Razztastic

Managed to win my usual Razz tournament again on Full Tilt. Only 20 players (but it still takes 3 hours) - so paid $200.

Took a monumental ear bashing after knocking this guy out in 5th (for $0).

300/600 Ante 50. 5 players left. I have 12,164 (aka the chip lead). He has 2,291 (aka the 4th stack) - average stack is 6,000.
*3RD STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c] [Ah]
***Dealt to rubbersoul [5c]
Other face up cards out there 6 - 4 - 9
The 9 brings in for 100
The Champ completes it to 300. rubbersoul raises, the champ calls.
* 4TH STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah] [Jh]
***Dealt to rubbersoul [5c] [Tc]
rubbersoul bets 300, the champ calls
***5TH STREET ***
Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah Jh] [Qd]
Dealt to rubbersoul [5c Tc] [6s]
rubbersoul bets 600, the champ calls
***6TH STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah Jh Qd] [4c]
***Dealt to rubbersoul [5c Tc 6s] [6d]
The champ bets 600, rubbersoul raises to 741, and is all in, the champ calls 141
rubbersoul shows [6c 2c 5c Tc 6s 6d]
*** 7TH STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah Jh Qd 4c] [Ac] the champ has J 8 7 4 A
***Dealt to rubbersoul [6c 2c 5c Tc 6s 6d] [Td] rubbersoul has 6c 2c 5c Tc 6s (a pair of Sixes)
the champ wins the pot (4,832) with J,8,7,4,A rubbersoul stands up (and then mouths off)

If this had been 8 handed, I wouldn't have got involved with a 5,6,4 already gone. But its 5 handed and I have the chip lead and 2 players folded before me. If he had hit a baby on 4th street, I would have had a difficult decision to make, but the 10 means I have to stay in.

He hesitated briefly before betting on 5th street. The standard of Razz play at this level is so bad that this means one of two things - he just paired (about 80% of the time) or he has a monster and is thinking about checking to keep me in.

My experience is that 99% of the time in these tournies, if people are strong or have a couple of babies showing they insta bet (whatever they have in the hole). They check when they are not sure. To me the pause meant, oh crap pair, then look up, see my Q, oh ok lets bet (if he had had hit an 8 or less on 4th street and so had 5 6 8 showing - I would suspect a desperation trap to try and keep me in).

When the 4 comes on 6th street and he hits another six, I think I have three chances of winning the hand.

• If I bet he could fold - he has 741 left - it pays 3 places - (the 5th stack has 1600) . He must think from my original raise at the beginning that I now have 4 babies and a J low. He is stuck with trip sixes (although I am wondering about that read now) and is drawing to a 10 low and has just enough to hang in for a better chance.
• Based on my read that he has a six in the hole and assuming he is drawing to a 10 and he calls I will win if he hits a J Q K or pairs his 10, 5 or second (non six) hole card.
• If he calls and makes a 10 low, I will win with a 9, 2, 3 or a 5 (no sixes left).

I also have the added incentive of potentially knocking him out and knowing I won't have to call a proper raise on 6th street or make any decision on 7th. And I know that even if I am way off with my read, there are still a few combination of events that will save me like hitting a 2, or a 3 or a 5 would give me an 8 7and might be enough on its own.

If he has insta bet on 5th street, I would have folded. And I wouldn't have done any of this at any stage earlier in the tournament.

I can see why he was miffed though. But that's Razz baby doll. It hurts.

Edit: of course it turns out that rubbersoul has a pretty impressive tournament record (and is currently number 1 at HORSE and Razz in the mid buy in level of the Bluff Rankings). Never mind baby doll.