By Matthew E. Milliken
MEMwrites.wordpress.com
Feb. 20, 2019
I was involved in a remarkable World Tavern Poker hand the other evening.
Playing the button — that is, dealing, which puts me last to act after the flop — I saw four players limp into the pot for 400 chips. When I looked at my hole cards, I had eight-six off-suit. I decided to limp in, meaning just call for the amount of the big blind. The small blind and big blind, who act after the dealer before the flop, did the same. That left us seven-handed going to the flop.
The flop came seven, nine and 10 with two clubs. It was a pretty good board for me, giving me a 10-high straight right out of the gate.
Much to my delight, M—, in the small blind, bet 800. Then the big blind, D—, bet 1,600. One of the table’s short stacks, P—, playing in first position, called. Two players folded; then H—, seated in the cutoff, called.
I paused. I had a made hand, there were a bunch of chips in the pot, and I didn’t want someone to hit a lucky draw and beat me out. I figured that P—, who began the betting round with 7,100 chips, was going to call me no matter what; the trick would be to get everyone out but him.
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