Haarala-ydown

Table 31 is among the chattier I've noticed on my ambles between the remaining tables. Neighbours Robert Halstensen and (on his left) Mika Haarala are the main contenders in the Chat Invitational, but there seems to be a general feel of enjoying the tournament and not feeling shy about discussing each other's play on there. So it's fun to lurk there - just now Halstensen made it 450 to go, getting some commentary from his neighbour (while he made the call):

"So I try to save some chips," he was saying, as if in mid-flow, "By going for a cigarette break, toilet break. Then come back, flop the nuts and double up. Break." This strategy seems to have been working OK so far, if indeed it is his strategy...

Anyway, after the second preflop caller (the bb) had been seen off on the 2♥ Q♠ K♥ flop, the two of them got to the K♣ turn by themselves. Out bet Halstensen - 1,000.

"Strange," remarked Haarala, "I was going to bet."

"I'll take it back and check then." This, of course, didn't happen. After a while, Haarala laid his hand down.

"I have the stone cold nuts," said Halstensen, immediately. It turned out to be stone cold true: he flipped K♠ Q♥ for the table to see. "Next time I don't have it," he added.

"Next time you check," laughed Haarala.

"You limp with Queens, and raise with King-Queen," remarked another tablemate.

"Mixing it up!" cheerfully replied the winner as he scooped in the pot.