KCL commentary

If you're wondering, KCL stands for Kansas City Lowball, another name for single draw deuce-to-seven, so if you're not interested in poker you may as well click the back button now. Here I'm posting what I think are some of the more interesting hands I've played in the last fortnight; just imagine if I'd also included the boring ones. For good measure I've also added a couple of bonus hands from other lowball games.

Hand 1
What’s going on here? Will doesn’t bet his eight after the draw. Judging by all the action he puts in pre-draw, he was drawing to a seven, so I guess he thinks he “missed” his draw.

PokerStars Game #50338251433: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/09/29 5:13:46 ET
Table 'Jokaste V' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Metallor666 ($25.05 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($31.20 in chips)
Seat 3: Will090681 ($15 in chips)
Seat 5: Peter0985 ($16.45 in chips)
Seat 6: popaionut ($32.65 in chips)
Seat 7: dkpiatt ($42.60 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
Will090681: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Kh 7d 8h 4d 2c]
Peter0985: raises $1 to $1.50
popaionut: folds
dkpiatt: folds
Metallor666: folds
plutoman20: calls $1.25
Will090681: raises $2 to $3.50
Peter0985: folds
plutoman20: calls $2
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7d 8h 4d 2c] [Td]
Will090681: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
Will090681: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [Td 7d 8h 4d 2c] (Lo: T,8,7,4,2)
Will090681: shows [7s 6s 5h 8c 2s] (Lo: 8,7,6,5,2)
Will090681 collected $8.10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8.50 Rake $0.40
Seat 1: Metallor666 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [Td 7d 8h 4d 2c] and lost with Lo: T,8,7,4,2
Seat 3: Will090681 (big blind) showed [7s 6s 5h 8c 2s] and won ($8.10) with Lo: 8,7,6,5,2
Seat 5: Peter0985 folded before Flop
Seat 6: popaionut folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: dkpiatt folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 2
The biggest pot I’ve been involved in so far, and a strange one it was too. I don’t know what Alex was playing at after the draw; his 9-8 was nothing more than a bluff-catcher.

PokerStars Game #50626977303: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/05 1:40:49 ET
Table 'Aurelia III' 7-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 2: DBL_J_22 ($82.25 in chips)
Seat 3: oberon782205 ($27.55 in chips)
Seat 4: alexsongyu ($25.75 in chips)
Seat 5: Greg941 ($36.90 in chips)
Seat 6: bmw_mseries ($38.50 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($30.20 in chips)
alexsongyu: posts small blind $0.25
Greg941: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7h 2s 6h Ad 4c]
bmw_mseries: folds
ThissucksPS leaves the table
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
DBL_J_22: folds
oberon782205: folds
alexsongyu: calls $1.25
Greg941: folds
alexsongyu: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ad]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7h 2s 6h 4c] [5s]
alexsongyu: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
alexsongyu: raises $4 to $6
plutoman20: raises $22.70 to $28.70 and is all-in
alexsongyu: calls $18.25 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($4.45) returned to plutoman20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7h 2s 6h 5s 4c] (Lo: 7,6,5,4,2)
alexsongyu: shows [2h 9c 8c 6d 4d] (Lo: 9,8,6,4,2)
plutoman20 collected $49.45 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $52 Rake $2.55
Seat 2: DBL_J_22 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: oberon782205 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: alexsongyu (small blind) showed [2h 9c 8c 6d 4d] and lost with Lo: 9,8,6,4,2
Seat 5: Greg941 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: bmw_mseries folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: plutoman20 showed [7h 2s 6h 5s 4c] and won ($49.45) with Lo: 7,6,5,4,2

Hand 3
I three-bet out of position with just a draw, albeit a very good one. I’m not sure if that’s ever a good play. However, this time my early aggression seems to help me get my big hand paid off when I hit it.

Dealt to plutoman20 [Qs 2s 4s 6d 7d]
Jayme_Mackow: folds
LaDaL_1er: folds
trouble1111: raises $1 to $1.50
carlosrap: folds
bmw_mseries: folds
plutoman20: raises $2.50 to $4
trouble1111: calls $2.50
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qs]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 4s 6d 7d] [3c]
trouble1111: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $5
trouble1111: calls $5
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [3c 2s 4s 6d 7d] (Lo: 7,6,4,3,2)
trouble1111: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $17.40 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $18.25 Rake $0.85
Seat 1: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [3c 2s 4s 6d 7d] and won ($17.40) with Lo: 7,6,4,3,2
Seat 2: Jayme_Mackow folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: LaDaL_1er folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: trouble1111 mucked [4d Qc 7h 3s 6h]
Seat 5: carlosrap (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: bmw_mseries (small blind) folded before Flop

Hand 4
He took a long time to fold here. He looked a competent player and I’m guessing he had a rough nine of some sort. In hindsight I wish I’d four-bet to $12 instead of going all-in. I don’t think he’s calling my shove without a 9-7 at least, meaning I’m odds-on to lose if he calls.

PokerStars Game #50772084629: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/08 1:13:03 ET
Table 'Lumen VII' 7-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: susankramer ($9.65 in chips)
Seat 2: Ic3-T ($54.35 in chips)
Seat 3: igrok.o777o ($15.85 in chips)
Seat 4: swordfish910 ($36 in chips)
Seat 5: A Red Horse ($22.80 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($43.75 in chips)
swordfish910: posts small blind $0.25
A Red Horse: posts big blind $0.50
illarion878: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 9c 5d 4d 2s]
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
susankramer: folds
Ic3-T: folds
igrok.o777o: folds
swordfish910: folds
A Red Horse: raises $3.50 to $5
plutoman20: raises $38.75 to $43.75 and is all-in
A Red Horse: folds
Uncalled bet ($38.75) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $10.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.25 Rake $0
Seat 1: susankramer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Ic3-T folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: igrok.o777o (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: swordfish910 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: A Red Horse (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: plutoman20 collected ($10.25)

Hand 5
I hope to knock out a few people when I three-bet my 10-8. That plan flies out the window when we go to the draw four-way. I break my hand even though an 8-7 isn’t really something I want to go war with should I make it. Luckily I do make an 8-7, it holds up, and I take down a big pot.

PokerStars Game #50847845879: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/09 15:44:33 ET
Table 'Janacek V' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: swordfish910 ($32.90 in chips)
Seat 2: Ruskor777 ($22.10 in chips)
Seat 3: jose weston ($51.05 in chips)
Seat 4: Ic3-T ($70.60 in chips)
Seat 5: Angyalfold ($18.95 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($27.55 in chips)
Seat 7: annsarah ($20 in chips)
Ruskor777: posts small blind $0.25
jose weston: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Ts 7d 8s 2c 4c]
Ic3-T: folds
Angyalfold: raises $1 to $1.50
plutoman20: raises $2.50 to $4
annsarah: calls $4
swordfish910: folds
Ruskor777: calls $3.75
jose weston: folds
Angyalfold: calls $2.50
Ruskor777: discards 1 card
Angyalfold: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ts]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7d 8s 2c 4c] [5h]
annsarah: discards 2 cards
Ruskor777: bets $2
Angyalfold: calls $2
plutoman20: raises $5 to $7
annsarah: folds
Ruskor777: folds
Angyalfold: calls $5
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [5h 7d 8s 2c 4c] (Lo: 8,7,5,4,2)
Angyalfold: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $30.95 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $32.50 Rake $1.55
Seat 1: swordfish910 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Ruskor777 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: jose weston (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Ic3-T folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Angyalfold mucked [9c 3h 6h 2d 5c]
Seat 6: plutoman20 showed [5h 7d 8s 2c 4c] and won ($30.95) with Lo: 8,7,5,4,2
Seat 7: annsarah folded on the Flop

Hand 6
I get lucky here. Volk happens to have $5.50 left so I raise to that amount after the draw. That’s a bit more than I normally would, and it seems to be just enough to get ThaSlosh to fold the best hand. He took a long time over his decision which actually wasn’t a bad one: I’ll have a better hand most of the time here.

PokerStars Game #50850805671: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/09 16:46:35 ET
Table 'Una II' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: popaionut ($70.95 in chips)
Seat 2: Angyalfold ($57.05 in chips)
Seat 3: Ruskor777 ($5.40 in chips)
Seat 4: ThaSlosh23 ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($34.25 in chips)
Seat 7: volk0076 ($7.25 in chips)
Angyalfold: posts small blind $0.25
Ruskor777: posts big blind $0.50
bmw_mseries: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6c Jc 7s 8s 2c]
ThaSlosh23: calls $0.50
plutoman20: raises $1.25 to $1.75
volk0076: calls $1.75
popaionut: folds
Angyalfold: folds
Ruskor777: folds
ThaSlosh23: calls $1.25
ThaSlosh23: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Jc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 7s 8s 2c] [4c]
volk0076: stands pat
ThaSlosh23: bets $1.50
plutoman20: raises $4 to $5.50
volk0076: folds
ThaSlosh23 said, "34578"
ThaSlosh23: folds
Uncalled bet ($4) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $8.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9 Rake $0.40
Seat 1: popaionut (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Angyalfold (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: Ruskor777 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: ThaSlosh23 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: plutoman20 collected ($8.60)
Seat 7: volk0076 folded on the Flop

Hand 7
I think it would have been easier just to pat this hand when Volk draws two, especially because I’ve got a gutshot straight draw. When he check-raises me it could be a bluff but I doubt it, so I fold.

PokerStars Game #50852518139: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/09 17:24:21 ET
Table 'Una II' 7-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: billymac222 ($22.60 in chips)
Seat 2: Angyalfold ($57.30 in chips)
Seat 3: Ruskor777 ($25.25 in chips)
Seat 4: ThaSlosh23 ($14.20 in chips)
Seat 5: bmw_mseries ($19.25 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($52.45 in chips)
Seat 7: volk0076 ($17.50 in chips)
volk0076: posts small blind $0.25
billymac222: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [9s 8c 6h 5h Qd]
Angyalfold: folds
Ruskor777: folds
ThaSlosh23: folds
bmw_mseries: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
volk0076: calls $1.25
billymac222: folds
volk0076: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qd]
Dealt to plutoman20 [9s 8c 6h 5h] [3s]
volk0076: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
volk0076: raises $4 to $6
plutoman20: folds
Uncalled bet ($4) returned to volk0076
volk0076 collected $7.15 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $7.50 Rake $0.35
Seat 1: billymac222 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Angyalfold folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Ruskor777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ThaSlosh23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: bmw_mseries folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: plutoman20 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: volk0076 (small blind) collected ($7.15)

Hand 8
Immediately prior to this hand I showed down the second nuts. I try to capitalise of that good fortune by representing a big hand with my three-bet. I have no idea what Bob is doing calling the three-bet cold and drawing two.

PokerStars Game #50921453151: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/11 2:31:47 ET
Table 'Quintilla V' 7-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: popaionut ($19.25 in chips)
Seat 2: ThaSlosh23 ($24.30 in chips)
Seat 3: URIEL_ROCK ($44.65 in chips)
Seat 4: general85555 ($19.80 in chips)
Seat 5: plutoman20 ($48.10 in chips)
Seat 6: BOB LOBLAW44 ($6.55 in chips)
Seat 7: cfh2401 ($33.10 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
BOB LOBLAW44: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 6s 5c 5d 7d]
cfh2401: folds
popaionut: folds
ThaSlosh23: folds
URIEL_ROCK: folds
general85555: raises $1 to $1.50
plutoman20: raises $2.50 to $4
BOB LOBLAW44: calls $3.50
general85555: folds
plutoman20: discards 1 card [5d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 6s 5c 7d] [8s]
BOB LOBLAW44: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: bets $44.10 and is all-in
BOB LOBLAW44: calls $2.55 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($41.55) returned to plutoman20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [2h 6s 5c 8s 7d] (Lo: 8,7,6,5,2)
BOB LOBLAW44: shows [9c 7h Td 4c 3h] (Lo: T,9,7,4,3)
plutoman20 collected $13.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14.60 Rake $0.70
Seat 1: popaionut folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: ThaSlosh23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: URIEL_ROCK folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: general85555 (button) folded before Flop
Seat 5: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [2h 6s 5c 8s 7d] and won ($13.90) with Lo: 8,7,6,5,2
Seat 6: BOB LOBLAW44 (big blind) showed [9c 7h Td 4c 3h] and lost with Lo: T,9,7,4,3
Seat 7: cfh2401 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 9
Unfortunately I've lost the history for this one. I was getting endless junk in this session; I rarely saw a hand without at least two picture cards or aces. To make matters worse I had an aggressive regular player on my right who raised pre-draw at every opportunity. This particular hand I was dealt QJ on the button. More junk. It folded round to the aggressive guy and sure enough he made it $1.50. I re-raised to $4, he called and drew one, I patted my QJ. It turned out he had a genuine draw (to an eight I think) but he paired up so I won the pot and just as importantly I got to show my QJ.

Bonus badugi hand
I've been monstered more times than I care to remember in badugi, but I can't remember losing with a dealt hand as good as number seven before. If my opponent had had a bigger stack I'm not sure what the correct play would have been on the river. I might just have called his river bet. I also think Bingohero should have got out of the way before the last draw; when it was two more bets back to him he was clearly up against some big hands.

PokerStars Game #50773300165: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2010/10/08 2:17:08 ET
Table 'Hersilia' 8-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: CowboyBeBop5 ($23.75 in chips)
Seat 2: bingohero ($19.75 in chips)
Seat 3: fearmybet ($10.25 in chips)
Seat 5: MEEEEEET ($14.75 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($75.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Lumelia ($80.50 in chips)
Lumelia: posts small blind $0.50
CowboyBeBop5: posts big blind $1
adrian432: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6h 4d As 2c]
bingohero: calls $1
fearmybet: folds
MEEEEEET: calls $1
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
Lumelia: folds
CowboyBeBop5: folds
bingohero: calls $1
MEEEEEET: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
bingohero: stands pat
MEEEEEET: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [6h 4d As 2c]
bingohero: checks
MEEEEEET: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
bingohero: calls $1
MEEEEEET: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
bingohero: discards 1 card
MEEEEEET: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [6h 4d As 2c]
bingohero: checks
MEEEEEET: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
bingohero: calls $2
MEEEEEET: raises $2 to $4
plutoman20: raises $2 to $6
bingohero: calls $4
MEEEEEET: raises $2 to $8
Betting is capped
plutoman20: calls $2
bingohero: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
Chuchulainn joins the table at seat #8
bingohero: discards 1 card
MEEEEEET: stands pat
plutoman20: stands pat on [6h 4d As 2c]
bingohero: checks
MEEEEEET: bets $2
Chuchulainn leaves the table
plutoman20: raises $2 to $4
bingohero: folds
MEEEEEET: calls $1.75 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.25) returned to plutoman20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [6h 4d As 2c] (Badugi: 6,4,2,A)
MEEEEEET: shows [3d Ah 5c 4s] (Badugi: 5,4,3,A)
MEEEEEET collected $41 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $42 Rake $1
Seat 1: CowboyBeBop5 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 2: bingohero folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 3: fearmybet folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: MEEEEEET showed [3d Ah 5c 4s] and won ($41) with a Badugi: 5,4,3,A
Seat 6: plutoman20 (button) showed [6h 4d As 2c] and lost with a Badugi: 6,4,2,A
Seat 7: Lumelia (small blind) folded before the Draw

Bonus triple draw hand
I don't play a lot of triple draw, and when I do I rarely try this sort of thing. But when I hit trip fours on the second draw I give it a go. I'm sure this is a losing play in the long run.

PokerStars Game #50855353068: Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2010/10/09 18:27:30 ET
Table 'Lydia VI' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: jj9201 ($5.30 in chips)
Seat 2: Allanws ($12.45 in chips)
Seat 3: SHRAM 11 ($17.10 in chips)
Seat 4: Alexsar777 ($4.25 in chips)
Seat 5: AKrAsAtA ($10 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($10.70 in chips)
Alexsar777: posts small blind $0.10
AKrAsAtA: posts big blind $0.25
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 4c Qs Qh 6d]
plutoman20: raises $0.25 to $0.50
jj9201: folds
Allanws: calls $0.50
SHRAM 11: calls $0.50
Alexsar777: folds
AKrAsAtA: folds
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Qs Qh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 4c 6d] [Kd Th]
Allanws: discards 2 cards
SHRAM 11: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
Allanws: checks
SHRAM 11: bets $0.25
plutoman20: calls $0.25
Allanws: calls $0.25
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Kd Th]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 4c 6d] [4s 4d]
Allanws: discards 2 cards
SHRAM 11: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
Allanws: checks
SHRAM 11: bets $0.50
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1
Allanws: calls $1
SHRAM 11: calls $0.50
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [2s 4c 6d 4s 4d]
Allanws: discards 1 card
SHRAM 11: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $0.50
Allanws: folds
SHRAM 11: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.50) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $5.35 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.60 Rake $0.25
Seat 1: jj9201 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Allanws folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 3: SHRAM 11 (button) folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 4: Alexsar777 (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 5: AKrAsAtA (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 6: plutoman20 collected ($5.35)