Presto: The Origins

Subzero (free pimpage!) asked why 55 had come to be known as Presto. And to be honest I had no fawking clue. So I figured pocketfives.com would probably have the answer and they do.

"It seems that for many players, especially online players, there is a mystical aura surrounding this hand that somehow makes it special and gives it a better chance of winning."

"Presto" is used Blackjack and poker players wanted a hand to call Presto too. 55 was seemingly chosen in a somewhat random manner. Not too glamourous an explanation ...

However Kent has pointed me to Cardplayer that elaborates a little further:

"presto: 5-5. Comes from what one says when revealing a pair of fives as one's holecards. The term was coined at BARGE and evolved from what a blackjack player says when turning over a blackjack. (BARGE is Big August Rec.Gambling Excursion, an annual Las Vegas convention of online poker enthusiasts. RGPers - those who read and post on the Usenet newsgroup rec.gambling.poker - have used the term presto as an identifying catchword.)"

The bottom line: Presto is Gold and you all know it!

Presto is Gold (Parts 101 and 102)

A few bloggers (i.e., the smart ones, not Smokkee) have taken up the Presto mantra are being rewarded for their bravery.

Presto Blogger Protege #1

Stacks that matter:

$0.25/$0.50NL, 9-handed
Seat 3: drchad ($24.50)
Seat 4: drossxyu ($80.80)
Seat 7: lifesagrind ($57.70)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
lifesagrind calls $0.50 from UTG with [5d 5c]
drchad calls $0.50 from MP
drossxyu raises to $2.25 from LP
lifesagrind calls $1.75 (no one should fold presto getting these kinds of odds!)
drchad calls $1.75

*** FLOP *** [2c 5s 2s]
lifesagrind checks (flop a boat – standard issue Presto)
drchad checks
drossxyu bets $4
lifesagrind calls $4
drchad calls $4 (life is good for lifesagrind)

*** TURN *** [2c 5s 2s] [9c]
lifesagrind checks
drchad checks
drossxyu has 15 seconds left to act
drossxyu bets $9.75 ("let this fish do the work," says lifesagrind)
lifesagrind raises to $20 (time to build a pot!)
drchad folds
drossxyu calls $10.25

*** RIVER *** [2c 5s 2s 9c] [5h]
lifesagrind bets $31.45, and is all in (DQB!)
drossxyu calls $31.45 (sorry dude but lifesagrind has the nuts)

*** SHOW DOWN ***
lifesagrind shows [5d 5c] four of a kind, Fives
drossxyu mucks[2d 2h] - four of a kind, Twos (oh my !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
lifesagrind wins the pot ($119.40) with four of a kind, Fives


Presto Blogger Protege #2

Stacks that matter:

Riverchasers, blinds at 150/300 Ante 25
Seat 4: Mike_Maloney (4,851)
Seat 9: Golden-83 (7,100)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Golden-83 raises to 600 from MP
Mike_Maloney calls 300 from BB with [5h 5c] (conservative play, but ok my me)

*** FLOP *** [5d Td Ah]
Mike_Maloney checks (flop a set – more standard issue Presto)
Golden-83 bets 900
Mike_Maloney raises to 1,800 (going for the kill)
Golden-83 raises to 6,475, and is all in
Mike_Maloney calls 2,426, and is all in
Golden-83 shows [Qd Kh] (gutterballs are gold!!)
Mike_Maloney shows [5h 5c]
Uncalled bet of 2,249 returned to Golden-83

*** TURN *** [5d Td Ah] [5s] (DQB!!!)

*** RIVER *** [5d Td Ah 5s] [Jd] (gutter love no goot against quads, biatch)
Golden-83 shows a straight, Ace high
Mike_Maloney shows four of a kind, Fives
Mike_Maloney wins the pot (10,002) with four of a kind, Fives
Mike_Maloney: DQB (the obligatory salute)

Presto is Gold (Part 137)

Presto can be just about anything you need it to be if you play it right. In this case, Presto has doubled itself to TT:

$2/4NL, 6-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 raises to $14 from MP with [5d 5h]
givemethecash42 raises to $44 from SB
Fuel55 calls $30

*** FLOP *** [9s Js 7d]
givemethecash42 has 15 seconds left to act
givemethecash42 bets $66
Fuel55 calls $66

*** TURN *** [9s Js 7d] [8d]
givemethecash42 has 15 seconds left to act
givemethecash42 checks (how do you spell AK?)
Fuel55 bets $125
givemethecash42 has 15 seconds left to act
givemethecash42 folds
Fuel55 wins the pot ($219)

Many of you ask how profitable Presto is? My PokerTracker has only been working right for about 6 weeks so here is the most recent data:

As you can see I am fairly reluctant to put money in the pot with Presto (92%) and it shows down poorly (only 86% wins).

Presto is Gold (Part 44)

$2/4NL, 9-handed. I just lost a big pot and failed to reload quick enough before next hand was dealt. Of course I am dealt Presto and I go ballistic knowing I have only $140 in front of me ….

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Victim raises $12 to $18
Fuel55 calls $18 from the button with [5d 5h]
SB calls $15

*** FLOP *** [5c Js 6h] (of course – Presto is GOLD)
SB checks
Victim bets $36
Fuel55 calls $36 (smooth call hoping to keep SB in the hand)
SB calls $36

*** TURN *** [5c Js 6h] [9d]
SB bets $35
Victim raises $115 to $150
Fuel55 calls $82.20 and is all-in
SB folds

*** RIVER *** [5c Js 6h 9d] [2s]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Victim shows [Kd Kh] (a pair of Kings)
Fuel55 shows [5d 5h] (three of a kind, Fives)
Fuel55 collected $364.40 from pot

Nice pot but could have been a lot nicer if I had reloaded - lesson learned.

Presto is Gold (Part 138)

Full Tilt $30,000 Guarantee, $100+$9, 6-handed tourney, Level 2

Starting stacks: Fuel55 (6,000)/Bruce Buffer (2,545)/CRAKURACES (945)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
3 folds to me
Fuel55 raises to 140 from the button with [5h 5d]
Bruce Buffer reraises to 760 from SB (he’s been playing quite tight for a red FTP pro)
CRAKURACES rereraises to 945, and is all in from BB
Fuel55 folds (I was tempted to call the 3-way action given I had Presto and would get my buy-in back if I busted Bruce Buffer but I elected to fold since I had a good stack going)
Bruce Buffer calls 185
CRAKURACES shows [Kd Qc]
Bruce Buffer shows [Qd Ah]

*** FLOP *** [9c 6h 2h]

*** TURN *** [9c 6h 2h] [3h]

*** RIVER *** [9c 6h 2h 3h] [4h]
CRAKURACES shows King Queen high
Bruce Buffer shows a flush, Ace high
Bruce Buffer wins the pot (2,030) with a flush, Ace high
CRAKURACES stands up

Note that I would have made the str8 flush since I held the 5h. Standard FTP RNG bullshit …

Moral of this tale: NEVER FOLD PRESTO

Presto is Gold (Part 109) and Other Stuff

A 4-hand sequence in 2 orbits at $10/$20, 9-handed:

Hand 1: First I suffer this hand:

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Kilak calls $20
Fuel55 calls $20 from MP with [Ac 8c]
bigN20 raises to $120
zda21 calls $120
Kilak calls $100
Fuel55 calls $100 (damn pot odds)

*** FLOP *** [Qc Ad Jc]
Kilak checks
Fuel55 checks
bigN20 bets $300
zda21 calls $300
Kilak folds
Fuel55 calls $300 (damn pot odds)

*** TURN *** [Qc Ad Jc] [4s]
Fuel55 bets $1,060 (no point check calling – praying for a little fold equity here)
bigN20 calls $654, and is all in
zda21 calls $738.80, and is all in
Fuel55 shows [Ac 8c]
bigN20 shows [Qd Qs] (puke)
zda21 shows [Jd Js] (puke)
Uncalled bet of $321.20 returned to Fuel55

*** RIVER *** [Qc Ad Jc 4s] [7d]
Fuel55 shows a pair of Aces
zda21 shows three of a kind, Jacks
zda21 wins the side pot ($169.60) with three of a kind, Jacks
bigN20 shows three of a kind, Queens
bigN20 wins the main pot ($3,369) with three of a kind, Queens

Hand 2: Then I raise AA and get no action. Fawk!!

Hand 3: But then I get a little Presto redemption against a shortstacked fish:

*** HOLE CARDS ***
zda21 raises to $40 from UTG
Fuel55 reraises to $120 from MP with [5d 5s]
zda21 rereraises to $169.60, and is all in
Fuel55 calls $49.60
zda21 shows [7d 7h]
Fuel55 shows [5d 5s]

*** FLOP *** [Jd 5h 4d] (GIN!)

*** TURN *** [Jd 5h 4d] [3h]

*** RIVER *** [Jd 5h 4d 3h] [As]
zda21 shows a pair of Sevens
Fuel55 shows three of a kind, Fives
Fuel55 wins the pot ($366.20) with three of a kind, Fives
zda21 is sitting out

Hand 4: Then I bust a chump holding Presto and get back to where I was before the A8s hand:

*** HOLE CARDS ***
thorladen raises to $70
Fuel55 calls $70 from CO with [3d 3c]
ICE_NY calls $60 from SB

*** FLOP *** [6h 3h 2s]
ICE_NY bets $360, and is all in
thorladen calls $360
Fuel55 raises to $720 (isolation time ...)
thorladen folds (good boy)
Fuel55 shows [3d 3c]
ICE_NY shows [5c 5d]
Uncalled bet of $360 returned to Fuel55

*** TURN *** [6h 3h 2s] [Jc]

*** RIVER *** [6h 3h 2s Jc] [7d]
Fuel55 shows three of a kind, Threes
ICE_NY shows a pair of Fives
Fuel55 wins the pot ($1,307) with three of a kind, Threes
ICE_NY is sitting out

All is mathematically and karmically OK …

Presto is Gold (Part 113)

$1/2NL, 8-handed

>>>DEALING HOLE CARDS<<<
EP calls $2
Fuel55 raises $7 to $9 with 5c 5s from CO
Victim raises $23 to $32
EP folds
Fuel55 calls $23 (I am not folding Presto!)

Who cares about odds when you have Presto?

>>>DEALING FLOP<<< [ 9d 8d 6c ]
Fuel55 bets $408.75 and is all-in
Victim says: one time just hold up
Victim calls $61 and is all-in

>>>DEALING TURN<<< [ Jh ]

>>>DEALING RIVER<<< [ 7s ]
Fuel55 cards were 5c 5s
Victim cards were Ad Ac
Fuel55 wins $188 with a nine high straight

Pure gold, pure gold ...

Presto is Gold (Part 83)

Here's a little "guest presto love" for your reading pleasure:

PokerStars $1/2NL, 6-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
UTG calls $2
SB calls $1
csquard checks his BB with [5s 5d] (how you check with Presto here is beyond me!)

Craig lays down the ultimate preflop deception by just checking his monster preflop.

*** FLOP *** [5c 5h 2c]
SB bets $5
csquard calls $5
UTG folds

*** TURN *** [5c 5h 2c] [Jh]
SB bets $12
csquard raises $12 to $24 (pot sweetener)
SB reraises $26 to $50
csquard rereraises $26 to $76 (another pot sweetener)
SB rerereraises $149 to $225 and is all-in (he takes the bait)
csquard calls $111 and is all-in

*** RIVER *** [5c 5h 2c Jh] [4h]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
SB shows [2h 2d] (a full house, Deuces full of Fives) (ouch – nice cooler!)
csquard shows [5s 5d] (four of a kind, Fives)
csquard collected $387 from pot

Presto is Gold (Part 81)

It's been so long!!!!!!

$105 HU SNG, Hand #15

I have a T120 chip lead when I am dealt presto, then the magic begins:

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 calls 15 from button with [5s 5c]
Victim raises 90 to 120 (ah the trap is set)
Fuel55 calls 90 (slowwwwww call)

*** FLOP *** [7s 4h Ts]
Victim bets 90
Fuel55 calls 90 (easy call – I have presto!)

*** TURN *** [7s 4h Ts] [5d] (was there ever any doubt?)
Victim checks
Fuel55 bets 225
Victim raises 285 to 510
Fuel55 raises 840 to 1350 and is all-in
Victim calls 720 and is all-in (horrible call)

*** RIVER *** [7s 4h Ts 5d] [7h]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Victim shows [Tc 9h] (two pair, Tens and Sevens) (lol – like TP no kicker is ever good here)
Fuel55 shows [5s 5c] (a full house, Fives full of Sevens)
Fuel55 collected 2880 from pot
Victim stands up (and shakes his head)

Presto is Gold (Part 103)

Now even Smokkee (longtime Presto hater/disparager) is getting in on Presto's goodness.

Nothing prettier than quad fives ....

Presto is Gold (Part 116)

Perhaps the most elegant Presto is Gold of all time ...

$5/10NL, 9-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
EP calls $10
Fuel55 raises to $40 from MP with [5h 5c]
BB calls $30
EP calls $30

*** FLOP *** [3c 8h 8c]
BB checks
EP checks
Fuel55 bets $90
BB folds
EP raises to $180 (a bit of a putz)
Fuel55 reraises to $1615.75, and is all in (Presto is Gold!)
EP calls $274, and is all in
Fuel55 shows [5h 5c]
EP shows [3d 3s] (ouch)
Uncalled bet of $1161.75 returned to Fuel55

*** TURN *** [3c 8h 8c] [8d] (GIN of all GINS!!!!!!)

*** RIVER *** [3c 8h 8c 8d] [Kd]
Fuel55 shows a full house, Eights full of Fives
EP shows a full house, Eights full of Threes
Fuel55 wins the pot ($1,030) with a full house, Eights full of Fives
EP is sitting out

Presto is Gold (Part 35)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 raises $20 to $30 from MP with [5s 5c]
Victim raises $30 to $60 from BB
Fuel55 calls $30 (not folding Presto to a min-reraise)

*** FLOP *** [3s Tc 8h]
Victim bets $50
Fuel55 calls $50 (not folding Presto to 40% pot bet - I smell AK)

*** TURN *** [3s Tc 8h] [5h]
Victim bets $158.50 and is all-in (nice timing Chump)
Fuel55 calls $158.50

*** RIVER *** [3s Tc 8h 5h] [Js]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Victim shows [As Ac] (a pair of Aces)
Fuel55 shows [5s 5c] (three of a kind, Fives)
Fuel55 collected $549 from pot

Presto is Gold (Part 125)

I think this may be the first time I have ever seen Presto on Presto ...

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 folds [Tc 3s]
BBV07 folds
tresdeuce raises to $14
AsentaaLapalla folds
RGA-HFX folds
silkelia calls $10

*** FLOP *** [Ks 6c Jh]
silkelia checks
tresdeuce checks

*** TURN *** [Ks 6c Jh] [Qh]
silkelia bets $8
tresdeuce calls $8

*** RIVER *** [Ks 6c Jh Qh] [2d]
silkelia checks
tresdeuce checks

*** SHOW DOWN ***
silkelia shows [5d 5h] a pair of Fives
tresdeuce shows [5s 5c] a pair of Fives
silkelia ties for the pot ($21.85) with a pair of Fives
tresdeuce ties for the pot ($21.85) with a pair of Fives

Presto is Gold (Part 55)

A milestone post!!

3rd Presto of the day finally strikes gold in an unusual way …

$2/4NL, 6-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 raises $8 to $12 from SB with [5s 5d]
BB calls $8

*** FLOP *** [Jd Kd 4d]
Fuel55 bets $20
BB calls $20

*** TURN *** [Jd Kd 4d] [Td]
Fuel55 bets $28
BB calls $28

*** RIVER *** [Jd Kd 4d Td] [As]
Fuel55 checks
BB checks

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Fuel55 shows [5s 5d] (a flush, King high)
BB mucks hand [9c Kc]
Fuel55 collected $117 from pot

And there it is – the eponymous Presto is Gold Part 55.

Presto is Gold (Part 52)

Presto is still gold but the pot sizes sure suck lately:

$3/6NL, 9-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
UTG raises $18 to $24
Fuel55 calls $24 from CO with [5s 5d]

*** FLOP *** [Kd 5c 8c]
UTG checks
Fuel55 bets $30
UTG folds
Fuel55 collected $54.15 from pot

Only a few prestos away from the magical Presto is Gold (Part 55) ...

Presto is Gold (Part 94)

Even when I am virtually certain I am beat, Presto is Gold:

$4/8NL, 3-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Button raises to $28
Fuel55 reraises to $90 from BB with [5d 5s]
Button calls $62

*** FLOP *** [7h Qs 9c]
Fuel55 checks
Button checks

*** TURN *** [7h Qs 9c] [8c]
Fuel55 bets $55 (giving him a clue ...)
Button calls $55

*** RIVER *** [7h Qs 9c 8c] [4h]
Fuel55 bets $8 (blocker bet)
Button calls $8

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Fuel55 shows [5d 5s] a pair of Fives
Button mucks [6h Ah] - Ace Queen high
Fuel55 wins the pot ($309) with a pair of Fives

5th pair is gold when it is Presto.

Presto is Gold (Part 10)

It's been two months since I posted a Presto-is-Gold hand. I haven't been seeing 55 much and when I have had it, it hasn't flopped much. Yesterday, I finally flopped a presto set but wasn't able to get paid off:

Presto is Gold (Part 76)

$2/4NL, 9-handed donkey game

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 raises $8 to $12 from MP with [5h 5c]
SB calls $10
BB raises $36 to $48
Fuel55 calls $36 (not folding Presto in what could be a 3-way pot)
SB calls $36

*** FLOP *** [2s Jh 7d]
SB checks
BB bets $47.20 and is all-in (he is short and is pushing anything)
Fuel55 calls $47.20
SB calls $47.20

*** TURN *** [2s Jh 7d] [5d] (As always, gin !!!)
SB checks
Fuel55 bets $144
SB folds

*** RIVER *** [2s Jh 7d 5d] [9s]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
BB shows [Kc Kh] (a pair of Kings)
Fuel55 shows [5h 5c] (three of a kind, Fives)
Fuel55 collected $282.60 from pot

Just play it with impunity ...

Presto Not So Good (Part 4)

So after getting my $522 up to $731 in 30 minutes I moved up to $2/4NL, 6-max and quickly lost a buy-in with QQ vs AQ on an AAQ flop. Then had to fold JJ on an A-high flop. This put me down to $319 so back to the headsup SNGs I went where I proved once again that using Presto against me is pure folly.

PokerStars, $52.50+$2.50 HU SNG

First Hand:

Seat 1: Superaxel (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: Fuel55 (1500 in chips)
Superaxel posts small blind 15
Fuel55 posts big blind 30

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Superaxel calls 15
Fuel55 raises 60 to 90 with [7h 7d]
Superaxel calls 60

*** FLOP *** [2c 3s 7c]
Fuel55 checks
Superaxel bets 30
Fuel55 raises 90 to 120
Superaxel raises 90 to 210
Fuel55 raises 120 to 330
Superaxel raises 120 to 450
Fuel55 raises 240 to 690
Superaxel raises 240 to 930
Fuel55 raises 480 to 1410 and is all-in
Superaxel calls 480 and is all-in

*** TURN *** [2c 3s 7c] [9s]

*** RIVER *** [2c 3s 7c 9s] [5h]

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Fuel55 shows [7h 7d] (three of a kind, Sevens)
Superaxel shows [5d 5c] (three of a kind, Fives) (are you kidding me? I figured a flush or str8 draw ..)
Fuel55 collected 3000 from pot

Dear Fuel55,

You finished the tournament in 1st place.
A $105.00 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.

Checking Superaxel out on Sharkscope made all the sense in the world:

Presto is Gold (Part 60)

I can't remember the last I lost a hand holding Presto ...

$10/20NL, 5-handed

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Fuel55 raises $40 to $60 from UTG with [5c 5s]
BB calls $40

*** FLOP *** [Jh Jc Js]
BB bets $80
Fuel55 raises $100 to $180
BB folds
Fuel55 collected $288 from pot

Just keep saying, "I have the nuts," and bet accordingly ...