Can't help but feel for for Jordan Smith this year's bubble boy, losing with A-A to Darvin Moon's set of 8's...big time "ouch"
“All-in.”
“Call.”
The audience took a collective gasp and rose to their feet. This could be it.
The all-in player, Jordan Smith, got a look at his opponent’s hand —- pocket eights, a set of eights on the flop. He glanced back at his pocket aces with consternation written on his face. The most coveted preflop hand in hold’em was failing him, and the reality was setting in. A tournament pro for years, Smith knew the odds, and they weren’t good. He needed one of two aces left in the deck, a running straight, or a running flush — or he would be eliminated from the World Series of Poker main event in 10th place, the November Nine bubble
“People asked me why I didn’t just shove [preflop], but I don’t have any regrets as far as that goes. I think that on 80 to 90 percent of the flops, if I check, he bets, and he’s going to stack off on a lot of safe flops. If he was just straight set-mining and planning on check-folding, he wasn’t getting the right price, so I’m OK with it.”
*Card Player interview
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/7264-a-poker-life-jordan-smith
Another notable bubble boy...big time double "ouch"
It is July, 2003.
There are 10 players left in the WSOP Main Event. The next player eliminated misses the cut for the final table. Ivey looks down to find pocket 9s in his hand.
A hotshot online qualifier named Chris Moneymaker raises pre-flop. Ivey smooth calls, as does the player to his left. The flop comes Q-6-Q. Moneymaker bets out, but it’s a small, suspicious bet. Phil calls, the player to his left mucks. The turn is a 9 – Ivey makes his boat.
Moneymaker bets out again. Ivey pushes all in. Moneymaker snap calls and flips over A-Q for trips. Ivey shows his 9s and Moneymaker goes pale. Poker is not a game for the faint of heart. Ivey just needs to dodge an Ace, Queen or 6 on the river, and he’ll be in great shape for a run at the World Championship.
The river is an Ace.
