I was watching my friend at the final table.  3 people left.  First to act folds.  My friend is on the big and goes all in.  Lady on the button (who I'm sitting directly behind) calls with a 7 9 OS...and she's got him covered.  They flip and my friend has AA.

The flop...

7 2 5...he's still winning.

Turn...

7....he's pretty screwed at this point.

 River...

9!  D'OH!!!!  

 That was about 2 months ago and he's still mad! LOL

There are no bad hands till the board comes...just ask Gus Hansen or Daniel Negreanu.

One of my new favorite hands is 72 (suited) and it works very well for me. I tend to flop a lot of boats, hence cracking aces. I am not going to fold a hand I have a good feeling about because Phil Hellmuth thinks I should so he can win instead of me. Poker is a battle and you can only fight with the ammo (cards) you are dealt.

 That's poker folks! --D. Brunson

For Quintano,

Always do this: When someone raises big, like 4 or 5 times the big blind, and you have 72 suited, (of spades, say) be sure to call because they ARE suited, AND you have a "feeling."

Now, if there is a rainbow flop with an Ace or King in it, but one of the cards is a spade, be sure to call a monster raise. All-in is best. Now, all you need is runner runner for a flush. How hard is that?

So, when you win, rake in the chips, smirk, and declare "That's poker." 

I can assure you from personal experience, as the holder of yet another Big Slick down the tubes, that it works just fine.

And your last defense, if anyone asks you why you played the way you did, as their eyeballs are popping out of their head and the steam is coming out of their ears, and their hands are firmly around your neck, in a vice-like grip, gasp "It worked, didn't it?"

Never deviate from this plan. 

Last night blinds are 100/200. I go all in for 3000 with AA. Lone caller flips up A5 os .

I'll spare you the flop and turn details. Suffice to say a 4 on the river gave him a wheel and I was history.

"I was always taught to respect my elders but it keeps getting harder and harder to find one."

Does the word snakebit ring a bell? Ever since late spring, I cannot remember a time when I have been all-in and the massive favorite to win the hand after the Turn by at least 85%, and at some times 95%, when I have not been outdrawn. It has been suckout after suckout. There have been 1 or 2 times when I got luck and sucked out in some heads-up situations.But I am talking about being the heavy odds-on favorite going into the River. The math of that has to turn at some point. 

The latest up here in Colorado:

I'm playing against a guy who has nailed me on the River at least 3 other times. On one I had 3 Queens after the flop, a pair of them in my hand, and he had 2 6s in the hole. So he had a LONG way to go to win. He got a flush on the River.

 But this one is worse. I was somewhat short-stacked with $5000 with the blinds at 500-1000. Three of us were left. I was on the button. I had QJ and went all in. My nemesis, on the big blind, stayed with A5 of clubs. 2 Queens and an Ace flop. Pretty good so far. Then a Jack hits the turn. Eureka! An all-in was going to win at long last. Wrong. He hits a 5% shot on the River with an Ace.

I know it happens to everybody, and being the odds-on favorite means nothing when that last card hits, but when does the streak end? Anyone out there had a similar one?

It's getting almost comically predictable. 

Good point, I did think about that. But after the turn, things looked pretty good, wouldn't you agree?

The point is, he had a 5% shot and hit. Like I said before, I know it happens to everyone, but it happens with annoying regularity. On the River. It can stop any time. 

   Quintano, I would suggest that the only reason that 7 - 2 works?? for you is no one at the table thinks you are stupid enough to play it.  Something that will take care of itself soon enough, people will see you play it a few times, and give credit where it is due.  You will know when this has occured by virtue of no one with a recent bath or clean clothes will speak to you at the games any more.  I'ts not just Phil Hellmouth or any one individual that THINKS 7 - 2 is not playable it is indeed everyone with a brain, computer analisys, and, physics professors, who have deemed it THE WORST STARTING 2 CARDS IN HOLD-EM.  Don't believe me??? Read a book, I would recomend " The complete idiots guide to poker "to start.  I am also smart enough to know that EVERY rule has an exception, in this case being in LATE POSITION at a VERY TIGHT table RAISING(a bluff) with 7 - 2 if the table collectively believes you are not stupid enough to play crappy cards. ( a perception you seem to have blown out of the water already)  You may occasionally buy the blinds with it or even flop 2 pair to take down a pot, but IF what you say is true you are going to find your self under constant agressive attack by SUPERIOR cards, and players until such time as you convince someone you have removed your head from your sphincter.  Notice NO ONE deemed your remarks even worthy a reply save for ME, the aforementioned exception.  Please tell me you play in the STL. and, what venue so I may come and take your chips with impunity as I enjoy donkeys more than most, because I keep notes, I KNOW my A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, 10-10, 9-9, 8-8, 7-7, 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, even 2-2, has you CRUSHED from the outset, and, more oftenthan not WILL WIN.

                " Deserve's got nothin' to do with it. "

     Ridiculous, begets, ridicule.

  Seriously my comments are always a little over the top to try to provoke debate.  "I wouldn't be here if I didn't care"

 XOXOXO cuddly little sparky    peace ... out