THE POKER GODS LAUGH

Last night with about 40 people left I was sitting in 25th place. I only needed to finish 23rd for a ticket to next big thing. I was delivered AQo on the small blind. The actions was folded around to the button who just called. I had 4,000 chips with the blinds at 200/400. The big blind to my left had 17,000 chips and I figured he'd call any bet I'd make. I decided the best course would be to just call for the 200 in chips and see the flop. I would have gone all-in shortstacked but there was no reason for that here. I paid $200 to for a $1000 pot with two high cards.

The flop came Q83 rainbow. I couldn't ask for a better situation. The big blind had so many chips I knew a check would draw a bet and it did. He threw $400 at it and the button called. Perfect, I thought, I'll go all-in and make them chase or give me nice pot. My all-in raise was met with an all-in re-raise from the big blind that eliminated the button. The lucky SOB turned over 88 and the rich just got richer. I had a moment of excitement when the turn brought my third queen, but the board didn't have the decency to pair.

I couldn't have played it better in my mind and yet I was out on my back. He would have called that hand all-in preflop. Had I waited for the turn card and seen my third Q, I would have had no choice but to get all my chips in the pot. My only salvation would have been to fold AQ to half a bet and that just doesn't seem like good poker.