Let me explain by relating the following hand that I observed at the poker room yesterday:
Player One limped in from early position with A6o.
Player Two raised to $10 from middle position with AQo
Player Three raised to $20 from the small blind with KK
Player One calls. (If you paying attention you will notice Player One will make several mistakes in this hand. Calling a bet that is ten times the big blind with a weak ace is certainly a questionable move.)
Player two calls.
The flop is:
Player Three (who has KK) bets $50. I guess he was hoping neither of the other guys had an ace and his kings were still good.
Player One (the guy with A6o) calls.
Player Two (AQo) raises to $150.
Player Three now knows his kings are no good, so he folds.
Player One calls. I could write a paragraph about why this is a terrible call but let's move along.
The turn:
Player Three, who just folded KK, looks like he wants to puke.
Player One (A6o) checks
Player Two might be worried that his AQ is not good, but he isn't. He is kind of a gambler and I think he knows that Player One isn't very good. He bets $100.
Player One calls.
The river:
Here is the point of this blog post: Player One does not realize it, but this river has just saved his ass. The 7 on the river has negated Player Two's kicker because now both players have the same hand: AA77K.
Player One checks.
Player Two bets $75
Player One calls.
Player Two shows AQ.
Player One: (Throws his cards in the muck) "Dammit! You have me out kicked!"
Player Two: "You had an ace?"
Player One: "Yeah, ace six."
Player Two: "Then it would have been a spit pot. The river counterfeited my kicker."
Player One: "Huh? Oh. Fuck."
Player Two: (Gleefully gathering in a $550 pot) "Too late now!"
Oh dear.
The sad truth, my dear readers, is that this kind of thing happens all too frequently. Please try to remember this warning and pay close attention so that it doesn't happen to you!
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