13th July 2007

Welcome to Hold or Fold - The UK's only Poker E-Letter dedicated to
helping YOU become a better player!

In this week's E-Letter -

       *You shouldn't play bad Aces...

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Hiya there and how have you been this week? I had my annual computer
upgrade so I've been without a PC for FOUR WHOLE DAYS so you nearly
didn't get an e-letter this week -

I did manage to play in last Sunday's tournament but I crashed out early and
this time, I'm ashamed to say, it was through my own bad play - sometimes
cards go to your head and seem better than they really are - I just didn't put
my opponent on a decent hand - I thought they were bluffing their little socks
off - .......... but they weren't :-(

But I'm optimistic for this Sunday's tournament - four days off playing no poker
has made me eager to get it right this time so watch this space and I'll let you know how it goes.

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For this week's hand - we're still in the EPT Copenhagen Final Table and we're heads up with Bertrand 'Elke' Grospellier versus Magnus Peterssen. The blinds are 15,000 for the Small Blind and 30,000 for the Big Blind with a running Ante of 3,000.

So before the cards are dealt - there is 51,000 in the pot.

Elke is in the Small Blind and acts first pre-flop. He picks up AC and 2H and most uncharacteristically doesn't raise but just calls making the pot 66,000.
 

Obviously he is trying to disguise the fact that he has an Ace.

Over to Peterssen who picks up 3S and 3C and he just checks - also disguising the fact that he has a pocket pair - albeit a small one.
 

James Hartigan commentating says: "We've seen this before - two decent hands and they're kinda slow-playing..."

Peterssen is well in front pre-flop with 69% odds that he will win this hand.

The Flop comes down: 7H 10S and 2S.
   

Magnus Peterssen to act first... He decides to check and Elke quickly checks too.

James Hartigan: "The Threes are still good for Magnus Peterssen."

The odds to win this hand, at this point are 80% in Peterssen's favour.

The Turn comes down as 2D giving Elke Trip deuces !


Lee Jones also commentating gasps: "Oh my goodness, Elke just got there again. "

Peterssen checks again and his odds have now dropped from 80% in front to a 5% chance of winning this hand.

Grospellier casually chucks in 50,000 chips.

Lee Jones: "It's a little bet - Elke can't believe that Peterssen has anything so it is really a 'come hither' bet." Peterssen calls the bet and the pot now stands at 166,000. Peterssen is like 'I don't believe that 2 helped you..."

James Hartigan: "... and that's why he's calling."

The River comes down... 3D !!!


James Hartigan: "It's ALL turned around again - it's a Full House for Magnus Peterssen - Three's full of Deuces!!"

Lee Jones: "And Elke has Trip 2's with an Ace Kicker !!"

James Hartigan: "We could see all the money go in here."

Magnus bets 80,000 making the pot 246,000.

Lee Jones: "Elke is asking himself - 'what is that bet all about?? I've got the best hand - there's no straight possible, there's no flush possible - I've got Trip Deuces with the nut kicker."

Elke Re-Raises 140,000 making the pot now stand at 466,000.

Action moves back to Magnus and sits there impassively working it all out.

Lee Jones: "Look at Magnus - absolutely cold - he's trying to ask himself - 'could Elke possibly have 10's full or 7's full? He would have raised pre-flop with 10's or 7's - he says 'I've got the best hand."

Magnus takes a moment and then announces: "All-In".

That's an extra 1,425,000 making the pot 1,891,000.

James Hartigan: "Wow - he's done it - he's pushed all-in."

For a moment - it doesn't seem like Elke has heard him.

The dealer repeats: "All In" and Elke doesn't hesitate and says "I CALL".

James Hartigan: "And Elke makes the call very quickly - he doesn't even think about what his opponent might have."

Elke flips his A2 over and Magnus sees them and stands up throwing his Threes onto the table in triumph and shouts "YES!!!"

Elke sees he's beaten and holds his head in his hands in total defeat.

James Hartigan: "He thought his Trip 2's were good and look - he is devastated! Magnus is now the chip leader and Elke is down to about 800,000 chips left."

Lee Jones: "James - that was an amazing hand there. Look at him - he's just destroyed now."

Magnus Peterssen turns to Elke and says: "You shouldn't play bad aces."

James Hartigan commiserates: "I don't think this man needs a lesson in poker right now Magnus."

Lee Jones: "He didn't need to make that comment. Right now Elke looks as if all the air has
been sucked out of the room."

James Hartigan: "The one thing I will say is - as is his usual standard of play -
he (Elke) didn't think before making that call - he made a snap decision."

Lee Jones: "I just don't understand - I would have eventually made that call too - but you would just want to stop and think for a second."

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Post MORTEM

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Yes it's really good play to slow-play a hand and try to trap your opponent - the trouble is - at that moment - you don't respect what your opponent might have and you just focus on your own play.

It's really hard to lay down a good hand like Trips but sometimes that is the right play - if only you could see it !

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Well I hope you have a good week - may the cards be with you and I'll see you again next Friday.

All the best

Meg Arana
Hold or Fold