Dude jumps up, "Give me the pot. Shove it," falls all over the place staggering over his chair. Damn near falls on his butt. I have a straight flush and there is a pair on the board. 225K in the bad beat. Alas he has nut full, not quads. Bummer. Pure 50/50 for bad beat from his reaction he had to have at least the nut full I thought. I had shoved on the turn, he was already all-in, I shoved on the side second time I did that in my life, shoved on turn with what turned out to be 1-outer straight flush. Made it both times.

Circa 1985, dealing the $15/30 lowball game at the Bicycle. Lota of action before the draw, 4 players take cards, and one old guy stands pat. Bet and called to the old guy ... and he does nothing. Doesn't move. Finally, he slumps in his chair. The floor is called and no one can get a response from him.

Turns out he had a heart attack and paramedics were called in time to take him to the hospital. Meanwhile, the hand is still active and the other players start to complain. So, the floor calls the casino manager and they decide that the floor will play the old guy's hand.

Turns out he had a pat wheel and won the pot. I know they held the money for him, but never found out more.

I used to think small field $20 to $50 tourneys with reasonable rake 6% to 10% and 20x to 50x size gtds were beatable for up to 20% but no more long term. A guy that seems to have been around poker a lot said 35% was attainable in such conditions. Naturally I disagreed because I didn't think one could do much better than my 16% roi. The grind continued for a few more years until I had proven him correct.

Interesting thread, lots of crazy hands! This banger happened to me a few years back...

So, I was dealt pocket 6's. A third 6 landed on the flop, along with a 2 and a Queen. A few bets are placed, and then one dude raises by going all-in. I call. There's another guy left in the hand who has his cards covered. I don't see him. I turn up my cards revealing my set of 6's. The guy on my left turns up his cards to reveal a set of 2's and lays them down. I double facepalm myself, realizing I just made a horrible blunder. The turn is the 2 of diamonds. This makes a flush for the guy still in the hand but gives me a full house, and thus I win the hand. My horrible blunder ironically ended up saving me a ton of money. The dude on my left obviously would have called had I not shown my cards, and he would have won with quads.

Interesting, right? What is your most memorable poker hand?

Good bump, good memories.