More railbirding

Ram Vaswani built up a $300k stack kicking OMGClayAiken to pieces.

Then got totally "pwned" by sbrugby. All the railbirds were begging Ram to quit while he was ahead, but he probably had observer chat turned off (I don't blame him).

full tilt poker Game #2056699445: Table Halbert (heads up) - $300/$600 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:34:47 ET - 2007/03/24
Seat 1: sbrugby ($133,383)
Seat 2: Ram Vaswani ($258,941.50)
Ram Vaswani posts the small blind of $300
sbrugby posts the big blind of $600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Ram Vaswani raises to $1,800
sbrugby calls $1,200
*** FLOP *** [2h Kd 9h]
sbrugby checks
Ram Vaswani bets $3,600
sbrugby calls $3,600
*** TURN *** [2h Kd 9h] [5h]
sbrugby bets $10,200
Ram Vaswani calls $10,200
*** RIVER *** [2h Kd 9h 5h] [4s]
sbrugby bets $68,000
Ram Vaswani has 15 seconds left to act
Ram Vaswani calls $68,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
sbrugby shows [6h Qh] (a flush, Queen high)
Ram Vaswani mucks
sbrugby wins the pot ($167,199.50) with a flush, Queen high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $167,200 | Rake $0.50
Board: [2h Kd 9h 5h 4s]
Seat 1: sbrugby (big blind) collected ($167,199.50)
Seat 2: Ram Vaswani (small blind) mucked

Final hand that saw a flop... sbrugby has taken $110k off Ram.

Full Tilt poker game #2056765641: Table Halbert (heads up) - $300/$600 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:45:25 ET - 2007/03/24
Seat 1: sbrugby ($213,279.50)
Seat 2: Ram Vaswani ($179,039)
Ram Vaswani posts the small blind of $300
sbrugby posts the big blind of $600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Ram Vaswani raises to $1,800
sbrugby calls $1,200
*** FLOP *** [2c Qd 4h]
sbrugby checks
Ram Vaswani bets $3,600
sbrugby raises to $8,800
Ram Vaswani calls $5,200
*** TURN *** [2c Qd 4h] [7c]
sbrugby checks
Ram Vaswani bets $12,600
sbrugby folds
Uncalled bet of $12,600 returned to Ram Vaswani
Ram Vaswani mucks
Ram Vaswani wins the pot ($21,199.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $21,200 | Rake $0.50
Board: [2c Qd 4h 7c]
Seat 1: sbrugby (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: Ram Vaswani (small blind) collected ($21,199.50), mucked

What do you reckon Ram was holding that first hand, BJ ?

Maybe Kxo ?

Do you feel Sbrugby was correct to call the pot-sized bet on the flop with only a flush draw ? Routine at the levels I play, but borderline surely ?

Seeing as Ram would make a pot-sized continuation bet with anything, there's a good chance sbrugby's Q and 6 are outs - e.g. he's a favourite against A-high. He also has good implied odds if Ram has a King and sb makes his flush. If Ram doesn't have a King, sb might be able to bluff him off some holding sb beats later in the hand.

Seeing as Ram called the 2x pot overbet on the river, I'd tend to think he had a lower flush, although 2 pair / a set is possible, who knows. I think he'd probably lay down a naked King.

Yes, it`s the call on the river (apparently after a long think) that`s puzzling. Don`t really expect that at this level, and it makes you wonder what he had.

You would rather expect that this calibre of player is going to lay it down if he feels he`s behind, or reraise if he`s confident.

Long think followed by tame call is probably what I would do.

absolutely a great call

Egon Towst said:

Yes, it`s the call on the river (apparently after a long think) that`s puzzling. Don`t really expect that at this level, and it makes you wonder what he had.

Click to expand...

Generally if there's a big bet on the river, the player making the bet either has a very strong or a very weak hand. Either way, if Ram has a moderately strong hand that's not the nuts, there's no reason to raise, so it's fold or call. A strong hand will call his raise or push (he loses more money), and a bluff folds (he gains no more money).

Yes, I can see that.

I guess I`m expecting these guys to display my own (doubtless flawed) thinking. In headsup games especially, the fewer hands that go to showdown the happier I am. I`m acutely aware that the opponent is studying my game intensely, just as I am studying his. Showing my hand gives him valuable information. If I believe I`m ahead, I`d like to take it without letting him see exactly what I had.