[timprov]

Crossposting this from my LJ, as it bears on one of our occasional discussions. And it's a nice illustration of why Razz is a good thinking game, despite its reputation.

FullTiltPoker Game #228052257: $5 + $0.50 Tournament (1400220), Table 2 - 120/240 Ante 20 - Limit Razz - 5:12:52 ET - 2005/09/23
Seat 1: TheDotComMan (5,024)
Seat 3: fireitupbaby (1,613)
Seat 4: J85 (2,944)
Seat 5: AF0809 (4,177)
Seat 6: maniacinsocal (2,995)
Seat 7: Tapirboy (1,134)
TheDotComMan antes 20
fireitupbaby antes 20
J85 antes 20
AF0809 antes 20
maniacinsocal antes 20
Tapirboy antes 20
*** 3RD STREET ***
Dealt to TheDotComMan [4d]
Dealt to fireitupbaby [Qd]
Dealt to J85 [9c]
Dealt to AF0809 [2s]
Dealt to maniacinsocal [2c]
Dealt to Tapirboy [3h Ac] [4h]
fireitupbaby is high with [Qd]
fireitupbaby brings in for 40
J85 folds
AF0809 calls 40
maniacinsocal completes it to 120
Tapirboy raises to 240
TheDotComMan folds
fireitupbaby folds
AF0809 folds
maniacinsocal calls 120
*** 4TH STREET ***
Dealt to maniacinsocal [2c] [Td]
Dealt to Tapirboy [3h Ac 4h] [Qc]
maniacinsocal bets 120
Tapirboy calls 120
*** 5TH STREET ***
Dealt to maniacinsocal [2c Td] [Tc]
Dealt to Tapirboy [3h Ac 4h Qc] [9h]
Tapirboy bets 240
maniacinsocal calls 240
*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to maniacinsocal [2c Td Tc] [Kc]
Dealt to Tapirboy [3h Ac 4h Qc 9h] [5c]
Tapirboy bets 240
maniacinsocal has 15 seconds left to act
maniacinsocal calls 240
*** 7TH STREET ***
Dealt to Tapirboy [3h Ac 4h Qc 9h 5c] [2h]
Tapirboy bets 240
maniacinsocal calls 240
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Tapirboy shows [3h 2h 4h Qc 9h 5c Ac] (5,4,3,2,A)
maniacinsocal mucks
Tapirboy wins the pot (2,360) with 5,4,3,2,A
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,360 | Rake 0
Seat 1: TheDotComMan folded on 3rd St.
Seat 3: fireitupbaby folded on 3rd St.
Seat 4: J85 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 5: AF0809 folded on 3rd St.
Seat 6: maniacinsocal mucked [7c 5d 2c Td Tc Kc Ah] - T,7,5,2,A
Seat 7: Tapirboy showed [3h 2h 4h Qc 9h 5c Ac] and won (2,360) with 5,4,3,2,A



This is a key hand from my Razz win this morning, essentially the start of my building chips. It's key to know that maniacinsocal is a good Razz player and knows I'm a good Razz player. He finished second to me in the tournament I won at the beginning of the month, and we spent most of the time at the same table. We've also been at this table together for nearly an hour.

Sixth is what's interesting, and if you've read Sklansky on Razz you know why. For those who haven't, let me say that Sklansky recommends checking here. Maniac is clearly drawing dead, but checking sixth disguises my hand and may get me a call on the end. Usually I agree with this.

The important thing in this hand is that I know that Maniac knows that, and I also know Maniac knows that I know that. So a bet is obviously best, because Maniac must think that if I really did have a made 9, I would check. And in this case I was right and got him to call me down with a ten.