Patience Rewarded

So I've been sitting at this table for about ninety minutes being a lean, mean, folding machine. I'm a cool 40 over what I started at, which isn't bad considering the number of hands that have passed through me. I believe my table stats had me playing less than 15% of the hands, and that includes the big blinds that I was permitted to just call out of.

The action's been typical for a low-limit table. Lots of wild all-in pots as the low-stakers try to out-donkey one another. The candidates come and go, but the action stays the same. I pick up a few small pots here and there, and lose about the same in low-stakes action that either didn't pay out or had the stakes raised on me beyond my card's ability to play at.

The previous hand I'd drawn AQd and converted it into a top straight, one Jd away from having my first Royal Flush ever.

Suited Big Slick immediately after a Suited Little Slick. This feels like it could be a rush, so instinctively I play it slow. Hmmm… 30 more? With big slick, the probable donkey calling going on, plus the pot building, how can I not call? Here's my flush draw. I like flush draws. The rule is that you have to get five to one on your money to bet or call with a flush draw, however one early big raise can drive out the rest of the players (me included) limiting the pot odds and implied odds. The math works, the call is a no-brainer. Uh-oh. King of the Donkeys or a brilliant maneuver? It is a huge over-bet given this pot thus far. On the one hand there's no way I'm going to get five to one to call this bet. On the other, he could have a Queen; given that, though, he doesn't have a flush draw yet. On the third hand, there's a possible straight draw if he's holding JT, plus the usual KK or AA hole possibilities. Uh… WTF? They can't all have Aces. I've been distracted for much of my time at the table, however this stinks of King of the Donkeys. I don't have the pot-odds, but I figure I'm due one loose call. This is a mistake more often than it is the right thing to do… but I get vibes of weakness from the rest of the table. Nothing. Well except the possible JT hit his straight draw. I'm almost definitely behind at this point. Fortunately, nothing is also the cost of another card. Ka-Ching. Nut flush. No pairs on the board so there are no concealed sets, boats, or quads. Even if person with the T stayed in this far and made his straight, I still win. This kind of bet always makes me wonder. Why would I put my cards down based on the pot-odds I must be getting? Any J or Q is paired and there is a potential flush on the board. This player is obviously trying to scare me out of one of the side pots by representing a flush or a straight thinking I don't have the flush. Unfortunately for him, I actually have the flush, and know I cannot be beat. Nice hand kid. Pity I have a better one. So, let's review:

• I made a donkey call of the all-in bet as I wasn't getting the correct pot odds at the time. If I assumed the all-in was coming at the turn or river and I hit my flush then I could claim implied odds to make the call, but realistically anyone playing well should check their straight after a potential flush hits the board. Sure, with the nut-flush I'd go all-in making them wonder if I had the worse straight or the flush, but that's the decision they should be making, not trying to get cute trying to push me out.
• seat one converted a Ts Kd into a straight, but didn't respect the possible flush.
• seat two chased a straight draw with worse conversion odds than my flush draw.
• who knows just what the heck seat eight or nine was thinking, as a pair of queens just isn't strong enough to play in this pool

The key, as always, is to recognize when you are on a big hand and get in on it; just as you have to stay out of the way with marginal or weak hands while the rest of the table plays King of the Donkeys.