Big Comeback

I was playing a heads up HORSE tournament. I was down to 100 in chips with stakes 100/200. I came back to win it all. Here is how it happened.

Seat 1: Seat1 (2,900)
Seat 2: Seat2 (100)
Seat2 posts the small blind of 50
Seat1 posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [Kd Qd]
Seat2 calls 50, and is all in
Seat1 shows [2s 4d]
Seat2 shows [Kd Qd]
*** FLOP *** [Th Js 3h]
*** TURN *** [Th Js 3h] [Qh]
*** RIVER *** [Th Js 3h Qh] [8d]
Seat1 shows Queen Jack high
Seat2 shows a pair of Queens
Seat2 wins the pot (200) with a pair of Queens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 200 Rake 0
Board: [Th Js 3h Qh 8d]
Seat 1: Seat1 (big blind) showed [2s 4d] and lost with Queen Jack high
Seat 2: Seat2 (small blind) showed [Kd Qd] and won (200) with a pair of Queens

Seat 1: Seat1 (2,800)
Seat 2: Seat2 (200)
Seat1 posts the small blind of 50
Seat2 posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [8h 7c]
Seat1 calls 50
Seat2 raises to 200, and is all in
Seat1 calls 100
Seat2 shows [8h 7c]
Seat1 shows [Ts 2c]
*** FLOP *** [5h 9h 2h]
*** TURN *** [5h 9h 2h] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [5h 9h 2h 3h] [Kh]
Seat2 shows a flush, King high
Seat1 shows a flush, King high
Seat2 wins the pot (400) with a flush, King high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 400 Rake 0
Board: [5h 9h 2h 3h Kh]
Seat 1: Seat1 (small blind) showed [Ts 2c] and lost with a flush, King high
Seat 2: Seat2 (big blind) showed [8h 7c] and won (400) with a flush, King high


Seat 1: Seat1 (2,600)
Seat 2: Seat2 (400)
Seat2 posts the small blind of 50
Seat1 posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [2s 5s]
Seat2 calls 50
Seat1 checks
*** FLOP *** [Kd 5d Qs]
Seat1 bets 100
Seat2 has 15 seconds left to act
Seat2 calls 100
*** TURN *** [Kd 5d Qs] [As]
Seat1 bets 200
Seat2 calls 200, and is all in
Seat1 shows [3s Jc]
Seat2 shows [2s 5s]
*** RIVER *** [Kd 5d Qs As] [4d]
Seat1 shows Ace King high
Seat2 shows a pair of Fives
Seat2 wins the pot (800) with a pair of Fives
The game is now 120/240 Limit Omaha H/L
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 800 Rake 0
Board: [Kd 5d Qs As 4d]
Seat 1: Seat1 (big blind) showed [3s Jc] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 2: Seat2 (small blind) showed [2s 5s] and won (800) with a pair of Fives

Seat 1: Seat1 (2,200)
Seat 2: Seat2 (800)
Seat1 posts the small blind of 60
Seat2 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [Ah 9d 4s 8c]
Seat1 calls 60
Seat2 checks
*** FLOP *** [Tc 7h Qd]
Seat2 bets 120
Seat1 calls 120
*** TURN *** [Tc 7h Qd] [2d]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** RIVER *** [Tc 7h Qd 2d] [6h]
Seat2 bets 240
Seat1 has 15 seconds left to act
Seat1 folds
Uncalled bet of 240 returned to Seat2
Seat2 mucks
Seat2 wins the pot (480)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 480 Rake 0
Board: [Tc 7h Qd 2d 6h]
Seat 1: Seat1 (small blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: Seat2 (big blind) collected (480), mucked

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,960)
Seat 2: Seat2 (1,040)
Seat2 posts the small blind of 60
Seat1 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [9s 7c 2c Kd]
Seat2 calls 60
Seat1 checks
*** FLOP *** [8d 3c 5d]
Seat1 bets 120
Seat2 has 15 seconds left to act
Seat2 calls 120
*** TURN *** [8d 3c 5d] [6s]
Seat1 checks
Seat2 bets 240
Seat1 folds
Uncalled bet of 240 returned to Seat2
Seat2 mucks
Seat2 wins the pot (480)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 480 Rake 0
Board: [8d 3c 5d 6s]
Seat 1: Seat1 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: Seat2 (small blind) collected (480), mucked

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,720)
Seat 2: Seat2 (1,280)
Seat1 posts the small blind of 60
Seat2 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [2c 5d Qd 9h]
Seat1 calls 60
Seat2 checks
*** FLOP *** [4s 2d 7s]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** TURN *** [4s 2d 7s] [6c]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** RIVER *** [4s 2d 7s 6c] [Ac]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Seat2 shows [2c 5d Qd 9h] a pair of Twos, for high and 6,5,4,2,A, for low
Seat1 mucks
Seat2 wins the high pot (120) with a pair of Twos
Seat2 wins the low pot (120) with 6,5,4,2,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 240 Rake 0
Board: [4s 2d 7s 6c Ac]
Seat 1: Seat1 (small blind) mucked [Jd Kc 3s Ts] - HI: Ace King high
Seat 2: Seat2 (big blind) showed [2c 5d Qd 9h] and won (240) with HI: a pair of Twos; LO: 6,5,4,2,A

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,600)
Seat 2: Seat2 (1,400)
Seat2 posts the small blind of 60
Seat1 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [4h Jh 3c 5d]
Seat2 calls 60
Seat1 raises to 240
Seat2 calls 120
*** FLOP *** [6c 7c 9d]
Seat1 bets 120
Seat2 calls 120
*** TURN *** [6c 7c 9d] [Js]
Seat1 bets 240
Seat2 calls 240
*** RIVER *** [6c 7c 9d Js] [9c]
Seat1 checks
Seat2 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Seat1 shows [7s 2d 2s As] two pair, Nines and Sevens, for high
Seat2 shows [4h Jh 3c 5d] two pair, Jacks and Nines, for high
Seat2 wins the pot (1,200) with two pair, Jacks and Nines
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,200 Rake 0
Board: [6c 7c 9d Js 9c]
Seat 1: Seat1 (big blind) showed [7s 2d 2s As] and lost with HI: two pair, Nines and Sevens
Seat 2: Seat2 (small blind) showed [4h Jh 3c 5d] and won (1,200) with HI: two pair, Jacks and Nines

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,000)
Seat 2: Seat2 (2,000)
Seat1 posts the small blind of 60
Seat2 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [8h 3d 4h 6c]
Seat1 calls 60
Seat2 checks
*** FLOP *** [Kd Js 5d]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 bets 120
Seat2 folds
Uncalled bet of 120 returned to Seat1
Seat1 mucks
Seat1 wins the pot (240)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 240 Rake 0
Board: [Kd Js 5d]
Seat 1: Seat1 (small blind) collected (240), mucked
Seat 2: Seat2 (big blind) folded on the Flop

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,120)
Seat 2: Seat2 (1,880)
Seat2 posts the small blind of 60
Seat1 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [Ts 6h Jc 3c]
Seat2 calls 60
Seat1 checks
*** FLOP *** [8d 8c Tc]
Seat1 checks
Seat2 bets 120
Seat1 folds
Uncalled bet of 120 returned to Seat2
Seat2 mucks
Seat2 wins the pot (240)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 240 Rake 0
Board: [8d 8c Tc]
Seat 1: Seat1 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Seat2 (small blind) collected (240), mucked

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,000)
Seat 2: Seat2 (2,000)
Seat1 posts the small blind of 60
Seat2 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [7s Ad 9h Jc]
Seat1 calls 60
Seat2 checks
*** FLOP *** [7h 8d 6h]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** TURN *** [7h 8d 6h] [6c]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** RIVER *** [7h 8d 6h 6c] [Jd]
Seat2 checks
Seat1 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Seat2 shows [7s Ad 9h Jc] two pair, Jacks and Sevens, for high
Seat1 shows [Qc Ks Qh 9s] two pair, Queens and Sixes, for high
Seat1 wins the pot (240) with two pair, Queens and Sixes
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 240 Rake 0
Board: [7h 8d 6h 6c Jd]
Seat 1: Seat1 (small blind) showed [Qc Ks Qh 9s] and won (240) with HI: two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 2: Seat2 (big blind) showed [7s Ad 9h Jc] and lost with HI: two pair, Jacks and Sevens

Seat 1: Seat1 (1,120)
Seat 2: Seat2 (1,880)
Seat2 posts the small blind of 60
Seat1 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [Jd Ah 3s 8s]
Seat2 raises to 240
Seat1 calls 120
*** FLOP *** [Ad 2d Kh]
Seat1 checks
Seat2 bets 120
Seat1 calls 120
*** TURN *** [Ad 2d Kh] [As]
Seat1 checks
Seat2 bets 240
Seat1 folds
Uncalled bet of 240 returned to Seat2
Seat2 mucks
Seat2 wins the pot (720)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 720 Rake 0
Board: [Ad 2d Kh As]
Seat 1: Seat1 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: Seat2 (small blind) collected (720), mucked

Seat 1: Seat1 (760)
Seat 2: Seat2 (2,240)
Seat1 posts the small blind of 60
Seat2 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Seat2 [3s 6d 4s Ad]
Seat1 calls 60
Seat2 checks
*** FLOP *** [4c Ks 7c]
Seat2 bets 120
Seat1 calls 120
*** TURN *** [4c Ks 7c] [5h]
Seat2 bets 240
Seat1 raises to 480
Seat2 raises to 720
Seat1 calls 40, and is all in
Seat2 shows [3s 6d 4s Ad]
Seat1 shows [7d 5d 5c Tc]
Uncalled bet of 200 returned to Seat2
*** RIVER *** [4c Ks 7c 5h] [8d]
Seat2 shows a straight, Eight high, for high andSeat2 shows 7,5,4,3,A, for low
Seat1 shows three of a kind, Fives, for high
Seat2 wins the high pot (760) with a straight, Eight high
Seat2 wins the low pot (760) with 7,5,4,3,A
Seat1 stands up
Seat2 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,520 Rake 0
Board: [4c Ks 7c 5h 8d]
Seat 1: Seat1 (small blind) showed [7d 5d 5c Tc] and lost with HI: three of a kind, Fives
Seat 2: Seat2 (big blind) showed [3s 6d 4s Ad] and won (1,520) with HI: a straight, Eight high; LO: 7,5,4,3,A

Razz Pointers: 3rd & 4th Street

This is the first in a series of posts related to heads-up razz.

THIRD STREET:

As in any stud game, proper starting hands is a key to winning. However, when you are heads up, you will play a wide variety of hands. Razz is a game in which I rarely three bet unless I have a lock on my opponent. When you play heads-up razz, most pots are won on 3rd street. Here is a list of situations when you should complete the bet.

• Complete if your 3 cards are lower than your opponents door card. This one should require no explanation. However, be careful if you are playing 3 medium cards and your opponent catches good on 4th.
• Complete if opponent is showing a door card of 10 or higher and you are showing a door card of 9 or lower. In these situations you want to win the pot on 3rd. You might have (K-10)-3 against an 8. You probably have the worst of it on 3rd, but you can easily get away from your hand on 4th if you hit a brick and your opponent catches good. The only exception to this are hands where you hold two paint cards in the hole and your opponent's door card is only one rank higher than yours. You may want to proceed a bit more cautiously with this kind of hand.
• When you are starting with the higher card, call with 3 to an 8 or better if your opponent is showing 8 or lower in the door. Normally, when you have the high card, it is best to simply fold (or take the free card). Don't call a completion with a paint door card (even if you have A-2 in the hole)--it simply invites your opponent to continue betting and you can wait for a better spot. You want to take control of the betting, not your opponent. Of course, I am talking about heads-up play, so you may want to call with hands like (A-3)-Q or (A-2)-J and hope your opponent has a marginal hand. Adding this little bit of variety in your play will keep your opponents guessing about whether or not you have a hand. It can also allow you to see a free fourth street if your opponent does not complete.

FOURTH STREET:

The ideal situation for 4th street is for you to improve your hand by catching another low card in addition to your low door card while your opponent catches a bad card. Obviously this doesn't happen all of the time, but 4th street play is pretty simple in my opinion. I think people over value marginal draws on 4th street that can get them in trouble on the expensive rounds.

• If you are showing the best hand, bet. If not, fold to a bet unless you have a good drawing hand (8 or better). As simple as this sounds, I find many players misplaying hands on 4th street. If you were trying to steal with a hand like (10-9)-4 and you catch an 8 against an opponents board of 2-4, just fold when your opponent leads out. You may have the best hand, but wouldn't you want to get your money in the middle in a better spot than this? I would. Razz is a game where you will often throw away the best hand. Remember that you are trying to get your opponent to lay down the best hand too. As long as your opponent lays down the best hand more often than you do, you will be a winner.
• If both you and your opponent improve, and you get raised on 4th street, you should fold "continuation bet hands" like (K-9)-2-3. As I stated earlier, I don't like three betting in this game. Even with (A-2)-3-4, you don' t have a made hand. You are a clear favorite, but wait and see what develops on 5th street before going crazy. Against a maniac style player, I would advise raising with a wheel draw on 4th. I would also raise with a draw to a 6 or smooth 7 or 8 against an opponent raising with a higher card on board.