Pigeons Poker

[WarBwastardo]

So this will be a rather specific blog.  A bi-weekly chronicle of what I would think is the most demanding and baffling poker ordeal in either the virtual or bricks and mortar poker world.  Those of you who have read my blog may recall some reports from the game, an example of which can be found here: http://voyporustedes.blogspot.com/2007/12/pigeons-freeze-out-baffles-greatest.html

It's a £10 freeze-out played in a pub on a Sunday evening with 5,000 starting chips and 20 minute blinds.  A friendly game, eight or nine handed, played by novices mostly called Steve.  With the exception of Alan (RioRodent), Alan"s good lady misses and myself, there are no regular poker players amongst our number.

Consequently some abstract and inconsistent plays are frequent.  Players are married to hands very easily and divorced from their chips soon after.  Value betting and bluffing are one and the same and thinking on different levels is considered just something that happens to other people.

It's a challenge.  It is Poker's Gordian Knot.  It is Moby Dick to my Captain Ahab.  This blog will be interactive.  Every two weeks I shall detail one of the more abstract hands and it will be your mission should you choose to accept it, to figure out the holdings of the players involved.

Correct answers will be impossible so there won't be a prize, but consider yourself an extraordinary talent if you do put any of these people on the correct hand.   Before we begin I think it advisable that one doesn't approach these puzzles before you go off to play a proper game as it's bewildering influence can last up to two days.

Now we're not out here to deride anyone or make fun of anyone or mock anyone, this is purely to be approached as a poker puzzle, however names will be changed were appropriate so I can take the piss a bit when necessary.

Ready?  And away we go:

Blinds 50/100


Player UTG + 1 limps, folded round to button who also limps, small blind completes, big blind checks.

Flop:  kh  qc  jc  - All Check

Turn

Small Blind bets 200, Big Blind folds, UTG+ 1 calls, Button calls

River  jd

Small blind bets 300, UTG + raises to 600, button goes into the tank for a minute but folds.  Small blind calls.

What were the holdings of the Small Blind, UTG+1 and the Button?

[mal666]

8.10 9,A A4

[Santino67]

K/10, 8/9, A/Q

[Swinebag]

QK QK and QK  

chop chop!!!

[Santino67]

Good shout Brian, would never have seen that coming so you"re probably right  

[WarBwastardo]

Interesting answers, but I"m afraid there was a little bit too much in the way of logic in your analysis.

The Small Blind had Jack rag and won the hand

The UTG +1 who min raised on the river had K-2!!

Button had  Queen rag.

[Santino67]

Interesting answers, but I"m afraid there was a little bit too much in the way of logic in your analysis.

The Small Blind had Jack rag and won the hand

The UTG +1 who min raised on the river had K-2!!

Button had  Queen rag.

I knew one of them had a king and another of them had a queen..........do I win???  

[WarBwastardo]

You were very close, you"re invited to come and play if you"re ever in the area.

[Santino67]

OK I"ll promise to raise in early position with 8/3 off suit  

[Roscopiko]

OK I"ll promise to raise in early position with 8/3 off suit  

That would be considered a tight range for you grant  

[Santino67]

I"ve come to the conclusion that it"s one of these guys who knocked me out in London.

[WarBwastardo]

Starting chips 5,000

Blinds at 200/400 no antes

6 handed

UTG + 1 raises 600 (1,000 in total)

Folded to BB who puts original raiser all-in (leaving himself 3,500 back)

4,000 more to OR who insta-calls

BB shows 8-8

What does OR have?

[biffa85]

j8 sooted.....or maybe a couple of .....

[WarBwastardo]

Q-9 sooted.  You"ve won a magnum of Lucozade.

[RioRodent]

And you were so shocked... you left your phone up there.