Al had a bad run one evening. He hadn't won a pot all night, but he had played cautiously and was down only $1.62. A hand of twin beds, use one on either side, was dealt. This is a confusing game in the sense that there are so many combinations possible. There are 25 possible two-card combinations of the center cards. When the final two center cards were turned AI found that he had four aces. A big pot would put him near even. As the betting proceeded it was clearly going to be a big one. Without much concern Al raised four cents at each opportunity. Carol and Eleanor also raised freely. When the last roll was made AI stared at Carol's cards.
Eleanor had a perfect, this was clear. She never raised until she had a winner, but Carol could have a straight Hush if her final card was the 5, for the A and 4 could be used and she had already rolled the 2 and 3. She could also have a perfect low. Fred and Marge were also in, but were merely sweetening the pot. The final bet was made.
Al winced when Carol announced high. Imagine losing in this game with four aces. As there were several 16-cent rounds of betting, he was down almost three bucks. He didn't win a pot the balance of that evening.
Perhaps one should not quarrel with success, but I do not recommend Marge's play on this hand. Al drew a pair of open kings in seven-card high-low on the fourth card and bet the limit. On the fifth card he bet, Bill raised, Al raised and Bill raised. By the time the raising was all over, only Marge remained in the pot with the two fellows. Bill showed three low cards. On the sixth card Al failed to improve and Bill drew another low card. The bet again reached 16 cents. After the final down card was dealt this was the layout:
The betting again reached 16 cents on three raises, and Bill declared first. He announced low and Al called high. Al had gone into the final round with a pair of kings, a four Hush, and a bobtail draw to a straight. He had pulled the 4 which didn't help at all. He bet strongly on the final round to maintain the show of strength. Bill had also bet strongly without any faltering. Marge was in a quandary. She showed her hand to Fred, who shrugged his shoulders. Finally she squeaked, "I don't know which way to go. I guess I'm beat either way, so I'll call both ways." Al looked at Bill helplessly, but found Bill in a state of shock. Marge had muddled her cards into the discards, thinking she didn't have a chance, but when order was restored the hands were these:
Marge had two small pair for high and a 10 low. In spite of their powerful-looking hands, Bill and AI didn't have much. Bill had a jack for low. His sixth card had paired him and his seventh was a picture. AI had only the kings he started with, so Marge won it both ways.
Marge had made a poor percentage play in calling both ways.
You occasionally face this situation. You have played to the end and are weak both ways. It is foolhardy to call both ways. Ordinarily there will be some indication that one of the opponents is not strong, or not as strong as he wants to appear. Or you may know one of the players is an end-game thief. If they both bet heavily and there is no clue or giveaway that one of them is phony, you simply have to guess. The prospect of winning both ways in a situation comparable to the one just described is so remote that it should never be attempted. It is one step removed from conceding the pot, and you should never do that.
