Born in the USA

[Howard Burroughs]

This is a recent hand from a Mirage $10-$20 game.


I open raise from the cutoff with black nines.
We lose the button & sb. BB 3-bets. I call.


btw, BB I recognize as an off duty dealer from another poker room. I have never played with him before. He just sat down in the game.


Flop......

K Q 9 (two hearts)

Check, bet, check-raise, call.

K Q 9, 4 (offsuit)

Check, bet, check-raise, call.


River brings the 8 of hearts.

Check, bet, check-raise, call (no, this is not Groundhog Day :-)


BB turns over two black aces & my hand is good.


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I thought I made a few mistakes in this hand and brought it up at the discussion group I participate in. I got some great feedback from Clark & Barry T. (as well as a few others).

A friend asked me if I would post the hand here as well.


A comment & a question:


The comment.......

Check-raising on the Flop, turn & river all in the same hand, is sometimes referred to as the "Hat Trick". I've accomplished the hat trick a time or two over the years myself. I've also been the victim of a hat trick before. But this is the first time I can remember, seeing someone accomplish the hat trick without having the winning hand!


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The question.......

Given the hand as described, what is the best way to play my pocket nines on each street?


Thanks in advance for any comments &/or input. Special thanks to Clark for coming by yesterday and giving his take on this and other topics.


Best of Luck

Howard