Quad Queens
I was playing an online poker game the other day and was dealt Ace-Queen of Spades in the big blind position. I bet five times the big blind before the flop and got four callers-not quite what I wanted, because if I didn’t hit my Ace or Queen I would be in a tough spot. Turns out I didn’t have a whole lot to worry about, because the flop came out Queen-Queen-Queen. It was a good thing that I wasn’t at a live poker game, because I jumped out of my seat with my fists in the air. I’d never flopped a four-of-a-kind before, and I was (understandably, I think) pretty dang excited.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure just what to do next. I obviously had the best hand at the table, one of the best hands, period. Ideally, I’d get all of my opponents to go all in with me, but with trips showing, I wasn’t sure how to bet. Since the small blind folded before the flop, I quickly reviewed my opponents’ play style and how they perceived me as a player. I have a reputation as a tight player, and my pre-flop raise would have hinted at a possible Queen, and I knew at least one aggressive player was going to act after me. I checked, the aggressive player raised, and everyone called him. The pot was huge by the time the river came along, so I pushed all in, got called by two of my poker online opponents and reaped in the rewards.
