[basshuntr]

Have to pass on one of the best hands (for me) I have ever played/been
involved in. I am on assignment up near Detroit, so I head to GreekTown
Casino to check out the action. A lot of tables, from 3-6 up to 20-40 and
a few NL tables. The only Tournaments they have are what they call a
Lighting tourney. This is basically a $100+$10 SNG. You get T1500 blinds
start at 10-20, then 20-40, then 50-100, and double every time the button
makes a cycle around the 10 person table. Payout is $600, $300, $100. I
decide to take a shot, as the place seems so damn loose, and I picked up
the $110 buyin in 30-40 minutes on a 3-6 table.

I am playing well, tight aggressive. Pick up a few pots here and there;
knock out 2 ppl, built my stack to around T4000. Guy sitting directly to
my left is also a good, tight-aggressive player and has about T3500 and he
has knocked out 2 ppl. Then the following hand comes up (I honestly
forget what position I am in, sorry):

I am dealt pocket 8’s. Blinds are 50-100. Have some limpers in front of
me. I raise to 100, everyone calls including the limpers. We have 6 in
the pot. Flop comes 8-8-Q (2 diamonds). I am doing somersaults in my
head…..flopped Quad 8’s!! I tell myself to calm down and think….because I
need to extract the maximum amount of $$$ for this dream hand. The 3
limpers check around to me…. I check. Guy on my left takes a few minutes
and bets 500. 1 guy after him calls rather quickly in my opinion. 2 of
the first 3 limpers fold, then one calls. It gets to me, and I go into
the tank. I am acting like I am REALLY struggling with this call, then I
look up at the guy on my left and say, “you have A-8 and flop a set on
me???” He says nothing. I say, “Alright, I call”. We now have 4 in the
pot. Turn Comes and it’s a Jd. It checks to me and I check. Mr. tight
Aggressive bets out another 500. Guy on his calls all-in for 450, guy in
front of me calls all-in for about 300. It gets to me and, again, I go
into the tank. I wait so long, someone at the table said I need to ask
for time if I am going to take so long. (exactly what I wanted to happen)
I act pissed off, and say “OK well then TIME!!!” I then sigh real big and
say, “Call”.

We know have 2 guys all-in and what I feel are the 2 best players at the
table heads up for the river. (I know egotistical LOL) River comes 10
off suit. As soon as the river card hits the table I say, “I’m all in”.
Mr. tight aggressive next to me, acts a bit surprised by this, but quickly
says “ I can’t believe you did that…..I call” The 2 guys who were all in

flip their cards and one says “ I have a flush” and he had a 3-4 of
diamonds. The next all in guy says, “Dammit I was afraid of that. I hit
a straight” and turns over A-K of clubs, and says something about jerks
playing any 2 suited cards! LOL

Then my buddy, Mr. Tight Aggressive, looks over at the 3-4 flush guy and
says “Sorry dude” and turns over the A-7 of diamonds. I then am about to
bust, and I say “well boys this was about like a perfect storm for you
guys” and flip over my pocket 8’s. The whole table and about 30 guys
around it all exploded and went NUTS!!!

3 people knocked out, and I just took about 80% of the chips on the table.
The other 2 guys (rather weak players) thanked me repeatedly for getting
them to the $$$, and it was a easy coast to the $600 from there.

I had to write this one up, as they don’t happen that often!!!

Basshuntr