Recalling the Killer 8-8s

Had a dream last night about poker... haha even in my dreams! The hand was 10-2 on BB, SB raises and still no folds for 10-2, the flop comes X-2-2! Trips! SB raises again and I remember thinking he must have a really big hand... and then I wake up to greet another day of poker coming along the way.

My bf and I were planning on playing at makati again and I recalled the last sit&go play I had there. Luck was on my side in the early part of the game. Had hands A-Ks, A-Qs, A-J, K-K, 8-8 so it wasn't surprising I was the chip lead right away.

On one hand, I had 8-8 and raised since I was in position. 3 of us were in this hand. Flop comes 4-8-X. I got the trips! First guy checked, second guy checked, I raised less than the pot size. Both guys called. Turn came, they both checked and I raised a bit more. First guy called but was somewhat questioning me. Second guy still called but was a bit hesitant. Ace came on the river, both guys checked again and I raised pot size both still called. Turns out the first guy had pocket 4s and tripped with the 4 on the flop. Second guy had high cards and paired with the Ace. I won a big pot on this hand!

Eventually, it came down to 4 players and 2 of us probably were leading in chips. On one hand, I had 8-8 again! This time I just called, two guys went along with their hands and flop came no 8s, and there were some high cards, I checked and someone raised the minimum bet, I called and I think the other guy called, too. Turn comes the 8! I re-raised at this point and 8 trips won me the pot again.

Another hand, I had suited connectors BB and called a raise from a guy who keeps bluffing with bad starting hands and keeps winning on the river! Flop comes giving me a straight draw and highest pair, I checked but lucky bluffer raises so I call. Turn gave me a straight and just called another raise from him. Flop comes giving me a straight and he raised again, I went all in. He called, sure enough he had a bad hand but was going for the lower end of the straight. The guy had only a few chips left so he could have easily become the bubble but he was really lucky!

Battle between big stacks came, I had Q-9 spades suited SB. Flop comes 5spades-7-Xspades which gave me a flush draw. I raised I think 3 times the blinds, guy calls all in. Hard decision... his chips had mine covered. He said 'fold na..' I knew he wasn't bluffing and told him I had a nice hand, too and showed him my Q-9 spades. He told me he'll show me his hand but I didn't really care what he had at that point because I know that if a spade comes on the turn or river I'd still get the pot. I did fold and until now I keep wondering if a spade would have turned up. Haha! He did show me his cards and he had 5-7 two pair. Well he could probably have gotten a full house but still I wonder... haha.

Next, came the death of my big stack ( I was second chip lead at this point)... I got A-Q suited and just called. Next two players called and big blind went all in. I covered his chips and had just a few chips to spare if I lost so I did call. His hand was my killer pockets 8-8!!! No Aces, Queens or eights came on the board. He doubled up and then suddenly I became the short stack!

Last hand, I had A-9 and went all in. Lucky bluffer and chip lead called. Lucky bluffer had a K-5. Flop came A-X-K, river K and the turn was no help for any of us. Lucky bluffer got my chips!!

Too bad... almost was ITM... My killer 8-8s turned on me!