July 29th Recap

Before we begin the next recap, a reminder that the next poker game will be Wednesday, Aug. 13th at 7:30 PM. GET IN!

8 players hopped in for the affair including one Ryan McCrystal who hadn't played much since before the NFL Draft. Joining McCrystal was roommate Brett Edgerton, Matt Willis, Kevin Conlon, Clutch, JMAC, Matt Ketaineck and the reigning champion Kenton Wong.

However the champion found rough waters as he was sent to the rail first. He was crippled when Clutch had KK vs his A7 of hearts. After the two-hearted flop came both players were all-in but Kenton could not catch the heart and was eliminated a hand later when three players called his all-in and he was out first.

A flop of J105 prompted an all-in by McCrystal and after some questionable deliberation Conlon called the all-in with AA and had Ryan dominated when he flipped over KJ. The turn and the river came blanks to send McCrystal home with a disappointing 7th place finish that would significantly hurt his Poker Batting Average.

Clutch (small) and Edge (big) were getting down in chips when Clutch moved all-in preflop and Edge called. Clutch flipped over A4 while Edge flipped over K10 to give him to live cards to stay alive. But a flop of AQ8 followed by two blanks sent Edge to the rail in 6th place.

It was shortly after this beat that one of the strangest hands in 52 Irving Poker League took place. With the blinds 30/60, Yinz called, JMAC called and Clutch checked his option in the big blind. In what appeared to be a fairly innocent flop of 775 had everybody checking around. A flop of a King, got the betting going as Yinz bet 60, JMAC called as did Clutch leading for some to believe we might have a blood bath happening. But another King hit on the river and after Yinz bet 100, JMAC was quoted as saying "I can't believe I'm going to have fold this hand" as he threw them near the muck. Clutch also folded and said "No wait until you see what I folded...". Yinz took down the pot in an apparent Kings full of Sevens full house. JMAC then showed his 55 for the group to see as he showed his frustration for flopping a full house. Clutch then chuckled as he showed his 75 as he had flopped a bigger full house that had the 2nd king not come out, he would have almost assuredly sent JMAC packing as neither would have been able to get away from the hand.

In the worst beat of the night, JMAC moved all-in AQ and Willis called with K10. After a great flop of Q36, JMAC was over an 85 percent favorite to double up but Willis caught runner-runner J9 to hit his straight to take the chip lead and sent JMAC home in 5th place.

With the blinds getting high and his frustation higher, Kevin Conlon made his worst read/play in his 52 Irving Poker career as he called an all-in made by Clutch with 106 of diamonds. Frustrated by Clutch stealing his blinds all night, Conlon figured he just might have Clutch beat but when Clutch flipped over AK, he was only a 38 percent favorite to stay alive but he had two live ones. Clutch was convinced he would take the proverbial card/cock in the ass but when the cards came 77384, Clutch got healthy in chips and Yinz was gone in 4th place.

At this point, Willis had a solid chip lead over Ketaineck and Clutch. A couple of wild swings led Ketaineck to taking over a solid chip lead and Clutch the small stack. At one point Clutch went all-in from the small blind with 25 of clubs and Willis called with AQ. Clutch got up and was ready to leave but a flop of 67J with two clubs gave Clutch some outs and then a turn of 4 gave him even more outs until a 5 on the river game him a pair living Clutch elated and Willis reeling.

Clutch would finish off Willis a few hands later when Willis went all-in with K2 spades and Clutch looked down at pocket rockets and made the easy call. Nothing helped Willis and he was sent to the rail in 3rd place.

It didn't take long for the fireworks to get started as Ketaineck and Clutch went heads-up and in less than 5 minutes, we had ending hand. Both players limped in and a flop of 1023 led Ketaineck to bet out 300 and Clutch raised to 700. Almost immediately Ketaineck went all-in and Clutch quickly called. Ketaineck thought Clutch was bluffing but he wasn't as he flipped over the top 2 pair in 103 leaving Ketaineck to draw to two outs as he flipped over 62. It didn't come and Clutch picked up his 10th win of the season.

8th place - Kenton Wong (1 point)
7th place - McCrystal (2 points)
6th place - Edge (3 points)
5th place - JMAC (4 points)
4th place - Yinz (5 points)
3rd place - Willis (6 points)
2nd place - Ketaineck (8 points- 7 for 2nd +1 for cash)
1st place - Clutch (10 points - 8 for 1st + 1 for win +1 for cash)

52 Irving Poker League Standings, Thru 7/29 H/AB Wins Cashes + or –
1) Clutch: .847 150/177 10 14
2) J-Mac: .795 140/176 6 11
3) Paul Carr: .683 41/60 2 3 +2
4) Kenton: .682 45/66 2 3 -1
5) Bearman: .681 64/94 1 5 +1
6) Masi: .680 70/103 3 6 +1
7) Conlon: .677 75/111 2 4
8) Vida: .652 15/23 1 1 +1
9) Willis: .620 93/150 2 4 +2
10) Edge: .613 87/142 1 4
11) McCrystal: .611 22/36 0 1 -7
12) Randall: .579 55/95 0 3
13) Ketaineck: .571 64/112 1 5 +2
14) D-Rose: .567 38/67 2 2 -1
15) ELIAS: .541 20/37 0 2 -1
16) Lundblad: .417 5/12 0 0
17) Fallica: .375 21/56 1 1
18) C-Lees: .342 13/38 0 0
19) McKean: .333 5/15 0 0
20) Loucks: .326 14/43 0 0
21) Stu: .150 3/20 0 0