It was only a few hours into the $1K event #4 at the WSOP. I had been pretty quiet, as was my whole end of the table; most of the activity came from the other end. The blinds were up to $100/$200, so there was still plenty of play. I had about $3500, only a little more than I started with. So when the player on my right raised to $700 under the gun, I had a hard decision when I looked down at QQ. It had been long enough to conclude that he wasn’t raising with nothing. I looked around the table; it was obvious that the player on my left was coming in… I was actually a little afraid of a reraise. I remembered the immortal words of the Godfather, Doyle Brunson: “Never go broke with a Queen in your hand.” I decided that a flat call was in order. The player to my left then looked me up and down, took his time, and settled on a call as well. Down at the active end of the table, we got one caller and both the blinds folded.

The flop came down with an A and a couple of napkins. The raiser checked, I checked, as did the player on my left. After a bet from down the other end, we all folded. He flashed the AK and made a comment about being happy he didn’t have to go all in so early. This pot was large enough for him.

The original raiser then whispered in my ear that he hates playing JJ; the caller on my left let me know that is why he didn’t reraise with KK there: there is always an A coming. I laughed to myself about how many chips I saved there.

That hand could have played out so differently there; had I reraised, no one was folding. Though we will never know what would come on the turn or river, I believe I made the best decision to save my chips. Had the A not flopped, I still wouldn’t have gone far with QQ here (unless I flop my set). By fatting before the flop, it saved me from creating a large pot, stuck between 2 players (that I thought might have had me beat).

If I believe that I have an edge on my players, I can see a flop with QQ. I don’t need to put my stack at risk here so early and create a large pot. There is no need to “raise for information.” I got the same info (that I am behind) for less chips.

The image I created as a weak player in this hand paid off by doubling twice before the table broke an hour later.

Tweet This Post