Hey, doesn't everyone want to get lucky? I know I do! Just to make sure we're all on the same page... I am talking about poker. You knew that, right? Would flopping a made hand qualify as getting lucky? Sure, but today let's talk about really getting lucky and recognizing it to take full advantage.

While as lucky as it is to flop a full house, to get really lucky you need an opponent to have a good enough hand to give you action. Then you need to recognize the situation in order to take full advantage of it, Lastly, you need your full house to hold up. Sounds like a parlay of sorts. To really get lucky you need a convergence of events to fall into place. This is why getting really lucky doesn't happen that frequently.

We've all been dealt pocket aces only to win the blinds. What's even worse is to be dealt pocket aces in the big blind and have everyone fold, winning just the small blind. On top of that, depending on where you are playing, you might need to give half the small blind to the dealer for the drop. In these situations you can legitimately claim that although the odds against being dealt pocket aces are 220-to-1, you really weren't very lucky. You need the rest of the parlay to get really lucky.

Let's run through an example of getting really lucky. Imagine limping in holding J-10 in late position in a multi-way pot and then flopping J-J-10. Whoo hoo... here you were hoping for straight cards on the flop and you wind up making a monster, and you're in position to boot. Now you must start figuring how to handle this fortuitous event. I can hear the wheels turning... should you slow play to trap or bet or raise at the first opportunity?

First, we should assess the board. Hopefully one of the jacks is the same suit as the ten, giving the board both straight and flush possibilities. Another part of getting lucky would be for the case jack to be in someone's hand so you'll get action. Having a couple of opponents drawing thin or dead is part of the recipe. Let's further imagine that you were third in and both blinds called. Now you're in a multi-way pot where no one showed any aggression pre flop.

If it is checked around to you in late position, I believe this is a perfect spot to bet instead of slow playing your monster. The board has wheel house cards that figure to have hit someone, and your bet will most likely be interpreted as an attempt to steal because no one else showed any aggression.

After you do bet and then are raised, you know you're getting really lucky! A previous checker was slow playing what he regarded as a monster. As is often typed into the chat box, lol. He can have you tied but not beaten. These are the rare moments we all cherish during our sessions and we should make the most of them by capturing as many chips as possible.

Our goal for today's time together is twofold. First, after imploring the poker gods to grant you the parlay required to get really lucky make sure to give them a nod of thanks. Secondly, make sure to maximize your win when this good fortune drops into your lap. When Mr. Opportunity knocks, make sure you open the door and invite him in.

See you next "TIME"

Tom "Time" Leonard has played poker in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and California for more than 30 years and written about the game since 1994. Contact Tom at thleonard@msn.com.