Had a interesting little scenario come up just today while playing some Sit & Go tournaments. Got A-K unsuited on the button, raised it up to three times the big blind, and got two callers. Then the flop came K-K-K, giving me quads right out of the gate, something I’ve never had happen when I was holding just one of the quad cards in the pocket. To be honest, I was a little stunned and didn’t even realize what was going on at the table until I realized that there had already been a bet and a call and now it was my turn to act.
Hoping to making the most of the hand, especially if someone had a pocket pair and flopped a full house, I just smooth called. The turn brought a harmless looking 6, and there was yet another bet and a call in front of me. One more smooth call I thought, and then I’ll raise on the river. Fifth street brings a 8, and to my dismay both players check. I put out a very small value bet, and they both fold. Still, I made about as much as I could’ve hoped.
With quads, it’s hard to maximize value, as really the only thing someone’s going to call large bets with is if they have a strong full house, and even then they might be a little weary. Obviously I was lucky to flop quads AND be on the button at the same time, but even then I couldn’t really use my position to re-raise as that would’ve just easily scared off everyone else.
Regardless, it was nice to flop the stone nuts and watch opponents bet and call right into my avalanche of Kings, kind of like a reward for all the hard work and mind reading I have to do the rest of the time. Of course this means I’ve used up all my karma for the month, so maybe it’s time to play it safe and head down to the microlimits.
