Intersting hand from tonight's EOM game.

NickyOD

Not a good night for me tonight. didn't get dealt a hand, didn't hit a flop, eventually down to 5800 with blinds 400/800 and walked AK into KK but such is life.

Anyway here is a hand that really peaked my interest. It was just after the break and blinds are 200-400. Mark (big, bald guy with glasses who wrote a book I believe) limps in EP and Brian Vickers raised to 1600. All fold to Mark who calls. Flop is A-J-8 rainbow. Mark checks, I think Brian bet 2000 and Mark goes all in. I think Mark had 7K and I think Brian had 4K left. I know these numbers aren't exact but they are close enough to for the difference to be irrelevent.

Brain thinks for a long time and after looking at his cards for a while Mark says "If you look long enough one might turn into an Ace" Brian says "What you mean one of these?" and shows an ace. Mark says, "oh I've got one of those" and also shows an ace.

Now after saying this, Mark asks for Brian's hand to be declared dead for exposing his first. After a good ruling from Luke, of course this doesn't happen and both hands are still live. Now Brian has had roughtly 4 minutes to think about this and folds.

What kicker did both players have and how clever an idea was it for Mark to show his ace/ask for the ruling?

Doc Farrell

When u get to know him u'll find it to be about on the same level as all his other clever stunts.

try being nice to the guy then watch as he impresses u with his sense of decency and goodwill. then kick urself in the stones for giving him an even break.

if u think i'm being unfair u should see the reception he gets on the hendon mob site. nothing i havent said to his face.

ocallagh

Was it Mark Strahan (english accent)?

Brian passed AT or less IMO. It was a bad idea for Mark to show his ace. I'd say he was ahead.. If it was Strahan he probably asked for a ruling to hopefully extract a call from Brian. Mark is not stupid and would not have asked for that ruling with AT or less. I guess Mark had AJ or AK..

I don't like either of them showing their hands..

NickyOD

ocallagh wrote:

Was it Mark Strahan (english accent)?

That's the one.

tricky D

Right, I was running this. Mark Strahan asks for a ruling, specifically for Brian's hand to be declared dead. I the dealer ask what has happened, get brief description, then loadsa others start to throw in their word. Mark is asking for Brian's hand to be declared dead. He's tried this one with me a handful of times and should know better. He knows the rule. At this stage he really should know full well that I know it: the cards are not dead and Brian can only call bets, which is what I say. However Mark has also showed, so it's a little less clear, though the ruling would be more or less the same. I say this but am aware that shennanigans are going on and a warning is warranted for both. SOP says get Luke to make that ruling if a warning is likely - seniority and also I have to remain on the floor so don't need to be the object of any bad vibes - Luke becomes the target for that which is fine/one of his roles. I run down and up stairs (for the 50th time), telling Luke the above and recommending the warning for both. I don't stick around for obvious reasons but Luke gives the expected ruling and a warning each. Proper order.

Had a nice brief chat about other matters with Nicky later, good to meet.

Fyi, 3:45am Teddy Hickson took 10K in a deal, with 5 others taking 2800, including Mark Strahan.

\r

5starpool

maddest deal other. 6 players left, and chip leader gets 10k, with first prize only 11k. Mad.

tricky D

Did have almost half the chips....

ZZR1100

ocallagh wrote:

Was it Mark Strahan (english accent)?

..

isnt he the guy who ran the pokeruk website and the poker school in the fitz?.
He used to run a diary on his tourney history.One of his classics was if your not willing to call an all in with the nut flush draw you shouldn't be playing poker and yes he wrote a book or 2.

ntlbell

ZZR1100 wrote:

isnt he the guy who ran the pokeruk website and the poker school in the fitz?.

He used to run a diary on his tourney history.One of his classics was if your not willing to call an all in with the nut flush draw you shouldn't be playing poker and yes he wrote a book or 2.

Does he always wear glasses? I'm trying to picture the guy but the person I have in my head is a big bald guy english accent but I can't remember seeing him wearing glasses.

nicryan

yeah that deal was still crazy even though teddy had half the chips in play...with 6 players left he can still be beaten, and when talking to him afterwards I asked him if he would have accepted 7k...and he said he'd hold out for 8 but eventually agree on 7.5....that would be an extra 500 each for the other 5 bringing their total winnings to 3300....above what 3rd place would get as opposed to 2800 which was less then 3rd.

the 2 players who were right to make the deal were teddy, cause he was offered 10k with first at 11k,so a clear win without any risk and saving 2 hours (he had a meeting in the morning) and ronan who was the shortstack.

I think it was dominic who said in the omaha only 50 game (after someone else won a pot) 'now the winner here is poker' to which marq replied 'as opposed to in the tournament, where the winner was teddy'....fits really...

stupid stupid deal

Nic

nicryan

ntlbell wrote:

Does he always wear glasses? I'm trying to picture the guy but the person I have in my head is a big bald guy english accent but I can't remember seeing him wearing glasses.

doesn't always were glasses....likes to play ace-rag regularly...heh...I remember tom slagging him about that when he busted tom by 2 pairing...

Tom: I hope you don't teach people to play like that....in fact, I hope you do!



Nic

careca

ocallagh wrote:

Was it Mark Strahan (english accent)?

Brian passed AT or less IMO. It was a bad idea for Mark to show his ace. I'd say he was ahead.. If it was Strahan he probably asked for a ruling to hopefully extract a call from Brian. Mark is not stupid and would not have asked for that ruling with AT or less. I guess Mark had AJ or AK..

I don't like either of them showing their hands..

I was at a table with him one night (nearly sure Doc was there also) when he did the exact same thing, trying to get a player's cards declared dead. On that occasion the other player called him and Mark was bluffing. The player who called said the only reason he did so was because Mark had tried to declare his hand dead. So it could work both ways.

NickyOD

I think there's 2 possible hands Mark could have had here. Either he had AJ lookingn for a call, or AT not looking for a call. I don't know Brian very well so I don't know what Mark's thinking was. Brian said he folded AQ but I think it was more likely to have been AT. I've played against Mark quite a few times over the last year or so and he has the most unpleasant table manner I've ever seen.

pokertroll

ntlbell wrote:

Does he always wear glasses? I'm trying to picture the guy but the person I have in my head is a big bald guy english accent but I can't remember seeing him wearing glasses.

Mark Strahan

ocallagh

pokertroll wrote:

Mark Strahan

Full screen Strahan doesnt do the hangover any favours...

mewso

Sorry Mark just wanted something smaller and as a link. It should be a choice

ntlbell

NickyOD wrote:

I think there's 2 possible hands Mark could have had here. Either he had AJ lookingn for a call, or AT not looking for a call. I don't know Brian very well so I don't know what Mark's thinking was. Brian said he folded AQ but I think it was more likely to have been AT. I've played against Mark quite a few times over the last year or so and he has the most unpleasant table manner I've ever seen.

So according to the blog pokertroll posted Mark had A2 nice play.

NickyOD

ntlbell wrote:

So according to the blog pokertroll posted Mark had A2 nice play.

Mark Strahan does not limp in EP with A2 on a table where pots are being raised 2 out of 3 hands.

nicryan

NickyOD wrote:

Mark Strahan does not limp in EP with A2 on a table where pots are being raised 2 out of 3 hands.

you seem to believe he doesn't overrate ace-rags hands....


Nic

NickyOD

nicryan wrote:

you seem to believe he doesn't overrate ace-rags hands....
Nic

His table manner may be a disgrace but he aint stupid.

Daithio

NickyOD wrote:

His table manner may be a disgrace but he aint stupid.

I dunno about this one. I saw him check raise a complete rock all in last week on an ace high board. Mark was holding kings. I've seen him make alot of very questionable plays.

De Deraco

that was me, thanks im never usually called a rock. i didn't know him then but know i think he likes to push his stack all in quite alot. read his blog too.

ollyk1

ROCK!?! ROFL

Culchie

ollyk1 wrote:

ROCK!?! ROFL

:v: :v: :v:

NickyOD

Daithio wrote:

I dunno about this one. I saw him check raise a complete rock all in last week on an ace high board. Mark was holding kings. I've seen him make alot of very questionable plays.

That's odd. I've played against him quite a few times and I've never really seen any mistakes. He also gets quite a lot of respect from people who know him much better than I would. Brian is hardly someone Mark thinks he can push around either. Having said that if his blog is true about pushing first then then its possible. I wasn't really paying close atention until the arguing started. Mark stated to the table afterwards that he had AJ. That was my read and I believed him at the time. I felt he called for the ruling, knowing he wouldn't get it trying to feing weakness and entice Brian into a call.

Daithio

De Deraco wrote:

that was me, thanks im never usually called a rock. i didn't know him then but know i think he likes to push his stack all in quite alot. read his blog too.

Well you were playing fairly tight that night anyway, maybe just not picking up any hands. It was an excellent call all the same. I just thought it was an absolutely terrible play by Mark.

Daithio

NickyOD wrote:

That's odd. I've played against him quite a few times and I've never really seen any mistakes. He also gets quite a lot of respect from people who know him much better than I would. Brian is hardly someone Mark thinks he can push around either. Having said that if his blog is true about pushing first then then its possible. I wasn't really paying close atention until the arguing started. Mark stated to the table afterwards that he had AJ. That was my read and I believed him at the time. I felt he called for the ruling, knowing he wouldn't get it trying to feing weakness and entice Brian into a call.

Maybe I'm just being a little bit biased, because I hate when people use below the belt tactics when playing poker. Generally the people who do this sort of thing can't really play the game.

De Deraco

it was poor play by him i had him covered and with my raise half his chips were in the pot. he hadn't enough chips left to force a fold.
i was very card dead that night, and to him i must of seemed like a rock, hence why i dwealt on the call a little.
It was a tough enough table anyway. wasn't easy getting chips.

BigDragon

1. Nice comment "chief o'hara" on his blog hehe

2. This bit from comments made on Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins blog says it all really.....



Anonymous said...

Why does everyone dislike Strahan so much?
2:44 AM
Anonymous said...

Titmus here,

Everyone takes an instant dislike to Strahan because it saves time.
12:41 PM

Daithio

BigDragon wrote:

1. Nice comment "chief o'hara" on his blog hehe

2. This bit from comments made on Keith 'The Camel' Hawkins blog says it all really.....



Anonymous said...

Why does everyone dislike Strahan so much?
2:44 AM
Anonymous said...

Titmus here,

Everyone takes an instant dislike to Strahan because it saves time.
12:41 PM

Brilliant!

Dub13

Daithio wrote:

Maybe I'm just being a little bit biased, because I hate when people use below the belt tactics when playing poker. Generally the people who do this sort of thing can't really play the game.

Nail on the head,never a truer word said on this forum.

Daithio

De Deraco wrote:

it was poor play by him i had him covered and with my raise half his chips were in the pot. he hadn't enough chips left to force a fold.
i was very card dead that night, and to him i must of seemed like a rock, hence why i dwealt on the call a little.
It was a tough enough table anyway. wasn't easy getting chips.

Yeah if I remember correctly I messed up with 66. It was one of those situations in poker where I was completely baffled as to what to do. 8k in chips, blinds 500-1k, going up to 800 -1.5k in less then 5 minutes. 3rd person to act. Push or fold? I think folding is probably the right play but I pushed and was called by AQ...

5starpool

If you read the article Strahan wrote for one of those poker magazines a few months ago you would believe he had A2 there. He advocates calling with A rag in any position if they are suited. He had a staggering amount of bad advice in that article. I think the problem is that, even though he is an obnoxious man he gets too much respect at times on the table for his play.

NickyOD

Daithio wrote:

Yeah if I remember correctly I messed up with 66. It was one of those situations in poker where I was completely baffled as to what to do. 8k in chips, blinds 500-1k, going up to 800 -1.5k in less then 5 minutes. 3rd person to act. Push or fold? I think folding is probably the right play but I pushed and was called by AQ...

Nothnig wrong with that push.

NickyOD

5starpool wrote:

If you read the article Strahan wrote for one of those poker magazines a few months ago you would believe he had A2 there. He advocates calling with A rag in any position if they are suited. He had a staggering amount of bad advice in that article. I think the problem is that, even though he is an obnoxious man he gets too much respect at times on the table for his play.

I'll probably play any suited ace with very deep stacks. but he has about 20BBs at the start of the hand and lots of pots are getting raised. I just don't believe him. There's a lot of misinformation in his blog and it wouldn't surprise me for a second if he reads this forum and posted the thread in his blog accordingly.

mewso

He has posted here before.