I’m still in a tournament-mood since last time. I was able to upgrade my bankroll a little more on FTP, so I can keep playing $10 tourneys over there. Now look what a cute hand I flopped yesterday (click to enlarge):

Now flopping quads with one of them in the hole is already quiete nice. As I discussed earlier, the chance of this to happen is only 0.01 % (once in about 19 599 times). So I guess I almost played 20 000 flops online^^. But the most beautiful thing about this hand is the fact my slowplaying gets rewarded with a queen on the river (the queen of diamonds ). So my opponent pays off maximally (all his chips).

I also try to build up a bankroll on Pokerstars meanwhile, playing some $5 tournaments. I’ll just show you how easy it is sometimes to pick up a pot on a ‘bluff’, just because your opponent shows so much weakness in his betting pattern:

Well, you don’t need much nerve to steal pots like this. Player 3 makes a standard late position raise, which makes my K9 suited a standard calling hand in that spot. I call his rather weak flopbet and when the same amount is betted on the turn, I just raise and pick it up.

Finally, I have one terrific classic album to recommend you:Jethro Tull - Stand Up (1969). As you maybe noticed already in my all-time music list, this is one of my favorite groups. Originally founded in the mid-sixties as a blues band, Jethro Tull became one of the pioneers of progressive rock with this second album, with Ian Anderson taking over the group once and for all. The classical influences on the album are best demonstrated by Bourée, which is inspirated by the classical work Bourrée by Bach. By the way, all the fans who voted Hotel California in the previous poll, should definitely listen to We Used to Know, which uses the same chord progressions as the 1976 monsterhit from the Eagles.

One of the most beautiful moments in poker: knowing that you have collected the four cards of the same kind. Catching ‘four of a kind’ or ‘quads’ is however not something you’ll experience every day. Lets have a look at the common odds of getting this wonderful pokerhand:

• on the flop with paired hole cards: 0,245 % (once in about 407 times)
• on the flop with unpaired hole cards: 0,01 % (once in about 19 599 times)
• on the turn (after having made a set on the flop): 2,12 % (once in about 46 times)
• on the river (after having made a set on the flop or turn): 2,17 % (once in about 45 times)
• running on turn and river: 0,09 % (once in about 1080 times)

As you see, it won’t happen too much. That’s why the fact of me catching quads THREE times in the past four days is so remarkable . I made some shots for you:

Here I flopped a set (7.7:1, 11,5%) in a limped pot which I betted right there. I was called on the flop and again on the turn after a bet (by the BB). On the river I checked to induce a bluff from my opponent (who possibly missed his flushdraw and could perceive the pairing 7 as a scare card for me). He indeed made a move but folded after my reraise (ofcourse I would have looked like a monkey when he didn’t bet and I showed quads).

Two days later I just flopped quad kings ^^. As you can see, Q high paid me off till the river, while I was hoping he had a 7 hehe.

Finally, I was playing a multi-table tournament on Ultimate Bet (where I return now and then because of their awesome reload bonuses, playing as ‘Bluffalo9′). Again I flopped a set and check-called this time. On the turn my opponent betted again, I shoved him all-in, he called and I smiled at his shiny Jack.

So I guess my odds of getting quads are like 0,0 % in the next couple of days .