We’re playing 1/1 with a max buy-in of 100BB’s. There were 3 big stacks at the table, including myself. I’d been playing a fairly tight game untill this hand came up, only showing down top starting hands. So, with these big stacks out there I decided to switch gears a bit and started to play somewhat looser.

I look down at Q8 under the gun (a marginal hand in that position) and decide to min-raise to 2€, just to do something funky and keep my opponents guessing. The player to the left of me makes it 10€. The player next to him calls and so does the button and the big blind. With so much money already out there I decide to call too, hoping to hit the flop hard.

The flop comes down: Q89.

I flop two pair. Big blinds checks, I check too (to see what happens, and maybe check-raise the original raiser if he doesn’t get called by anyone else). The original pre-flop raiser bets out 15€, and the player next to him makes it 40€. The 2 other players fold and it’s my turn to act now.

Now, with a flop like that there are obviously a lot of hands that have me beat. Someone could have flopped a set or a straight. Although I don’t read my opponents that strong, especially not the pre-flop raiser (I put him on an over-pair or less). With so much money out there and a fairly decent hand I decide to call, but to proceed the hand cautiously. Just as I expected the player left of me (the pre-flop raiser) doesn’t re-raise and decides to call too.

The turn is the most beautiful card in the deck: Q89 Q

That card all of a sudden gives me the second nuts! Yet, it’s only the second nuts, so I’m a bit worried, but at the same time very confident that my hand is best. I check, looking to check-raise. Then something unexpected happens, the pre-flop raiser (the one who I read weak) puts 75€ in the pot. The player next of him min-raises him to 150€. And while I’m thinking about my decision the other player acts before his turn and moves all-in for 60 more. His action is binding btw, so he is obliged to move in, whatever I decide to do.

I must admit I was confused at that point. Looking at how the hand was played, especially the pre-flop action, I surely can’t put anyone of these 2 players on Q9 right? So, figuring I still have the best hand, and the other player is probably pushing with a straight or a smaller full, I decide to just call and let him do the pot-building.

The other player calls and so do I (I can’t re-raise ‘caus the all-in doesn’t count as a raise). The river is the K. Although my hand gets beaten by KK or KQ now, I still see that card as a blank and move in for my last 60€, and the other player calls.

Showdown: the pre-flop raiser had 88, and the other player had 99! I spiked a 2 outer on the turn against 2 sets.They were both stunned and couldn’t believe I raised and called a re-raise pre-flop with Q8. Because of a pretty cold deck and me shifting gears at the perfect time, I rake in a pot worth of 995€. Real cooler for my opponents, really sweet for me.