Hellmuth Holdem Diamonds not exactly my best friend

In January 2004, my wife and I jetted off to the land down under. The trip to Australia was primarily a vacation but also coincided with a major poker tournament hosted by Melbourne's Crown Casino.

The "Australasian Championship" featured a $10,000 Aus dollar (about $7,200 U.S.) buy-in no-limit Hold 'em final tournament.

About 130 players entered the three-day main event. After Day One, I had about doubled up and was in good stead. Late in Day Two, with 22 players remaining, I was in full control of my table and running quite smoothly with $70,000 in chips when I faced a perplexing hand.

With the blinds (required bets) at $1,000 and $2,000 and the antes at $300 a player, I opened for $6,500 with Ad-10d. A local player called me and immediately thought he had a pair somewhere between 10s and 2s, or A-Q. I read him for a strong hand because everyone at that table seemed to be afraid to play even a semi-strong hand against me.

The flop came down 8d-7d-2s, and I immediately checked. I'd flopped a powerful hand, an ace-high flush draw (I needed one more diamond card) and two over cards ("over cards" are cards with a value higher than the board).

The local player now bet out $10,000, and I retreated into my think tank. I studied how many chips were in his stack, and it seemed as if we each had about $75,000.

OK, the fact that he bet means he has my hand beat, I figured. However, if he has pocket 3's, 4's, 5's, 6's, 9's, 10s, jacks or a bluff, I'll probably win the pot by raising all-in: and even if he does call with one of those hands, I'll be a mathematical favorite to win the pot. If he has three-of-a-kind, I'll be in trouble - a bit less than a 3-1 underdog. Still, it's much more likely that he'll have to fold his hand if I raise his last $65,000 in chips.

Traditionally, the pros move all-in with two over cards and an ace-high flush draw. After a minute, I moved all-in, and I was called instantly - yikes! He called so many chips so quickly that I knew my opponent was going to show me three of a kind.

In fact, he had three 8's, and now I needed to hit a diamond. The turn card was the 6c, and now I needed a diamond for a flush or a 9 to complete a straight. But alas, the last card was the Qs. There I sat, on the rail, stunned - it had happened so quickly! If only I had read my opponent for trips I would have still been in there, because I wouldn't have moved all-in.

Oh well, that's poker.

Raise or fold

What do pros traditionally do with two over cards and an ace-high flush draw?

a) call the bet

b) fold

c) move all-in

d) complete a flush!Answer: C

Phil Hellmuth is a nine-time World Series of Poker champion.

By Phil Hellmuth, Special to the News

News Added: 26 March, 2005

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