My favorite example of variance is from a poker session in October of 2013. Catching cards playing NLHE nine handed. Hit a boat and lose to a straight flush. Make a boat an hour later. This time I am hoping to get paid. Lose to quad fours. lol! I am such a donkey.
One of the craziest run-outs I have ever scene was at a $2/$5 table at Hollywood mid 2012 iirc. Player in late position raises to $55 and gets two callers. Check, check, bet. Fold, all-in.
LP tanks for a solid three minutes. He knows he is beat. He goes over all the possibilities. Top two, bottom two, a set, a straight. He slowly talks himself out of the first three and settles on the flopped straight. Still calls, because hey, who folds pocket aces?
Dealer asks the players to show. Bingo! Mister Negraneau ran his Aces into a flopped straight! $1,750 pot.
Dealer burns and turns an Ace for the sweat, but no one really believes this hand is going to go LP's way. Dealer burns and reveals the river card. The case Ace appears for the win!
W. T. F.?