Cheating Ducks

I remember the first time a girl cheated on me. I was 7 years old and had been sitting next to a girl in class for 3 days in a row, during the heady summer of 1982. (I think her name was something really bizarre - Ribeena(?)). Anyhow - I was quite smitten and remember feeling at the time that “this was it”. Unfortunately, I was off sick on the Thursday and, when I returned to school the following day, Ribeena had taken up classroom residence with Liam, the trendy guy with the Shakin’ Stevens haircut. My conservative bowl cut was no match, and I was consigned to the scrap heap by Ribeena. I was devastated.

Last night - these old wounds were re-opened as I was cheated on by my special hand - pocket twos.

Many players have small pocket pairs that they consider lucky. Mine are pocket 2s. Whereas the chances of hitting a set on the flop are about 17% with a normal pair, it seems this percentage is closer to 60% with pocket ducks in my hand. The downside of playing these “lucky” cards, is that you end up folding them very rarely - for example after the first few levels I fold 33/44/55 UTG but I always limp/raise with 22.

It was league night at the Loose Cannon, but only 15 runners turned up for battle. I ended up placing 6th, after the twos were unfaithful to me, which wasn’t good enough for the money or any points.

Only really two defining hands:

Hand1 (blinds 50-100)
I have been reasonably active and have trickled down to 2300 from a 3500 starting stack.
Fluke limps UTG and I call with 22. Professor Geoff also calls, but Jody pumps it up to 500 in the big blind. Fluke calls, as do I, and only the Professor folds.

Flop A, 9, 2 (never in doubt)

Everyone checks the 1600 pot.

Turn 9

Fluke bets 1000, and I push for 1800 total, which he pretty much has to call with AK. He doesn’t hit a 9 or an Ace on the river, and the beautiful 2s have worked their magic again.

This hand sets me up for the tournament, although I never really get above 8k. The final table played 7 handed for quite some time, at which point McDee bows out (after playing a much more solid game than in previous weeks).

I’ve just had to fold a 1500 raise with J10, to Jason’s re-raise preflop, when the infidelity occurs. I have about 3900 chips and blinds are 300-600.

HAND2
Tom min raises to 1200 in mid position. I am in the big blind and have the winning hand in pocket 2s. I push all in for my 3900 and it is snap called. No worries of course - I’m about to double up.

Tom has AK

Board runs out… Q(ok), 8(uh-huh), Q (yep), 5 (ship it)…KING

I have Tom covered but am crippled and out soon after. If Federline was upset by Britney dumping him by text, he should read this to realise that there is always someone worse off. I was ditched in the cruellest way in front of Tom, Sir Mike, Hugh, Jason and Jody.

However, since then, the pocket 2s have called this morning. After some suitable grovelling and a promise of never doing it again, I have taken them back ;)

Next stop for the mystery tour…Jody’s Saturday night home game.