped again he would know for sure I was strong, and then might fold. I did not want that to occur, so I merely called his raise hopping to lead him into thinking I held an A-K or perhaps A-Q.
The turn was inconsequential, he bet and I raised him back making it look like I was attempting a steal on the turn. He reraised and I decided to hit him again with a reraise and so appear to him desperate to push my hand through to the finish. He called, and the river was the dreaded Ace. I have long ‘joked’ that pocket Kings are nothing but ‘Ace-finders’. Sort of like walking through an ‘Ace minefield’ stomping your feet: Well, here it was and I had to decide if he had one or not. Man, I hate moments like these.
Having watched him bully the table for the preceding half-hour, I knew his range of possible hands was large, but he had played this one strong even against my reraises. I thus didn’t put him on a strong Ace but something strong relative the weak board, something like pocket 10’s or pocket jacks.
He checked, I bet, he called and I showed my Kings; he showed pocket jacks and I scooped a very nice pot. From there on, I owned the table and him: I played there for six hours and made a clear profit of $1,800 above my $200 buy-in. He finally departed after his Great Wall was whittled down to a chalk line of chips.
That day was one of those cosmic moments we rarely come across in this game – we do everything right and are rewarded for our efforts. These experiences are enhanced by being ready for them – luck favoring the prepared. I’m always preparing for moments like these. And constantly thinking about poker.
