As 2007 drew to a close, Sam F., a winning tournament player was disappointed about finishing on the bubble in two of the last three major tournaments that he entered on PokerStars. With this in mind, he decided to switch it up checking out some cash game tables. He began by buying in $200 at $1-$2 6-Max No Limit Texas Holdem. After about an hour of mostly unmemorable play, Sam F. was sitting on $227 when he picked up 9d-10d on the button – some nice suited connectors and in excellent position. The player under the gun made it $7 to go, which was quickly snap-called by the cut-off. Sam decided to also call the $7, and the big blind then re-raised it to $22. UTG called, as did the cut-off. Sam F. was now getting excellent odds to play this pot, and considering the strength exhibited by the big blind, he would have been foolish to contemplate a heavy re-raise all-in to try to steal it right there. Sam F. decided to call, and four players went to the flop.
The flop couldn’t have come much nicer for Sam F., as the board showed 2c-7d-8d, giving him an open-ended straight flush draw, as well as obviously a flush draw, and an open-ended nut straight-draw. In addition, Sam F. also held two over-cards, which in this case would probably not be any good, but none the less contribute to his mathematical probability of taking down the pot. The big blind came out by firing $55 into the pot, which was called by the player UTG. The cut-off folded, leaving Sam F. with a decision to make. He could either simply call the bet, and consider folding on the turn if he didn’t make his hand, or he could make the correct play of moving all-in and trying to win the pot then and there. This is certainly the correct play, as even if Sam F. is called, he is no worse than 50-50 to win the pot.
Sam F. opted for the latter, shoving all-in. The big blind re-raised all in over the top for another $91, and the player UTG used his time bank before calling as well. The turn came Qd, giving Sam F. a flush, and the river came 3h, a blank. The big blind showed Ad-As, for a pair of Aces, and the player UTG showed Qc-Qh, for a set of three Queens. Sam F. had just taken down a pot of slightly more than $700.
Sam F. enjoyed his time at the cash tables, and within one week built up his bankroll to slightly over $3100 playing $0.50-$1 and $1-$2 6-Max No Limit Texas Holdem. He eventually began multi-tabling, and now plays up to six tables at once. He finished among the top online cash-game money winners for 2008, profiting approximately $474,000 USD.
