Friday 4th January 2008

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 -

       *Absolutely Fabulous !

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Hiya there and how have you been over the festive season?

Did you manage to play any poker??

Well things are getting back to normal and so I hope one of your New Years' Resolutions is to have a big win this year - Mine most definitely is !

I spent a fabulous New Years Eve playing in a poker tournament in Birmingham - I didn't make the final table but it was a good night and I had a thoroughly great time - I couldn't think of a better way to bring the New year in !!

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Absolutely Fabulous !

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This weeks' hand is taken from the PartyPoker Women's World Open.

It has been a fascinating tournament so far and the format is six players at a table with only the winner going through.

Jackie Vaswami (wife of the noted Ram Vaswami) is first to act and she folds.
(She eventually went on to win this heat !)

Pippa Flanders (Hail Pippa!) is next to act and she folds too.

Clare Hardy, daughter of Anthony Hardy also passes and action moves on to the notorious Liz Lieu, sitting on the button.

It is fairly early on in the tournament and the blinds are 1,000/2,000 with each player starting with 100,000 chips each.

Liz picks up 10D & 10C.
 

Shannon Elizabeth commentating says: "Liz is in position AND she has a hand."

Jesse May also commentating: "Yes - this is the first sort of two cards of value that she's picked up and she wouldn't mind action from that hand."

Liz raises it up to 6,000.

Hina Kodha, sitting in the Small Blind picks up 10H & 9H and after a short pause, she folds.
 

Action now moves to Michelle Bricknell sitting in the Big Blind.

She picks up 10S & 2D and decides to call Liz's raise.
 

Jesse May laughs: "That's a Robust defence by Michelle isn't it."

Shannon replies: "Yep - all the tens are out but yeah - just defending her blind."

So there is 13,000 in the pot going to the Flop.

The Flop comes down: 3H 5S and AC.
   

Michelle is first to act and she checks.

Shannon sighs: "Not a bad flop for the deuce but hopefully Liz will continuation-bet here."

The odds of winning this hand are 83% in Liz's favour.

Liz bets out 5,000 chips.

Shannon Elizabeth: "Really small for a 13,000 pot out there."

Without hesitation, Michelle raises it up to another 10,000 chips.

Jesse May: "And Michelle's read this as weakness - she's raised it straight up !"

There are now 28,000 chips in the pot to be won.

Liz sits there and ponders the situation. She riffles her chips and has her chin resting in her hands - her mascara hardly blinks at all as she decides what to do.

Jesse May: "And from Liz's point of view now Shannon...."

Shannon replies: "... it looks like Michelle has an Ace. That's what I think Liz has to be thinking right now."

Liz seems to reach a decision - she starts to count out some chips and then looks over to see how many chips Michelle has left.

Jesse May: "Certainly she's not going to re-raise. That would be lovely - I don't understand it."

Liz re-raises another 12,000 making the pot now stand at 45.000.

Jesse May laughs: "NO WAY !!"

Shannon Elizabeth: "Good for Liz !!"

Again - with only a minor hesitation, Michelle calls the bet.

The pot is now 57,000.

Jesse May is in denial: "Have these two mis-read their hands?? Or the board perhaps Shannon??? This is like a battle of wills !!"

The Turn comes down: 8D


Both players check.

Jesse May: "And the fact that Michelle has called on the Flop - I mean - I can't imagine Liz would sell her 10's for a dime now - they're good but - if Michelle puts a bet in..."

The River comes down: 6C


Michelle bets out 20,000.

Shannon Elizabeth: "I think there's too much money out there for Liz not to call now."

Jesse May: "TWENTY THOUSAND !?!"

Shannon Elizabeth: "into a 57,000 pot - I think she has to - !"

Jesse May: "Oh My !!"

Liz looks to see how many chips she has left - she looks at Michelle trying to get a read - and continues to riffle her chips and tries to decide what to do.

Michelle sits there totally impassively, chewing her gum and looking quite unperturbed at all - I'd believe she had the ace if I was playing against her in this particular hand.

Shannon Elizabeth: "This is a stressful hand !"

Jesse May: "This is a really... I mean - it's a strong play by Michelle - Has she just done it because she has the chip lead and wants to set her foot of authority down on this table??"

Liz folds.

Shannon sighs: "Ohhhh Gosh !!"

Jesse wows: "WHAT a PLAY with the ten-deuce Shannon - that was amazing !! That was fraught with danger wasn't it !?!?"

Shannon: "Yeah - I'm afraid that Liz thought maybe that the 20,000 was such a small bet into a 57,000 pot that it was kind-of like... 'call me and pay me off on the River'"

Jesse May sums up: "What a Bluff ! It's the strongest move so far."

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Post Mortem

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I think it's absolutely fabulous to see two players bluff and out-bluff each other and this is the first time I've seen two ladies doing this against each other.

Michelle was absolutely stoic - she sat there chewing gum and looking totally impassive while Liz Lieu had more make-up on than a Revlon counter - and the top she was wearing probably cost more than my entire wardrobe combined - but she was out-played on this particular hand and Michelle took the honours.

Good for her - really - if you saw this hand for yourself - you would realise exactly how well Michelle played this hand - I'll look out for it on YouTube and let you know if someone uploads 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