Big Nuts

I don’t know why. Maybe I was getting frisky to play a pot after a big laydown the hand earlier. It just felt right.

I get Q-J offsuit in middle position and limp-in.

What was I thinking? I never play this garbage hand in middle position.

We go to the flop with four players. One ahead of me and two behind.

The flop comes 10h-9-h-8d.

Wonderful. I flop the nuts. My hand can only get worse from here if we see more cards.

What do I do now with a straight flush draw on board when I am holding the nut straight.

The first player over-bets the pot: $35 into a $8 pot.

This is a solid player. I put him on Q-J. He bet exactly what I would have bet hoping to force out the draws.

I raise him another $100 hoping to take it down right there.

My hopes were dashed when a loose player behind me who has been losing all night re-raised me $100.

The fourth player calls.

The original bettor calls.

Now what?

One of these guys is on a flush draw and one may have the low end of the straight.

I have $137 invested in a $848 pot.

I know three things: I have the best hand, we are going to the river, and I am pot-committed.

I go all-in which puts my three opponents all-in.

Of course, they all call.

The loose player to my left shows 6-7 off for the low straight.

The last player to act shows A-J hearts for the nut flush draw and open-ended straight draw.

The first player to act shows K-J.

Fortunately for me, fourth street and fifth street were blanks.

I am still in disbelief that the solid player called off all his chips on a gutshot.

Three outs at best put him at a 9-to-1 dog on the turn and a 13-to-1 dog going to the river.

He was only getting 3-to-1 on his money.

That is what I play for … big pots holding the big nuts.