Spirit of 76

As the popularity of poker is booming phenomenally, many private clubs and fraternal organizations are hosting hold'em tournaments, often for charity or fund-raising purposes. Recently, I was one of 80 players competing in a no-limit hold'em tournament at the Progress Club in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC.



The tournament structure was quite player-friendly for the first two hours. Everyone started with $5,000 in chips and the blinds increased slowly. After the $200-$400 level, the blinds went to $300-$600, then $400-$800, and then $500-$1,000. This type of tournament structure should be encouraged, as it gives players more time to work their chips.



Although I picked up very few playable hands, I managed to build one of the larger stacks at my table, $15,000 in chips after the first two hours of play.



But after the $500-$1,000 level, the blinds doubled to $1,000-$2,000 and then would go to $2,000-$4,000. That really changed things and the tournament became more of a crapshoot. I strongly recommend slower increases.



Toward the end of the $1,000-$2,000 blinds period, I had held no playable cards for a while and had dwindled down to less than $8,000 in chips. With my big blind coming in three more hands, I was now officially "desperate." If I lost another $3,000 in blinds, I would sink below the "critical

chip level," where I would not have enough chips left to fold anyone with a preflop raise.



It was folded around to me (in middle position), and I looked down to see the 76. It was unlikely that I would both pick up a better hand and have everyone fold around to me on one of the next two hands, so this was my big chance. I pushed my $7,900 in chips all in.



Several players stopped to think about it, and then folded. Only the big blind called with his J-9 suited, and I won when I flopped two pair. So, I now had almost $17,000 in chips and was back in contention.



On the very next hand, it was folded around to me and I was looking at the 76. Could lightning strike twice? Did I have momentum on my side? No way. Now that I was no longer desperate, if I voluntarily played this inferior hand, I might be wasting the money that I had been very fortunate to win. So, I made the proper fold (especially so from early middle position). As the

two blinds checked down the hand, I noted that once again I would have made two pair on the flop and won the pot – if I had played.



The very next hand, it was again folded to me, and I picked up the 7♣ 6♣! I was dealt 7-6 suited three times in a row! Were the spirits trying to tell me something? I usually don't believe in that kind of stuff, but I decided, right or wrong, that I was going to play it. And as long as I was going to play it, I might as well play it correctly by making a standard raise before the flop. Clearly, I would strongly prefer everyone folding.



As I put in my $6,000 in chips, an announcement was made that on the next hand, the blinds would increase to $2,000-$4,000. A player who had been thinking about calling did so. Then, another player called, and the big blind, who had a mass of chips, also called. Would you believe it – the flop came with yet another 7 and 6? The third flop card was a jack.



The big blind checked. There is really only one way to play two small pair after the flop in a multiway pot. It would be foolish to let players in cheaply who might outdraw you. So, I went all in with my $10,000-plus. Only the big blind called as he proudly tabled his 9-8 offsuit. He already had won several large pots by drawing straights and flushes on the river.



I knew I was more than a 2-1 favorite (verified on Caro's Poker Probe). If I could hold on and win this pot, I might well go all the way. The dealer burned and turned. Unfortunately, the last card was a 10, and the big blind made his straight. Clearly, his spirit was stronger than mine.



I have had some amount of luck and success playing suited connectors in no-limit hold'em over the years. Perhaps their greatest advantage is the element of surprise. You often get paid off when your opponent assumes that you are playing a typical high-card hand. But note that it is extremely important to get away from suited connectors in situations when you are likely to be out-kicked.



Whenever you play small suited connectors, you should be aware that you will occasionally lose to a higher flush or straight. That is always expensive. And because low-card holdings are often fragile, you have to take your licks when your opponent hits a magic river card – as in this hand.