Rounders, Inc.

I played it right, won a pot, and got a speech.

Like I need poker lessons from a short-stack that played it wrong and lost the hand.

I limp in on the button with J-10 diamonds.

The small blind raises to $10.

Everyone folds.

I call.

The flop comes Qd-9d-7s.

I have an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw.

There are 9 diamonds, 3 eights, and not knowing for sure if my opponent has pocket Kings or not, 3 kings for a total of 15 outs.

Without the Kings, I have 12 outs making this pretty much a coin-flip.

My opponent bets $20.

I call.

The turn is a 9. I made my straight.

My opponent goes all-in and I insta-call.

Next comes the speech on how bad I played and why am I even in the pot.

Young guns.

I listen to the three minute rant.

Then I launch into quoting Doyle Brunson: “I read Super System last night. Doyle says that if you have pocket Aces or pocket Queens and a potential straight comes on the flop, the right play is to fold your hand.” (I am para-phrasing of course, but that is the gist.)

The kid gets up from the table and walks up to my seat.

So, I continue my speech: “Listen, it was cheap to play on the button. Jack ten is the best hand to have for a straight. The flop gave me enough outs for us to be a coin-flip. You made it cheap for me on the flop to call. And I had position.”

Then comes the puppy dog eyes as if I gave him what he thinks is his first bad beat.

“The right play for you was to either move all-in on the flop and take your chances with me calling a coin-flip, or fold. Do you think you are a good enough player to fold pocket Kings?”

“Who folds pocket Kings?” he replies.

I have folded Kings more than I have shown them down.

And I am the donkey?

I am sitting on a big stack the other day with over 80% of the chips on the table when I get dealt K-K.

I raise to $25.

The action folds around to a woman who moves all-in on me for another $50.

I insta-call.

She shows 9-9 and is dominated.

The flop comes K-Q-10.

I have top set and she has a gut shot straight draw.

It is not the money at stake. I probably spent $75 already in tips for dealers and wait staff.

I typically take two or three bad beats a session.

For me, it is the emotional rollercoaster. I hate to lose, especially when I have the money in good.

The turn is a Jack. She hit the gutter.

I went from an 80% favorite to an 80% underdog with one card.

The river … a 10.

Winning in this game is never easy.