Dave Nagler - Home Game Assassin

I just got back from watching Invincible, the story of a down-and-out 30 year old bartender named Vince Papale. Papale gets dumped by his wife, loses his job and nearing rock bottom he heads to open tryouts for the Philadelphia Eagles. "Shockingly", he makes the team.

In reality coach Dick Vermeil never hosted an "open tryout". However,he probably did cry before, during, and after Papale made the team. The movie is mildly entertaining - about as watchable as the Ultimate Poker Challenge. It's certainly nothing to write home about, but there are worse ways to kill an hour and change. Now, back to poker.

Every home game seems to have a player with horseshoes planted directly up his rectum. On Toronto's Harbourfront Poker Tour this player is known as Jon "Jack 9" Appotive. The nickname was bestowed upon him following his infamous call of two all-in moves early in a tournament holding only J9 offsuit. However, recently Jon has earned a new nickname: Jon "Passion of the" Appotive due to his uncanny ability to rise from the dead. After surviving an all-in move when his AJ toppled the chip leader's AK, Appotive took down another big pot in this installment of:
The Harbourfront Poker Tour Misplay of the Week.

Players in the hand: John "J9" Appotive - J?
Toronto Speculator - J10
J3 - ?

Blinds: 100/200
Chip Stacks: J9 - 6000
Speculator - 3000
J3 - 2000

Appotive raises to 400 from the button
J3 - calls from SB
Speculator - calls from BB

Flop - AhJc3c
J3 - checks
Speculator - bets 700
Appotive - calls
J3 - folds

Turn - 8c - putting three clubs on the board

Speculator - checks
Appotive - moves all-in

Speculator thinks for a long time and noting Appotive's small pre-flop raise, he folds J10 (no clubs) assuming Appotive is on a medium ace.

Appotive flashes the Speculator a Jack (hearts) and does not reveal his kicker. The Speculator's check on the turn when the flush card hit was akin to waving a white flag. He could've put out another bet to test the waters. However, the hand demonstrates the power of aggression, as Appotive's preflop raise convinced the Speculator it was likely his opponent had an ace after Appotive's call of his flop bet.

Appotive's call of the flop bet - presumably with only second pair was an interesting move, as it could only work if he put the Speculator on 2nd pair (or worse) and assumed the Speculator would fold to a scare card on the turn (any club, queen, or king) which he did...

Until next time,
Take it down bigman.