Can I get the ball back?

I spent a lot of time playing Madden 2001 on the PS2 some eight years ago. Well I think it was Madden 2001 anyway, although it could easily be anything from Madden98 to Madden 2004 given that the games were seemingly identical, and simply repackaged by EA Sports for a little sales boost.

Anyhow, I remember if you went to your “go-to guy” with a throw and it was intercepted, the commentator would say something rather unhelpful like “as soon as he threw it, he wanted the ball back”.

Since I was pretty garbage at the game, the commentator said this to me a lot. On Tuesday night, I definitely “wanted the ball back” in one hand, where I managed to unnecessarily burn £200 on the river in a cash hand. Despite this, I played pretty well in the cash game for a £350 profit, mixing up my aggression, picking off some bluffs as well as getting a few of my own through as well. I also chopped the £50 SNG we played with Deven, so all in all a positive night.

Anyhow – the hand I butchered.

Can’t remember the betting up to the river, but the board was K99A4 of some such and I hold A7. Jody leads for £40 into £60 or so, at which point I should instantly just call and be done with it. For some reason, I decided I could value bet my 2 pair + king kicker and make it £80 more to play. Jody re-raises again making it another £120 at which point “I’d thrown the ball but immediately wanted it back”. I then compounded the error by thinking I was now chopping with another Ace due to the presence of the 2nd pair and the King. Clearly I should fold, but I go ahead and call and get shown K9 for the flopped full house.

An absolute mess of a hand from my perspective, but at least it was a positive night overall.

Sunday, 18 July 2010