Swan Song for Carroll

The more astute of our community members will have noticed Green Belt current Grader Mike Carroll lurking within the previously published list of casualties. Although he departed just moments ago, most of the damage was inflicted way back on level four, Carroll running two pair into a turned straight.

Part of him feels as though it could have been avoided, though, as he opted to button-steal with 3-2 of clubs. Once the button defended, the two remaining players saw a 3s-4d-8s flop where the big blind led for 1,000. Believing that his opponent would have three-bet a set-hitting hand preflop, Carroll raised to 2,500 and was duly called.

On the 2h turn, all the chips flew in, Carroll adamant that his foe was on a flush draw: "It wasn't until he called quickly that I knew I was probably in trouble, and although I was right about the flush draw, he unfortunately had made a straight on the turn with A-5 of spade."

Six missed outs later and Carroll was down to 1,100, and although he made it last for a further three hours, he eventually succumbed to the torture of being a short stack and joined the rest of the early victims at the bar.

Raising 3-2 of clubs from the button, the big blind called and both players saw