You ever have one of those hands where you’re riding high, only to get steamrolled by the universe’s sense of humor? Let me tell you about a little heartbreaker with Ah Qh.
The flop comes Js 9h Ac — and I’m grinning like I just found an extra fry at the bottom of the bag. Top pair, top kicker. This is the kind of hand that makes you sit up straighter and wonder if you should start practicing your victory speech.
Then comes the 9c on the turn. Now we’re styling: Aces up with a queen kicker. Confidence is growing, and I’m thinking, Well folks, just put my name on the chip stack trophy right now.
But the river? Oh, the river. Down crashes the 9d, like a cymbal in the world’s loudest marching band. Suddenly there are quad nines parading across the board, and my once-shiny Aces Full looks about as intimidating as a Chihuahua in a leather jacket.
The cruel part? It still feels like a monster hand… right up until someone coolly flips over any old nine and sends you packing. All you can do is smile, shake your head, and say, “Nice hand… but did you have to bring the whole brass section with it?”
Poker’s funny that way. One minute you’re ELVIS, the next you’re backup vocals to quads.
