It was a game of no pretence this week, as players ceased feigning that we'd somehow given our latest recruit, Rusty, an easy ride to his 100% win record. That BS was never going to fly – nobody's "happy” to lose, even if they've enjoyed a great game. But with the joking put aside, we all needed to up our game to provide a challenge.
It was also a game of no pretence (well, almost) as showdown after showdown revealed that either a) nobody's bluffing continued for very long, or b) there were an awful lot of good hands. Time after time, we revealed that our hole cards had hit, or else had great potential. After initial raises, a 3-way all-in on a flop of K22 showed Rusty had gambled with 52 off, Jake had 2 pairs with his suited AK, and Steve also had trip 2s but with a decisive A kicker, that made a superfluous boat on the river.
Rusty won most of those chips back from Steve just a few hands later, calling a fair raise and then flopping a straight with his suited 34h. He came undone later, largely when he tripped up with German virgins on board ("Nein! Nein!”) but was marginally out-kicked by Steve.
More was to follow when Tom's stack had dwindled and he pushed all-in. 4 players called to try sending him home early and as the side pot grew, it looked as if his chances were slim at best. But another raggy flop (245) had delivered Tom a quintupling of chips with his A3 (suited, of course!)
In the end, Tom exited 4th and headed off to the casino to change his luck – which he managed in spectacular style. 3 hours to turn a 1000% profit is a solid performance, and although he claimed it was mostly luck, Tom can be a BadAss player - and not just at the Ambassador.
Heads up, Sean was looking good with a 2:1 advantage in chips over Steve. However, in a demonstration of non-compliance by Lady Luck, Steve played the same 34h that Rusty had earlier flopped a straight with, and was rewarded with a flopped flush. If there is a Poker God, one thing you can be sure of is she's fickle, and she'll fuck who she likes.