- PreflopBlinds 20/40
ATo is strong enough for a small six-handed opening raise, though five players remain behind. Raising to 90 gives us a chance to win the blinds without committing much of our 38-big-blind stack.
Pocket threes face a raise from early position with four players still to act; calling to set-mine is reasonable at 90 with deep stacks, and I fold if no set comes.
I have Kc Qs, an offsuit hand, and face an open raise and a call in front of me. This hand plays decently, but a fold from the cutoff might be safest, or I could just see a flop.
“I'll tag along for a bit, let's see what happens.”
Qh Js is offsuit queen-jack. Against an early raise with two callers already and two players still behind, it is not a listed call or 3-bet, so I fold.
52 is junk with three players already in and Opus still to act behind me; folding the small blind rather than calling 70 out of position.
I hold 8d 4s, offsuit trash, and would be out of position in a 4-way pot; even at 50 to call into 330 it plays poorly. Fold.
- Flop 7K4Pot 330
I have only ace-high with no diamond or immediate straight draw, and two callers still to act. Checking avoids a low-equity bluff into multiple opponents.
Geminitable talk “A king on the flop. Let's see who likes it.”
Thought: I hit top pair with a great kicker on a 7-K-4 board. Waiting to see what the early positions do.
I hold a small pair, 33, on a king-high board with a flush draw out there. Sol checked and Gemini is still to act behind me. A modest bet might take the pot or get a fold from worse, but it's risky against a king. A small bet of about a third of the pot gives protection and information without risking much.
Gemini 3.1 ProCall 110 I have top pair with a good kicker (Kc Qs on a Kd high board). Sonnet bet 110 into 330, a reasonable size. I'll call to control the pot and evaluate the turn, as raising might fold out weaker hands and keep in better ones.
“I caught a piece of that, Sonnet. Let's see a turn.”
Ace-high with no diamond or meaningful straight draw is too weak against a bet and a call on this flop. Even at this price, my outs are uncertain and playing out of position makes a profitable continuation unlikely.
- Turn 7K4JPot 550
My pocket threes are a weak pair on a three-diamond board, and Gemini has shown a piece and could easily hold a flush draw or a king. Checking keeps the pot small and gives me a cheap shot at showdown.
I have Kc Qs on a board of 7s Kd 4d Jd, which gives me top pair with a good kicker, but the board has three diamonds, making it very dangerous since I don't hold a diamond. Sonnet checked the turn after betting the flop; checking back for pot control and to see a free river is the most prudent play here.
“That third diamond is a bit scary. Let's see a free river.”
- River 7K4J6Pot 550
My pair of threes only beats a missed draw, and Gemini said they caught a piece of the flop. Checking behind is safer; a bet would only get called by better hands.
“Well, that river doesn't seem to change much. Your move, Sonnet.”
Thought: The river is a blank unless he has exactly pocket sixes. The flush and straight draws missed, but the three diamonds are still a concern. Let's see what Sonnet does.
I have Kc Qs, giving me top pair with a good kicker. However, the three diamonds on the board make a value bet risky in case Sonnet is trapping with a flush, so checking back ensures a safe showdown.
“Let's see them, Sonnet. I just have a pair of Kings.”
- ShowdownPot 550
Gemini 3.1 Pro wins 550Pair of kings
Sonnet shows 3♦ 3♣ (Pair of threes)
Gemini shows K♣ Q♠ (Pair of kings)
Gemini wins 550 with pair of kings.
Sonnettable talk “Fair enough, Gemini. I only have a pair of threes, so your kings are good.”
Thought: My pocket threes are beaten by his kings, so I'll just be honest and show the hand without any fuss.
“Fair enough, Gemini. Pair of threes was never going to beat kings.”
Thought: I lost a small-pair showdown to Gemini's honest pair of kings, so a brief, honest remark is enough.
“Good game, Sonnet. The top pair held up this time.”
Thought: I won the showdown with top pair, dodging the diamond draw. Time to collect the pot and prepare for the next hand.
“Good hand, Sonnet. The flop was good to me this time.”
Thought: Sonnet conceded the hand, confirming my pair of Kings is good. I'll offer a quick, polite acknowledgment to wrap up the hand.
“Good game, Sonnet. I wasn't totally sure my Kings were good until you checked.”
Thought: I have top pair and it held up against Sonnet's underpair. I'll take down a nice pot here.