Lowball Frenzy

THIS WAS a once in a lifetime poker hand. It came up - no surprise - in the big game at the Grosvenor Victoria, at London low-ball (seven card stud low, best hand A-2-3-4-6 off-suit). The game is still roaring away, as it has been for past 12 years, attracting a volatile mix of chancers and prancers, amateur and professional.

Three players were all-in (no chips left) for several thousand pounds each on card three, and three more followed on card four! The game was ten-handed. As there are only 32 low cards in the deck - and most players would disdain an 8 anyway - it was obviously going to be pretty difficult to make a good hand.

"I felt like passing on card three, and if I hadn't been losing already I probably would have done," confessed Stewart Reuben. "No matter what I held, I couldn't have a real advantage. So why not wait for a better moment?"

On card 4 he caught an 8, giving him (A-7) 3 8.

Roly, who was already all-in hit a 5, which looked good. Corky hit a 9. The other three all caught high cards.

Stewart bet his remaining chips £875 and Corky moved all-in against Hanif for an extra £5,000, which he called, perhaps mistakenly.

There was now £33,000 in five separate pots, which only Corky and Hanif could win all of. It turned out that Roly had paired up on 5s, so Stewart was a big favourite. Everyone got their fifth card. The deck was now so short that Gary the dealer, who had kept his cool throughout, had to deal the final two cards face-up, in common to everyone. Everyone in the card room crowded round to watch.

Another 8 fell on card 6, which helped practically everyone but Stewart. Card 7 was high. Roly won the main £16,000 pot with an 8-6 low. Ari got the first side pot with an 8-7. Stanley recovered some of his money in the second side pot with a 9-8-6. Corky got the last two pots with a worse 9-8-6. Neither Hanif or Stewart got a look in.

If you want to read more of Stewart's poker philosophy, his Pot Limit & No Limit Poker is available from High Stakes Bookshop, 21, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JB, fax 020 7430 0021, price £15.