The blind squirrel still finds the odd nut

I WITNESSED a poker hand the other day that really played on my mind and took me back to the age old question: ”Is poker a game of luck or skill”?

Blind’s were at 1500-3000. Four players left, this was the bubble as only three got in the money. The small blind was short stacked with about 24k before the hand, and needed to get the money in sooner rather than later. The villain was pretty deep with about 120k and called for 3k, the button folded, the small blind then made up the 1500 and called, the big blind checked. So there were three players to see the flop.

The flop was two red Sixes and a red Ten. First to act was the small blind and short stack who moved all-in. The big blind folded and then the mystery began. Villain enquired as to how much the SB had left and called the all in turning over the King and Nine of Clubs: SB turned over Ten-Nine showing that he had hit a pair of Ten’s.

The turn was a blank and of course the river was a King to kill off the SB. So I asked, “What were you calling the all-in with, what did you think you were beating or how did you think you were going to win”? The reply was “I had a King and I had the chips”

I pointed out that he was only beating Queen high and with only three King’s left in the deck it was a terrible call, never a profitable call in the long run, with the possibility of doubling up the SB to make him stronger.

The call made absolutely no sense, but, as we know, even the blind squirrel finds the odd nut!! Who needs skill!