Finally, after playing only once since September, I got out to Tulalip for some $1/$3 action last night. It may be the last time I'll play in the next few months too, as I have school starting up tomorrow night.
My biggest issue was trying to remain patient. I forgot how boring poker can be: fold, fold, fold, fold, fold...
Most of the table, most of the night, was either tight-passive or loose-passive. I was mostly tight-aggressive, but made a number of loose preflop calls when in position against passive preflop raisers: 90% of the time they'll check if they don't hit, I'll bet and take it down.
I was blessed with good cards at the right moments. Presto worked out for me nicely here:
MP: Loose-passive, $200. Plays suited anythings.
Button: Tightish. Almost aggressive. $120.
Me (BB): should have a tight-aggressive image; I've had a few bluffs picked off, too, which should throw some measure of doubt into the works too.
MP limps, button raises to $12. Folds to me, I make the call with 5c 5d; MP calls.
Pot: $37
FLOP: 6c 6s 5s
Floppin' a boat is sweet! I don't check-raise here: that's too big of a give away. I want to play a big pot, so I've got to build a pot.
I bet $15, hoping a weak-lead will encourage both players to at least call.
MP calls. Button immediately goes all-in.
Dream situation! My only issue now is how to get MP to come along. I do have a theatre degree, and did win best actor award at college, so hopefully I'm putting that to good use here.
I ask for a count, count out the chips, separate them from my stack, sit back... I may have pushed it too far when I said "Man, this would be a lot easier if you weren't behind me," though in all honesty I've said that exact same thing in situations where I really meant that too.
I make the call, hoping MP has something he can com along with. Unfortunately, he does the smart thing and folds.
Button flips over Th Td. Turn and river blank out, I win a nice pot.
Hand 2:
I rarely check-raise, but there are times it's the perfect thing to do.
Bunch of limpers, I look down at AKo in the SB, and just complete. AK totally out of position in a cash game isn't that great, so I won't think twice about just limping here. In position I raise 90% of the time.
BB (tight player, $250) raises to $12; MP calls (same MP from last hand); I call.
Flop: Ad 6h 3c
I check. BB bets $30. MP looks pained, and makes the call. I raise to $130; if either of them flopped a set - so be it, but chances are I'm good here.
BB takes quite a while, then folds, MP folds. After MP folds, BB says to me "I guess you have one pair beat." I say, "Which pair?" We laugh, then I ask if he had AK, which he confirms. My check-raise won me the pot instead of a chop. Sweet.
This is one of the few places I will check-raise liberally: TPTK on a dry board, if I lead out it's likely no one without an A will call. My check can look weak, and because I so rarely check-raise, against thinking and observant oponents they'll likely fold, and I'll take down a decent pot on the flop.
Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Raising for a free card
Some of this stuff may be 100% standard, 'everyone knows this sort of thing' strategy. I feel like my poker game has just taken some big strides forward, and a lot has to do with implementing specific techniques at the table. Some I found by trial / error, some I've picked up from watching Live at the Bike, some who knows...
Here's one I heard talked about on LATB, and subsequently put to good use in my game:
If I have an open ended straight draw or a duble-gut-shot on the flop, I have 8 outs. Using the rule of 4, I have about a 32% chance of hitting my hand by the river. However, that's only when I get to see both the turn and the river. Often, however, if an early position player bets the flop, and you raise in position, if EP calls, he'll often check the turn to you, fearing you will raise again if he bets.
Example: from this weekend's $1/$3 action:
MP raises to $10, I call OTB with J8o
FLOP: 69T rainbow.
MP bets $15.
Here, any 7 or any Q gives me a straight. I want to get to the river, but don't want to call a big turn bet. I raise to $45. MP pauses, then calls. He's likely got overs (AK/AQ) or a meduim-strength pair.
TURN: [69T] 4
MP checks. I'm more than happy to take a free card, so I check behind.
RIVER: [69T4] Q
MP bets $40, I raise to $100. MP calls.
MP shows QT for a rivered 2-pair; I show my straight.
Raising in position like this is a great way to often get your opponent to check the next street. Raise the flop, oponent checks the turn = free river; raise the turn, opponent checks the river = free showdown.
Here's one I heard talked about on LATB, and subsequently put to good use in my game:
If I have an open ended straight draw or a duble-gut-shot on the flop, I have 8 outs. Using the rule of 4, I have about a 32% chance of hitting my hand by the river. However, that's only when I get to see both the turn and the river. Often, however, if an early position player bets the flop, and you raise in position, if EP calls, he'll often check the turn to you, fearing you will raise again if he bets.
Example: from this weekend's $1/$3 action:
MP raises to $10, I call OTB with J8o
FLOP: 69T rainbow.
MP bets $15.
Here, any 7 or any Q gives me a straight. I want to get to the river, but don't want to call a big turn bet. I raise to $45. MP pauses, then calls. He's likely got overs (AK/AQ) or a meduim-strength pair.
TURN: [69T] 4
MP checks. I'm more than happy to take a free card, so I check behind.
RIVER: [69T4] Q
MP bets $40, I raise to $100. MP calls.
MP shows QT for a rivered 2-pair; I show my straight.
Raising in position like this is a great way to often get your opponent to check the next street. Raise the flop, oponent checks the turn = free river; raise the turn, opponent checks the river = free showdown.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sometimes AK is enough at showdown
Tulalip $1/$3
HERO: UTG+1, $600. I'm in for $300, so I'm not too far up. Passive table - mostly loose preflop, tight/passive postflop. Perfect environment for me; I love it!
VILLAIN: UTG, $200. Literally first hand at the table; why he decided to come in UTG is beyond me (Tulalip allows you to come in behind the button and not have to post). I've played him a number of times; he likes to create an early, aggressive, run-over-the-table image.
UTG Raises to $15.
HERO looks down at AKo. This could a re-raising, but in this early of a position I'd rather just call and see a flop. Everyone else folds.
POT: $33
FLOP: 828r
UTG Bets $25.
HERO calls.
If he's got a pocket pair I've still (more likely than not) got overs. Granted this is often more of a limit poker play, but I'm OK with taking one off here to see a turn. He looked very uncomfortable when I called. Doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $88
TURN: [828] T
UTG Bets $75.
HERO calls.
He got a very, very determined look on his face after the turn card came off. If I could have read his mind I believe I would have read "If this guy has something I need to keep showing strength so he'll go away." Still doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $238
RIVER: [828T] 5
UTG looks kind of disgusted, says "Check." I consider the fact that we may have the same hand, and a bet here could move him off of it. Instead, I decide to check behind. Why? Sometimes AK, on a rag board with an aggressor who obviously missed everything, is good enough to show down. With the size of the pot, if he really did have any pair he'd likely call anyway.
I decide to take the safer route in case my read was way off and save a hundred bucks. I also considered betting so I didn't have to show my hand, but I liked what it might do to my already loose/crazy image that I'd call this guy down with nothing but the nut-no-pair. I was prepared to call his bet here, too, even if he went all-in: I was fairly certain that we were at least holding the same hand.
I turn over AK; UTG turns over AQ and throws it into the muck, and shakes his hand as the pot comes my way.
HERO: UTG+1, $600. I'm in for $300, so I'm not too far up. Passive table - mostly loose preflop, tight/passive postflop. Perfect environment for me; I love it!
VILLAIN: UTG, $200. Literally first hand at the table; why he decided to come in UTG is beyond me (Tulalip allows you to come in behind the button and not have to post). I've played him a number of times; he likes to create an early, aggressive, run-over-the-table image.
UTG Raises to $15.
HERO looks down at AKo. This could a re-raising, but in this early of a position I'd rather just call and see a flop. Everyone else folds.
POT: $33
FLOP: 828r
UTG Bets $25.
HERO calls.
If he's got a pocket pair I've still (more likely than not) got overs. Granted this is often more of a limit poker play, but I'm OK with taking one off here to see a turn. He looked very uncomfortable when I called. Doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $88
TURN: [828] T
UTG Bets $75.
HERO calls.
He got a very, very determined look on his face after the turn card came off. If I could have read his mind I believe I would have read "If this guy has something I need to keep showing strength so he'll go away." Still doesn't look like he has anything.
POT: $238
RIVER: [828T] 5
UTG looks kind of disgusted, says "Check." I consider the fact that we may have the same hand, and a bet here could move him off of it. Instead, I decide to check behind. Why? Sometimes AK, on a rag board with an aggressor who obviously missed everything, is good enough to show down. With the size of the pot, if he really did have any pair he'd likely call anyway.
I decide to take the safer route in case my read was way off and save a hundred bucks. I also considered betting so I didn't have to show my hand, but I liked what it might do to my already loose/crazy image that I'd call this guy down with nothing but the nut-no-pair. I was prepared to call his bet here, too, even if he went all-in: I was fairly certain that we were at least holding the same hand.
I turn over AK; UTG turns over AQ and throws it into the muck, and shakes his hand as the pot comes my way.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Big Score
Had my biggest one night win Saturday night at the $1/$3 Tulalip casino game. At one point I was up to $1800, but ended up cashing out at $1625, for a profit of $1425. Brilliant poker playing?
Not at all. I was watching one of the Live at the Bike episodes late Friday, and one of the announcers called it out just right: he said NL hold 'em is a game of mistakes. The object is to make as few mistakes as you can, and capitalize on the mistakes of your opponents. That's pretty much what I was doing. I'd catch players over-playing medium-strength hands, and just take their money. Here's a great example:
I'm in middle position with 7h 8h, and I limp in. Player on the button pops it to $20. It folds around to me, and I call. At this point, we're both pretty deep for these levels: I've got about $600, and he's got about $400. As a general rule, I use the 10-times rule to decide whether to call with hands like small pocket pairs and low-mid suited connectors: if the player has 10 times the amount of his raise (and, of course, I do too), and I think he'll pay me off if I hit, then I'll call. If not, then it's not worth it.
I also know, too, that this is quite a large raise for this player, and the last time he made this large preflop overbet he showed jacks, so I have an idea right off the bat where he's at.
2 players, pot is $44.
FLOP:
Kd 8c 8s
I lead out for $30. He pops it to $100. I smooth-call, and plan on leading any turn. He says something like "Great, I've been trying all night to avoid you, and here we are." Whatever; unless he has K8 or KK I'm good..
TURN:
[Kd 8c 8s] 2c
Pot is $244, he's got about $300 left. I bet $100, he goes all-in. Of course, I call.
RIVER:
[Kd 8c 8s 2c] a meaningless river card
I show 7h 8h for trip 8's. He shows Tc Td for 2 pair. And for some reason he goes off for about 5 minutes on how I can call with that garbage. I ask him if he plays suited connectors and he says, "not like that." I say something to the effect of him obviously being a limit player, which he didn't take too kindly to.
Thing is -- I'd probably play AK just as fast, and I'd expect him to as well. I can't tell you how shocked I was when he didn't have a king there. Insanity.
------------------
So for the next hour this guy is steam-raising and playing super-aggro. I don't mind; if I don't have a hand I get out of the way, all the while he's building up a nice stack from the rest of the table.
Then, round two:
After a couple limpers, I raise to $15 from middle-late position with 3c 4c. I'm raising often, but not excessively, and I'm mixing up what I'm raising and limping with, so this fits in to the script perfectly (see this post). Same dude calls me from the button. Blinds fold.
Pot is $40.
FLOP:
[Td 4h 3s]
Not a bad flop, eh?
I bet $30. He calls, and gives a little speech: "You'd better have something this time." I don't know what this means, except that he must've hit part of that flop or has a pocket pair. TT he'd for certain raise here.
TURN:
[Td 4h 3s] 3d
Well, I've got a likely lock on the hand. I don't get fancy: I want to build a pot, so I stick some money in there. He already told me on the flop he liked his hand, so the 3 is likely not going to affect his hand quality, so he should be able to call here too. I bet out $50. He comes over the top and goes all in for another $250 or so. Massive bet. Massive.
I, of course, call.
RIVER:
[Td 4h 3s 3d] 9h
I show 3c 4c for a full house. He shows 3h 5h for trip 3's. He then gets an attitude again, saying "You raised with 3c 4c?" I remind him that not only did he call preflop with 35o, but that he called a flop bet with bottom pair. He then goes on like a doofus saying "I can't beat you, I just can't beat you can I?" He says a few other rude things as he's standing up to leave. I ask him if he's going to the ATM, because we'll save his seat for him.
That may have been a little over-the top, but the table got a laugh from it.
Not at all. I was watching one of the Live at the Bike episodes late Friday, and one of the announcers called it out just right: he said NL hold 'em is a game of mistakes. The object is to make as few mistakes as you can, and capitalize on the mistakes of your opponents. That's pretty much what I was doing. I'd catch players over-playing medium-strength hands, and just take their money. Here's a great example:
I'm in middle position with 7h 8h, and I limp in. Player on the button pops it to $20. It folds around to me, and I call. At this point, we're both pretty deep for these levels: I've got about $600, and he's got about $400. As a general rule, I use the 10-times rule to decide whether to call with hands like small pocket pairs and low-mid suited connectors: if the player has 10 times the amount of his raise (and, of course, I do too), and I think he'll pay me off if I hit, then I'll call. If not, then it's not worth it.
I also know, too, that this is quite a large raise for this player, and the last time he made this large preflop overbet he showed jacks, so I have an idea right off the bat where he's at.
2 players, pot is $44.
FLOP:
Kd 8c 8s
I lead out for $30. He pops it to $100. I smooth-call, and plan on leading any turn. He says something like "Great, I've been trying all night to avoid you, and here we are." Whatever; unless he has K8 or KK I'm good..
TURN:
[Kd 8c 8s] 2c
Pot is $244, he's got about $300 left. I bet $100, he goes all-in. Of course, I call.
RIVER:
[Kd 8c 8s 2c] a meaningless river card
I show 7h 8h for trip 8's. He shows Tc Td for 2 pair. And for some reason he goes off for about 5 minutes on how I can call with that garbage. I ask him if he plays suited connectors and he says, "not like that." I say something to the effect of him obviously being a limit player, which he didn't take too kindly to.
Thing is -- I'd probably play AK just as fast, and I'd expect him to as well. I can't tell you how shocked I was when he didn't have a king there. Insanity.
------------------
So for the next hour this guy is steam-raising and playing super-aggro. I don't mind; if I don't have a hand I get out of the way, all the while he's building up a nice stack from the rest of the table.
Then, round two:
After a couple limpers, I raise to $15 from middle-late position with 3c 4c. I'm raising often, but not excessively, and I'm mixing up what I'm raising and limping with, so this fits in to the script perfectly (see this post). Same dude calls me from the button. Blinds fold.
Pot is $40.
FLOP:
[Td 4h 3s]
Not a bad flop, eh?
I bet $30. He calls, and gives a little speech: "You'd better have something this time." I don't know what this means, except that he must've hit part of that flop or has a pocket pair. TT he'd for certain raise here.
TURN:
[Td 4h 3s] 3d
Well, I've got a likely lock on the hand. I don't get fancy: I want to build a pot, so I stick some money in there. He already told me on the flop he liked his hand, so the 3 is likely not going to affect his hand quality, so he should be able to call here too. I bet out $50. He comes over the top and goes all in for another $250 or so. Massive bet. Massive.
I, of course, call.
RIVER:
[Td 4h 3s 3d] 9h
I show 3c 4c for a full house. He shows 3h 5h for trip 3's. He then gets an attitude again, saying "You raised with 3c 4c?" I remind him that not only did he call preflop with 35o, but that he called a flop bet with bottom pair. He then goes on like a doofus saying "I can't beat you, I just can't beat you can I?" He says a few other rude things as he's standing up to leave. I ask him if he's going to the ATM, because we'll save his seat for him.
That may have been a little over-the top, but the table got a laugh from it.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Raising with deceptive hands
Tulalip $1/$3
First off, kudos to Tulalip casino for upping the buy in to $200, and though they changed the big blind to $3 so you don't quite have 100 bb's, it's still a much, much, much better game!
I just lost a decent chunk of my stack to the player on my right with a sick river card. I went from about $250 down to $60. Don't remember the betting details, but I know the dude called my turn push with a flush draw and an over card, and the river spade killed my set.
I topped off back up to $200 before the next hand, when I'm dealt 4s 6s. I love these hands, especially in position, and I'd decided as a bit of randomness that this session, I would raise/re-raise black suited gappers and connectors, and just call/limp with red suited gappers/connectors. SO, in late position I raised this up to $10. I get called by the dude to my left who just rivered the flush; others fold.
Pot: $22
FLOP: 6d Qd 4c
BB checks, and I fire out $20; I thought about betting much more than pot to chase out the flush-draw, but I decided to gamble a bit and just play carefully if the flush came.
Pot: $62
TURN: [6c Qd 4d] 6d
The flush got there and I got my boat. I could fire out to represent the flush, but I decided to trap a little, and hope my opponent was on the flush draw (I was almost certain he was, and if he wasn't he wouldn't be able to call my bet anyway). I checked, and he bets out $30. I take my time, cut out my chips, stack them back up again, look at my opponent -- I'm trying my best to sell some disappointment, but trying not to ham it up too much. I kind of "reluctantly" call.
Pot: $122
River: [6c Qd 4d 6d] As
I need to lead out here, but I want it to look weak. I have $140 left, so I bet out $30 as a "blocking" bet. My opponent min-raises to $60. When I push all-in, it's only another $50 anyway, so he calls and turns over his king-high flush. I show the full house, and he says, "Oh my god. You raised with that crap?"
I love it!
First off, kudos to Tulalip casino for upping the buy in to $200, and though they changed the big blind to $3 so you don't quite have 100 bb's, it's still a much, much, much better game!
I just lost a decent chunk of my stack to the player on my right with a sick river card. I went from about $250 down to $60. Don't remember the betting details, but I know the dude called my turn push with a flush draw and an over card, and the river spade killed my set.
I topped off back up to $200 before the next hand, when I'm dealt 4s 6s. I love these hands, especially in position, and I'd decided as a bit of randomness that this session, I would raise/re-raise black suited gappers and connectors, and just call/limp with red suited gappers/connectors. SO, in late position I raised this up to $10. I get called by the dude to my left who just rivered the flush; others fold.
Pot: $22
FLOP: 6d Qd 4c
BB checks, and I fire out $20; I thought about betting much more than pot to chase out the flush-draw, but I decided to gamble a bit and just play carefully if the flush came.
Pot: $62
TURN: [6c Qd 4d] 6d
The flush got there and I got my boat. I could fire out to represent the flush, but I decided to trap a little, and hope my opponent was on the flush draw (I was almost certain he was, and if he wasn't he wouldn't be able to call my bet anyway). I checked, and he bets out $30. I take my time, cut out my chips, stack them back up again, look at my opponent -- I'm trying my best to sell some disappointment, but trying not to ham it up too much. I kind of "reluctantly" call.
Pot: $122
River: [6c Qd 4d 6d] As
I need to lead out here, but I want it to look weak. I have $140 left, so I bet out $30 as a "blocking" bet. My opponent min-raises to $60. When I push all-in, it's only another $50 anyway, so he calls and turns over his king-high flush. I show the full house, and he says, "Oh my god. You raised with that crap?"
I love it!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Playing big pots
I'm addicted to Live at the Bike, a webcast of cash games at the Bicycle Casino (they don't webcast anymore, but you can subscribe and watch the archives here), and just yesterday I was watching a show with Barry Greenstein doing commentary.
He was talking about the fact that his aim when playing no limit, is to play for big pots. "Duh" I guess you could say, but it helped me plug a little leak. I realized I was trying to win too many of the smaller pots, which meant I was at times losing too many chips with marginal hands. Don't get me wrong, I'm still playing some of the smaller pots, and I'll take stabs at pots when I don't think anyone's connected. But this last session, instead of 2 or 3 barrelling, I'd give up once I'm called if I don't improve.
I'm still getting in there with hands that can hit hard, and, quite honestly, hope to get lucky. Cases in point:
Hand 1:
After a couple limpers, I limp on the button with Ac 6c. With this hand, I'm not looking to hit top pair; I want something like 2 pair or, obviously, flushes or flush draws. The BB, a young woman I've played with a number of times, raises it up to $8. The cut off calls, and they both have enough money behind for me to take a chance with this hand, so I call too.
FLOP: Ad 6h 2h
BB bets $15. CO calls. I've got top 2 pair, so I raise it to $50, and both call. I can put one of them on a decent ace, and the other one on a likely heart flush draw.
TURN: [Ad 6h 2h] 6d
Well, I don't care if the flush gets there now, and it's likely the BB is happy with her 2 pair with a good kicker, so it's time to bet. The pot is almost $150, and I've got about $100 left, so when they check it to me, I just stick it all in there and hope they've got something they can go with.
BB calls, and the CO calls!
BB shows AJo, CO calls Ah 9h, so both are drawing dead. I don't remember the river, and I collect a pot over $350.
Hand 2:
Very early in the session, and I've been gambooling it up a bit to try to build my stack. I've gone up to $150 and now down to about $85.
I limp in with 7d8d UTG. There were a couple limpers, then the button bumps it up to $10. It's $8 more for me to call; it's a close-call whether it's worth taking a long-shot here (I'd like to have a little more in my stack for this to be over-all profitable, but it's early in the night and I'm willing to take some more chances to try to build a stack to play with). I call, hoping for a straight draw or flush draw.
FLOP: 7s 7c 2c
One of the few times I will check raise is right here. If I was holding two 7's, and flopped a set, I'd lead out. One in hand and 2 on the board I'm more apt to check-raise OOP. [edit: if stacks were deeper, I'd lead out, but this game is rarely very deep stacked so the check-raise is my favorite move here]
I check. Button bets out $35 (gross overbet to chase out a flush draw). I go all in for an additional $50. He takes some time, asks if I'm on a club draw, then calls with TT. Turn and river blank out, and I double through, while hearing from him how horrible my preflop call was.
I'm convinced I got the call here because I've gone all-in on draws, one that hit, and one that didn't get called but I showed. I want my opponents to think I'll put them to the test for their stack whenever they're in a pot with me (and I don't always have to have a hand to do it). My range is really wide, too, so there's a ton of flops that will connect with me big time.
Hand 3:
UTG raises to $6. Folds to button who raises to $16. I'm in the SB with AsQs; I'd rather not see a flop so decide to try to take it down here, and re-raise to $35. UTG folds, button calls.
His call and no raise here, I believe, means he's got AK or AQ. I could get into trouble here, but with no queen on the flop I'll have to bet to win.
FLOP: Js Jc 2d
If he's got AA/KK/QQ I'm screwed. I HIGHLY doubt he called the reraise with AJ/KJ. I'm sticking with my original read that he's on AK. Rainbow flop means no flush draw.
I go all in (approx $100). Button hems and haws a bunch, then folds AcKc face up. "Good fold," I said, "I definitely did not want to see an ace or a king." He asked what I had and I told him queens, but mucked my hand. The entire table seemed to believe me (I don't know why!).
This was one of the few times playing out of position can earn you the pot: if you go with your read, and you know the guy can't call an all-in here, you stick the chips in and win the pot.
He was talking about the fact that his aim when playing no limit, is to play for big pots. "Duh" I guess you could say, but it helped me plug a little leak. I realized I was trying to win too many of the smaller pots, which meant I was at times losing too many chips with marginal hands. Don't get me wrong, I'm still playing some of the smaller pots, and I'll take stabs at pots when I don't think anyone's connected. But this last session, instead of 2 or 3 barrelling, I'd give up once I'm called if I don't improve.
I'm still getting in there with hands that can hit hard, and, quite honestly, hope to get lucky. Cases in point:
Hand 1:
After a couple limpers, I limp on the button with Ac 6c. With this hand, I'm not looking to hit top pair; I want something like 2 pair or, obviously, flushes or flush draws. The BB, a young woman I've played with a number of times, raises it up to $8. The cut off calls, and they both have enough money behind for me to take a chance with this hand, so I call too.
FLOP: Ad 6h 2h
BB bets $15. CO calls. I've got top 2 pair, so I raise it to $50, and both call. I can put one of them on a decent ace, and the other one on a likely heart flush draw.
TURN: [Ad 6h 2h] 6d
Well, I don't care if the flush gets there now, and it's likely the BB is happy with her 2 pair with a good kicker, so it's time to bet. The pot is almost $150, and I've got about $100 left, so when they check it to me, I just stick it all in there and hope they've got something they can go with.
BB calls, and the CO calls!
BB shows AJo, CO calls Ah 9h, so both are drawing dead. I don't remember the river, and I collect a pot over $350.
Hand 2:
Very early in the session, and I've been gambooling it up a bit to try to build my stack. I've gone up to $150 and now down to about $85.
I limp in with 7d8d UTG. There were a couple limpers, then the button bumps it up to $10. It's $8 more for me to call; it's a close-call whether it's worth taking a long-shot here (I'd like to have a little more in my stack for this to be over-all profitable, but it's early in the night and I'm willing to take some more chances to try to build a stack to play with). I call, hoping for a straight draw or flush draw.
FLOP: 7s 7c 2c
One of the few times I will check raise is right here. If I was holding two 7's, and flopped a set, I'd lead out. One in hand and 2 on the board I'm more apt to check-raise OOP. [edit: if stacks were deeper, I'd lead out, but this game is rarely very deep stacked so the check-raise is my favorite move here]
I check. Button bets out $35 (gross overbet to chase out a flush draw). I go all in for an additional $50. He takes some time, asks if I'm on a club draw, then calls with TT. Turn and river blank out, and I double through, while hearing from him how horrible my preflop call was.
I'm convinced I got the call here because I've gone all-in on draws, one that hit, and one that didn't get called but I showed. I want my opponents to think I'll put them to the test for their stack whenever they're in a pot with me (and I don't always have to have a hand to do it). My range is really wide, too, so there's a ton of flops that will connect with me big time.
Hand 3:
UTG raises to $6. Folds to button who raises to $16. I'm in the SB with AsQs; I'd rather not see a flop so decide to try to take it down here, and re-raise to $35. UTG folds, button calls.
His call and no raise here, I believe, means he's got AK or AQ. I could get into trouble here, but with no queen on the flop I'll have to bet to win.
FLOP: Js Jc 2d
If he's got AA/KK/QQ I'm screwed. I HIGHLY doubt he called the reraise with AJ/KJ. I'm sticking with my original read that he's on AK. Rainbow flop means no flush draw.
I go all in (approx $100). Button hems and haws a bunch, then folds AcKc face up. "Good fold," I said, "I definitely did not want to see an ace or a king." He asked what I had and I told him queens, but mucked my hand. The entire table seemed to believe me (I don't know why!).
This was one of the few times playing out of position can earn you the pot: if you go with your read, and you know the guy can't call an all-in here, you stick the chips in and win the pot.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Grandpa update, preview of NL action this weekend
First off, Grandpa's prognosis was not very good: the doctor, who would not have bothered with the surgery if he didn't think he could do anything, ended up not being able to do much at all. The tumor is cancerous, and there was too much of it to be able to do anything surgically. What he did will allow Grandpa to not get jaundiced and be able to eat comfortably for a little while.
Next up is a visit with the oncologist, and a likely recommendation of a combination chemo/radiation treatment. The surgeon said this is most likely, and will in most case allow grandpa a few more years of fine, comfortable living.
He's still recouping, and was able to get up and walk around a bit yesterday. Likely will go home Monday or Tuesday, and begin chemo / radiation in about a month, once he's healed up a little from surgery.
Not the greatest news, that's for sure. Being that he's 82, though, the ability to likely get a few more comfortable years is not a bad thing.
I'm looking forward to some more NL fun Saturday. I want to take a shot at $3/5 soon, but I don't think this weekend is it. Maybe, we'll see - I'll make that call Saturday.
My goals this session are (besides great decision making): pot control, and value betting. I've been missing some value bets with winning hands, and I'd like to be able to get more out of them.
And I've gotten better about keeping pot sizes reasonable when holding good, but not great hands. This one is tough for me, though, because some of the typical Tulalip play is so bad I want to get as much as I can out of the hands; OTOH sometimes it's not necessary to bloat the pot with vulnerable holdings.
Next up is a visit with the oncologist, and a likely recommendation of a combination chemo/radiation treatment. The surgeon said this is most likely, and will in most case allow grandpa a few more years of fine, comfortable living.
He's still recouping, and was able to get up and walk around a bit yesterday. Likely will go home Monday or Tuesday, and begin chemo / radiation in about a month, once he's healed up a little from surgery.
Not the greatest news, that's for sure. Being that he's 82, though, the ability to likely get a few more comfortable years is not a bad thing.
I'm looking forward to some more NL fun Saturday. I want to take a shot at $3/5 soon, but I don't think this weekend is it. Maybe, we'll see - I'll make that call Saturday.
My goals this session are (besides great decision making): pot control, and value betting. I've been missing some value bets with winning hands, and I'd like to be able to get more out of them.
And I've gotten better about keeping pot sizes reasonable when holding good, but not great hands. This one is tough for me, though, because some of the typical Tulalip play is so bad I want to get as much as I can out of the hands; OTOH sometimes it's not necessary to bloat the pot with vulnerable holdings.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Can you get away from this?
Tulalip $1/$2. Pretty standard; there's really only two of us who are doing much 'playing' while it seems other 4 are only playing their cards. I've got about $260, cut off has over $300. He seems to be a pretty standard tight/passive player.
5 limpers to me in the big blind. I look down at KK, and say "Put ten more dollars in everyone," and raise to $12. 4 callers.
Pot: $48
FLOP:
Kh 7s Th
SB checks. I bet $50. Folds to SB who calls.
TURN:
[Kh 7s Th] 8d
SB checks. I've got a weird stack size now: pot is ~$150, and I've got $200. I'm putting the guy on a flush draw, but I can't just bet the pot here, and 1/2 pot bet would leave me with barely a barrel on the river, so I figure my best move is all in here: the pot is big enough to take down now, and if he wants to chase a heart then he's paying a horrible price for it.
I say I'm all in, and SB insta-calls. I turn over top set, and he turns over J9o for a turned straight.
River is a meaningless Q (just gives him an even bigger straight).
Can I get away from this hand? I can't check-raise the flop with 2 hearts out there, can I? Do I under-bet the pot? Do I massively over-bet the pot to make most any draw not worth it to call?
5 limpers to me in the big blind. I look down at KK, and say "Put ten more dollars in everyone," and raise to $12. 4 callers.
Pot: $48
FLOP:
Kh 7s Th
SB checks. I bet $50. Folds to SB who calls.
TURN:
[Kh 7s Th] 8d
SB checks. I've got a weird stack size now: pot is ~$150, and I've got $200. I'm putting the guy on a flush draw, but I can't just bet the pot here, and 1/2 pot bet would leave me with barely a barrel on the river, so I figure my best move is all in here: the pot is big enough to take down now, and if he wants to chase a heart then he's paying a horrible price for it.
I say I'm all in, and SB insta-calls. I turn over top set, and he turns over J9o for a turned straight.
River is a meaningless Q (just gives him an even bigger straight).
Can I get away from this hand? I can't check-raise the flop with 2 hearts out there, can I? Do I under-bet the pot? Do I massively over-bet the pot to make most any draw not worth it to call?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Live 6 max this weekend
Sunday should be interesting: one of the guys on the Microsoft poker discussion list is putting together a regular deep stack 6-max home game: $0.25/$0.50 blinds with a $100-$200 buy in.
And I honestly have no idea what to expect. I know the guy organizing it plays higher than that: he's a Tulalip $3/5 regular. And I don't know if that means he's better than $1/2 players, or that he just has the money to risk more. I mean - I never felt out matched at the $3/5 games: I don't believe there's a ton of skill difference from the average $1/2 player to the average $3/5 player.
I'm not used to short-handed play, and am not sure what types of adjustments I'll need to make. I'm honestly anticipating come out of there lighter: I'm really hoping the caliber of play is going to be higher than I usually play. I need to learn more about this game, and if I play better players I'm bound to both learn, and lose - for a time at least.
The main difference won't be the stakes, though, but the stacks: I'm not used to playing against maybe one other deep stack. I don't know how much to adjust my play because of that.
I may do some strategy reading online the next couple of days, hoping to find something that'll help me out somewhat.
And I honestly have no idea what to expect. I know the guy organizing it plays higher than that: he's a Tulalip $3/5 regular. And I don't know if that means he's better than $1/2 players, or that he just has the money to risk more. I mean - I never felt out matched at the $3/5 games: I don't believe there's a ton of skill difference from the average $1/2 player to the average $3/5 player.
I'm not used to short-handed play, and am not sure what types of adjustments I'll need to make. I'm honestly anticipating come out of there lighter: I'm really hoping the caliber of play is going to be higher than I usually play. I need to learn more about this game, and if I play better players I'm bound to both learn, and lose - for a time at least.
The main difference won't be the stakes, though, but the stacks: I'm not used to playing against maybe one other deep stack. I don't know how much to adjust my play because of that.
I may do some strategy reading online the next couple of days, hoping to find something that'll help me out somewhat.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Live play: Tulalip $1/$2
Over the past 1.5 months I logged 7 live sessions, with 2 wins and 5 losses for a grand total of -$257. Not great. Not horrible, but not great.
I had been playing very well, I thought. But I took last weekend off, and the week away from the tables gave me time to reflect, and found what I thought were some leaks. Well, the two major ones were: 1) playing too many hands, and 2) bluffing players who were incapable of folding top pair no kicker. Simple stuff. Basic discipline.
Tonight, I logged two wins: 1 for $676, and one for $28 (at a local casino playing $2-40 spread).
Tulalip $1/$2.
Got sat not ten minutes after arriving, which is awesome. When I got to the table, I had to ask again if it was 1/2 or 3/5: two players had over $500 in front of them. One woman had $500 in green $25 chips alone! You don't see this too often in a game with a max buy-in of $100.
Table seemed pretty gambly, which meant that the best course of action was to tighten up and pick my spots; avoid marginal hands OOP, and value bet my strong hands on every street. Standard poker.
Pot of the night:
UTG with 44, make it $6 to go and 3 of us go to the flop:
FLOP: 934 rainbow
I don't like to slow play here: I lead out $10; folds to the button who raises to $30. I'm guessing an over pair, and knowing what I know from him in the past, he'll call most anything I put out there if he's got an over pair. I raise to $80, and he re-raises to $180.
This re-raise really got me. I took my time and thought about this. I started the hand with about $320. I start to consider whether I've got the underset: whether he really has 99. I begin to wonder how deep our stacks need to be to consider folding a set here.
Once I decide to call (spread-limit, so betting is capped after the 3rd raise), I take a little time to count out the chips and figure out how to get him to call for the rest of my chips: if he's got 99 then oh well, I reload.
I say "I call, and I'm all in blind on the turn." He INSTAcalls.
TURN:
[934] 6
RIVER:
[9346] 9
Villain: shows 88 for two pair, 8's and 9's
HERO: shows 44 for a full house, 4's full of 9's.
I've played this guy like 3 times over the past couple months, and won large pots from him each time. He says that here he put me solidly on AK, and figured I was trying to push him off his hand. It's amazing that he didn't consider the fact that I could have simply had 99/TT/JJ/QQ/KK either!
Thing is: in this guy's eyes, I'm the guy that raised on the button with 64o and almost cracked his KK when I flopped 2 pair (over a month ago). In his eyes, I'm the guy who will call or raise with seemingly any two cards, and an UTG "standard" 3x's raise means AK or some odd 10-7 or 9-6 etc.
Somehow, to him, I'm the guy who tries to buy pots with big bets. He apparently hadn't noticed how locked-down I was playing this session. Of course, this was also helped by the fact that earlier in the session I re-raise-shoved on the flop with nothing but a draw, was called, and got there. Thing is, in that situation I read the hands perfectly and was a mathematical favorite to win. He saw me push with a draw; I saw me value-betting. He probably considers me reckless.
I'm happy to have this reputation! :)
I had been playing very well, I thought. But I took last weekend off, and the week away from the tables gave me time to reflect, and found what I thought were some leaks. Well, the two major ones were: 1) playing too many hands, and 2) bluffing players who were incapable of folding top pair no kicker. Simple stuff. Basic discipline.
Tonight, I logged two wins: 1 for $676, and one for $28 (at a local casino playing $2-40 spread).
Tulalip $1/$2.
Got sat not ten minutes after arriving, which is awesome. When I got to the table, I had to ask again if it was 1/2 or 3/5: two players had over $500 in front of them. One woman had $500 in green $25 chips alone! You don't see this too often in a game with a max buy-in of $100.
Table seemed pretty gambly, which meant that the best course of action was to tighten up and pick my spots; avoid marginal hands OOP, and value bet my strong hands on every street. Standard poker.
Pot of the night:
UTG with 44, make it $6 to go and 3 of us go to the flop:
FLOP: 934 rainbow
I don't like to slow play here: I lead out $10; folds to the button who raises to $30. I'm guessing an over pair, and knowing what I know from him in the past, he'll call most anything I put out there if he's got an over pair. I raise to $80, and he re-raises to $180.
This re-raise really got me. I took my time and thought about this. I started the hand with about $320. I start to consider whether I've got the underset: whether he really has 99. I begin to wonder how deep our stacks need to be to consider folding a set here.
Once I decide to call (spread-limit, so betting is capped after the 3rd raise), I take a little time to count out the chips and figure out how to get him to call for the rest of my chips: if he's got 99 then oh well, I reload.
I say "I call, and I'm all in blind on the turn." He INSTAcalls.
TURN:
[934] 6
RIVER:
[9346] 9
Villain: shows 88 for two pair, 8's and 9's
HERO: shows 44 for a full house, 4's full of 9's.
I've played this guy like 3 times over the past couple months, and won large pots from him each time. He says that here he put me solidly on AK, and figured I was trying to push him off his hand. It's amazing that he didn't consider the fact that I could have simply had 99/TT/JJ/QQ/KK either!
Thing is: in this guy's eyes, I'm the guy that raised on the button with 64o and almost cracked his KK when I flopped 2 pair (over a month ago). In his eyes, I'm the guy who will call or raise with seemingly any two cards, and an UTG "standard" 3x's raise means AK or some odd 10-7 or 9-6 etc.
Somehow, to him, I'm the guy who tries to buy pots with big bets. He apparently hadn't noticed how locked-down I was playing this session. Of course, this was also helped by the fact that earlier in the session I re-raise-shoved on the flop with nothing but a draw, was called, and got there. Thing is, in that situation I read the hands perfectly and was a mathematical favorite to win. He saw me push with a draw; I saw me value-betting. He probably considers me reckless.
I'm happy to have this reputation! :)
Monday, March 31, 2008
Strength = Weakness & trusting your read
Both of these hands are from a Saturday $1/$2 (max $100 buy in) session at the Tulalip Casino. Same table, different villains.
Hand 1
Villain: CO, not there for too long (a couple hours tops), not involved in many pots - 2nd tightest player at the table, so I'd have to give him credit for a hand whenever he fires at a pot. $65 or so.
Hero: BB, likely seen as very loose, rather aggressive, makes many steal attempts (read: bluffs a lot), especially on ragged flops from the blinds, and from any position on the turn if the flop checks around. About $175
Bunch of limpers, Villain limps, SB completes, Hero (8h 10d) checks. Pot ~$14
FLOP: 8 6 10 rainbow
Hero: Bets $15
Folds to Villain: All-in for $65
While top 2 is typically an insta-call, when someone playing as tight as this guy has goes all in, I have to give some consideration to the possibility of being beat (I've only folded top 2 pair once in recent weeks, and was correct - my opponent showed his flopped bottom set when I folded top 2 face-up). I doubt 79 is in his range (too tight); 88, 66, and 10-10 are all in his range, 66 being the most likely (due to my hand).
I ask him if he flopped a set - he stares at the table.
I turn my hand over, Villain looks down at it, blinks, and then looks up and stares right at me without flinching. He looks strong. He's acting strong.
...which is exactly where he gave it away. He "acted" too strong. Most folks with a lock on a hand are going to be acting much, much more casually, relaxed, and care free. He was "displaying" strength to appear threatening and, thus, get me to NOT call.
After 5 seconds of him staring unflinchingly at me, I call. He tables AA, and my 2 pair hold up.
----------------------------------------------------
Hand 2:
Villain (BB): I've played with him 4 times over the past 4 weeks, felting him once. He's a decent player who thinks he is a lot better than he is. Tends to overplay hands like TPTK and flushes on paired boards. He's observant enough to know I stab at a lot of pots with air. He's a nice guy, and a typical, standard tight-passive player.
Hero (Button): Seen as very loose, rather aggressive. Villain has called me down with bottom pair and 2nd pair when I've fired 3 bullets from the button (he was right once, wrong once). I've only shown big hands (sets / boats / straights / quads); I've shown very few of my many bluffs (if caught on the river I just say "good call" and muck after they show) but have recently told the table they need to start calling me more after stealing yet another pot. Villain knows I bluff often and semi-bluff regularly.
Hero: Raises to $8 with 4s 6s
SB: Calls
Villain: says "Yea, I know your button play, I'll give you some action."
FLOP:4c 6h 8s
SB: Check
Villain: Check
Hero: Bets $15
(SB: Folds)
Villain Raises to $30 (min raises are surprisingly standard at Tulalip).
I ask him how much he has left ($59). I decide to call (I'm mildly worried about a set and decide to re-evaluate on the turn).
Turn:[4c 6h 8s] 5c
Villain: All in
Hero: I ask if he has "one of my crazy hands like 79"; he doesn't say a word, he sits back and stares at the board (I don't think he's capable of semi-bluff-raising with the OESD here anyway).
I turn my hand over to show the two pair. He leans forward to look at my cards, then looks up and stares directly in my eyes, not moving.
This villain, again, gives it away right there, the same way the previous villain did. He was staring directly into my eyes as if to say "I'm stronger than you and if I look strong enough and confident enough I know you won't call."
I count out my chips, give him one more look (still staring at me, threateningly), and push my chips in.
He turns over KK and says, "I didn't put you on raising with crap like that." River is a 7, so the straight on the board chops the pot. But only 8 cards could've given him a win (and 4 gave him a tie), so when I made the decision I had him on the ropes.
Moral of the story:
1) Trust your read. If someone looks "too strong," then it's probably an act. With monster hands, players will typically act either relaxed or excited (shaking hands, trembling voice, etc); when a player looks strong they often are attempting to get you to fold
2) One-gappers are awesomely deceptive hands!
Hand 1
Villain: CO, not there for too long (a couple hours tops), not involved in many pots - 2nd tightest player at the table, so I'd have to give him credit for a hand whenever he fires at a pot. $65 or so.
Hero: BB, likely seen as very loose, rather aggressive, makes many steal attempts (read: bluffs a lot), especially on ragged flops from the blinds, and from any position on the turn if the flop checks around. About $175
Bunch of limpers, Villain limps, SB completes, Hero (8h 10d) checks. Pot ~$14
FLOP: 8 6 10 rainbow
Hero: Bets $15
Folds to Villain: All-in for $65
While top 2 is typically an insta-call, when someone playing as tight as this guy has goes all in, I have to give some consideration to the possibility of being beat (I've only folded top 2 pair once in recent weeks, and was correct - my opponent showed his flopped bottom set when I folded top 2 face-up). I doubt 79 is in his range (too tight); 88, 66, and 10-10 are all in his range, 66 being the most likely (due to my hand).
I ask him if he flopped a set - he stares at the table.
I turn my hand over, Villain looks down at it, blinks, and then looks up and stares right at me without flinching. He looks strong. He's acting strong.
...which is exactly where he gave it away. He "acted" too strong. Most folks with a lock on a hand are going to be acting much, much more casually, relaxed, and care free. He was "displaying" strength to appear threatening and, thus, get me to NOT call.
After 5 seconds of him staring unflinchingly at me, I call. He tables AA, and my 2 pair hold up.
----------------------------------------------------
Hand 2:
Villain (BB): I've played with him 4 times over the past 4 weeks, felting him once. He's a decent player who thinks he is a lot better than he is. Tends to overplay hands like TPTK and flushes on paired boards. He's observant enough to know I stab at a lot of pots with air. He's a nice guy, and a typical, standard tight-passive player.
Hero (Button): Seen as very loose, rather aggressive. Villain has called me down with bottom pair and 2nd pair when I've fired 3 bullets from the button (he was right once, wrong once). I've only shown big hands (sets / boats / straights / quads); I've shown very few of my many bluffs (if caught on the river I just say "good call" and muck after they show) but have recently told the table they need to start calling me more after stealing yet another pot. Villain knows I bluff often and semi-bluff regularly.
Hero: Raises to $8 with 4s 6s
SB: Calls
Villain: says "Yea, I know your button play, I'll give you some action."
FLOP:4c 6h 8s
SB: Check
Villain: Check
Hero: Bets $15
(SB: Folds)
Villain Raises to $30 (min raises are surprisingly standard at Tulalip).
I ask him how much he has left ($59). I decide to call (I'm mildly worried about a set and decide to re-evaluate on the turn).
Turn:[4c 6h 8s] 5c
Villain: All in
Hero: I ask if he has "one of my crazy hands like 79"; he doesn't say a word, he sits back and stares at the board (I don't think he's capable of semi-bluff-raising with the OESD here anyway).
I turn my hand over to show the two pair. He leans forward to look at my cards, then looks up and stares directly in my eyes, not moving.
This villain, again, gives it away right there, the same way the previous villain did. He was staring directly into my eyes as if to say "I'm stronger than you and if I look strong enough and confident enough I know you won't call."
I count out my chips, give him one more look (still staring at me, threateningly), and push my chips in.
He turns over KK and says, "I didn't put you on raising with crap like that." River is a 7, so the straight on the board chops the pot. But only 8 cards could've given him a win (and 4 gave him a tie), so when I made the decision I had him on the ropes.
Moral of the story:
1) Trust your read. If someone looks "too strong," then it's probably an act. With monster hands, players will typically act either relaxed or excited (shaking hands, trembling voice, etc); when a player looks strong they often are attempting to get you to fold
2) One-gappers are awesomely deceptive hands!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Hand Analysis
I'm going to break this down into a couple posts. Let me know what you think of my play and my thinking here. I've played against the opponent quite a bit, so I'm fairly familiar with his play.
-------------------------
Seat 3: gsw61515 ($13.75)
Seat 9: PKTaceSuited ($7.40)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
gsw61515 raises to $0.35 with [Ks Kd] from UTG
PKTaceSuited calls $0.35 from the button
Standard button call I'd say, possibly suited connectors, possibly any pair, perhaps AK or AQ (though with AK, AQ, and QQ+ he'd be re-raising 99% of the time).
*** FLOP *** [7s 5s Td] (pot ~$0.85)
gsw61515 bets $0.60
PKTaceSuited calls $0.60
I'm OOP with a big pair, against a good button player. From my experience with him, he will raise here if he has a set, especially with two spades out there. He's capable of calling preflop with suited connectors or small or medium pair. Preflop: 55, 77, or 10 10 are possible; 57 is moderately possible but more unlikely; 7 10 and 5 10 are NOT in his range.
With his smooth-call here, I have to put him on a spade draw. 89 is possible, but if it were it would more likely than not be 8s 9s. If another spade comes I must tread carefully. The good news is I have the Ks, so AsKs is not possible (again, this would be a preflop re-raising hand for him anyway, so AK and AQ are out of the question: if an ace hits I'm not going to be too worried).
Did I bet enough? If he's committed to a showdown with a spade draw, I think I gave him good odds to call here; if he's chasing just to the turn though I didn't give him great odds, but it's close. 2/3 pot and he's got at best 14 outs: it's close I think.
Am I missing something, or does this smell like a spade draw?
-----------------------------------
*** TURN *** [7s 5s Td] [9d] (pot ~$2.05)
gsw61515 bets $1.40
PKTaceSuited calls $1.40
Again with the smooth call. Two diamonds and two spades now. It'd be unlikely he called with a diamond draw, unless it was something highly unlikely like 6d 8d. If he's there (or 6s 8s) then he just took the lead.
I made another roughly 2/3 pot bet, which I know is a bad price to chase a pure flush draw, but if he's got a straight draw to boot, he's chasing 14 outs: is 2/3 pot on the turn giving good odds here? I'm horrible with the minutia of the math here...
Do I start to worry about the monster under the bed at this point? Do I start to include 6s 8s in this range? I think I still have to stick with 8s 9s as his most likely holding. Any other 2 spades is also possible; however calling my flop bet with a pure spade draw is unlikely.
Am I giving this guy way too much credit? Do I need to not worry about this and just bang away with KK to extract maximum value?
------------------------
-------------------------
Seat 3: gsw61515 ($13.75)
Seat 9: PKTaceSuited ($7.40)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
gsw61515 raises to $0.35 with [Ks Kd] from UTG
PKTaceSuited calls $0.35 from the button
Standard button call I'd say, possibly suited connectors, possibly any pair, perhaps AK or AQ (though with AK, AQ, and QQ+ he'd be re-raising 99% of the time).
*** FLOP *** [7s 5s Td] (pot ~$0.85)
gsw61515 bets $0.60
PKTaceSuited calls $0.60
I'm OOP with a big pair, against a good button player. From my experience with him, he will raise here if he has a set, especially with two spades out there. He's capable of calling preflop with suited connectors or small or medium pair. Preflop: 55, 77, or 10 10 are possible; 57 is moderately possible but more unlikely; 7 10 and 5 10 are NOT in his range.
With his smooth-call here, I have to put him on a spade draw. 89 is possible, but if it were it would more likely than not be 8s 9s. If another spade comes I must tread carefully. The good news is I have the Ks, so AsKs is not possible (again, this would be a preflop re-raising hand for him anyway, so AK and AQ are out of the question: if an ace hits I'm not going to be too worried).
Did I bet enough? If he's committed to a showdown with a spade draw, I think I gave him good odds to call here; if he's chasing just to the turn though I didn't give him great odds, but it's close. 2/3 pot and he's got at best 14 outs: it's close I think.
Am I missing something, or does this smell like a spade draw?
-----------------------------------
*** TURN *** [7s 5s Td] [9d] (pot ~$2.05)
gsw61515 bets $1.40
PKTaceSuited calls $1.40
Again with the smooth call. Two diamonds and two spades now. It'd be unlikely he called with a diamond draw, unless it was something highly unlikely like 6d 8d. If he's there (or 6s 8s) then he just took the lead.
I made another roughly 2/3 pot bet, which I know is a bad price to chase a pure flush draw, but if he's got a straight draw to boot, he's chasing 14 outs: is 2/3 pot on the turn giving good odds here? I'm horrible with the minutia of the math here...
Do I start to worry about the monster under the bed at this point? Do I start to include 6s 8s in this range? I think I still have to stick with 8s 9s as his most likely holding. Any other 2 spades is also possible; however calling my flop bet with a pure spade draw is unlikely.
Am I giving this guy way too much credit? Do I need to not worry about this and just bang away with KK to extract maximum value?
------------------------
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Holly statistical crap
I finally ordered Poker Tracker, and am looking over my stats for the last 30 days (that's as long as I saved HH's unfortunately).
Well hell... at first glance I was shocked at how much I lost from the big blind ($68.35, by far the biggest amount from any position). Then, however, I looked again, and see that the amount required to post was $96.95. That means I paid 96.95 in blinds, and won 28.60.
I'd like to get this number a little more even: less loose-calling from the BB, and more raising or folding.
I also installed PokerAce HUD (trial so far), and if for nothing else but the C-bet percentages it's a keeper! After an hour at the same table as 2 aggressive players, each of them had a C-bet of 100. Obviously they weren't c-betting with pairs or better each time, so I loosened my requirements against them, and started playing back on the flop. I picked off a number of hands here.
I also found out that (besides 22, which I lost two monster pots with in set-over-set situations), KT0 is my leakiest hand - I've lost more with that hand than any (again, besides 22). And as I say that, I'm wondering now why the hell I'm playing it that often.
Win rate for AA is almost 97%; for KK is 87%. Surprising they're that high; goes to show how the mind selectively remembers those bad beats when my aces got cracked!
I'm psyched to dig through this and find more leaky hands & positions, and see if I need adjusting. I'm not at all unhappy with my play lately (while I may just be on an extended heater, I'd like to think much of my success over the past 3 months has been good playing); however if I can see that I've lost over 120 BB's with KTo, then it'd be prudent to take a look at that (and other hands with similarly crappy numbers), and make necessary adjustments (like, oh, I dunno, NOT PLAYING KTo!)
Well hell... at first glance I was shocked at how much I lost from the big blind ($68.35, by far the biggest amount from any position). Then, however, I looked again, and see that the amount required to post was $96.95. That means I paid 96.95 in blinds, and won 28.60.
I'd like to get this number a little more even: less loose-calling from the BB, and more raising or folding.
I also installed PokerAce HUD (trial so far), and if for nothing else but the C-bet percentages it's a keeper! After an hour at the same table as 2 aggressive players, each of them had a C-bet of 100. Obviously they weren't c-betting with pairs or better each time, so I loosened my requirements against them, and started playing back on the flop. I picked off a number of hands here.
I also found out that (besides 22, which I lost two monster pots with in set-over-set situations), KT0 is my leakiest hand - I've lost more with that hand than any (again, besides 22). And as I say that, I'm wondering now why the hell I'm playing it that often.
Win rate for AA is almost 97%; for KK is 87%. Surprising they're that high; goes to show how the mind selectively remembers those bad beats when my aces got cracked!
I'm psyched to dig through this and find more leaky hands & positions, and see if I need adjusting. I'm not at all unhappy with my play lately (while I may just be on an extended heater, I'd like to think much of my success over the past 3 months has been good playing); however if I can see that I've lost over 120 BB's with KTo, then it'd be prudent to take a look at that (and other hands with similarly crappy numbers), and make necessary adjustments (like, oh, I dunno, NOT PLAYING KTo!)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Play less hands
First up: more RNG weirdness. First hand after opening the second table:
The human mind is known for imposing patterns where there are none in order to "understand" or even "create meaning." I guess I'm doing just that, or just happen to be in the midst of a string of coincidental occurrences. I mean, there are 1,326 starting hand combinations (OK, 169 if you get rid of suits), so I guess it's bound to happen once ever... uh - 169 times or so.
My % of flops seen was 22%, with only 4 hands won preflop. Less swingy, less chaotic; not as much action of course (preflop raises seemed to gain lotsa respect). I like the tighter approach, as well as the loose approach I've been using. I'll be trying to incorporate both of these into my sessions from here on out.
What I'm working on:
- hand selection
- hand reading
- adjusting to my opponents
Only two hands of note:
Raise from the cut-off with QJs after it folds to me; BB calls. BB check/calls the flop, check-calls the turn, and shoves the river. I momentarily hesitate, but even on a board like this (possible boat, bigger straight), this is a must-call, especially at this level:
He was playing the double-gutter, I just don't understand the river-shove. Check/calling while planning on shoving me off my hand no matter what hit the river? What did he put me on? I had him on a jack with a weaker kicker, and was (obviously) most worried about J8. That would probably have been a check/raise on the flop though. Again, this is, IMHO, an insta-call at this level (and probably also at the Tulalip $3 / 5 game, and only occasionally at the MSFT game)
Next hand was 8-way action, limped, so of course with all those limpers I'll jump aboard in late position with Q9s. The sb led out on the flop. He was aggressive on his draws. He bet about 2/3 pot on the flop ($0.50), I popped it to $1.50 (only one card beats me, and b/c he plays his draws aggressively I wanted to get more money in while I was fairly certain to have the best of it), and he just called. "Hmmm" I'm saying to myself. Turn check/ check. River check / check. Did I miss a bet?
His call of my raise made me think he had the Kd. Why didn't I bet the turn? I didn't want to get check/raised. Why didn't I bet the river? He'd probably call with a lesser flush, but would certainly raise with the Kd or a boat. I'll take a showdown and avoid the check/raise when I'm not super-confident.
What would you have done here if the 7d fell on the river and he shoved? The pot is just over 3 bucks, and your stack is around $12.
The human mind is known for imposing patterns where there are none in order to "understand" or even "create meaning." I guess I'm doing just that, or just happen to be in the midst of a string of coincidental occurrences. I mean, there are 1,326 starting hand combinations (OK, 169 if you get rid of suits), so I guess it's bound to happen once ever... uh - 169 times or so.
My % of flops seen was 22%, with only 4 hands won preflop. Less swingy, less chaotic; not as much action of course (preflop raises seemed to gain lotsa respect). I like the tighter approach, as well as the loose approach I've been using. I'll be trying to incorporate both of these into my sessions from here on out.
What I'm working on:
- hand selection
- hand reading
- adjusting to my opponents
Only two hands of note:
Raise from the cut-off with QJs after it folds to me; BB calls. BB check/calls the flop, check-calls the turn, and shoves the river. I momentarily hesitate, but even on a board like this (possible boat, bigger straight), this is a must-call, especially at this level:
He was playing the double-gutter, I just don't understand the river-shove. Check/calling while planning on shoving me off my hand no matter what hit the river? What did he put me on? I had him on a jack with a weaker kicker, and was (obviously) most worried about J8. That would probably have been a check/raise on the flop though. Again, this is, IMHO, an insta-call at this level (and probably also at the Tulalip $3 / 5 game, and only occasionally at the MSFT game)
Next hand was 8-way action, limped, so of course with all those limpers I'll jump aboard in late position with Q9s. The sb led out on the flop. He was aggressive on his draws. He bet about 2/3 pot on the flop ($0.50), I popped it to $1.50 (only one card beats me, and b/c he plays his draws aggressively I wanted to get more money in while I was fairly certain to have the best of it), and he just called. "Hmmm" I'm saying to myself. Turn check/ check. River check / check. Did I miss a bet?
His call of my raise made me think he had the Kd. Why didn't I bet the turn? I didn't want to get check/raised. Why didn't I bet the river? He'd probably call with a lesser flush, but would certainly raise with the Kd or a boat. I'll take a showdown and avoid the check/raise when I'm not super-confident.What would you have done here if the 7d fell on the river and he shoved? The pot is just over 3 bucks, and your stack is around $12.
Friday, November 30, 2007
running good
I'm now working on more aggressive play at .05/.10, and if tonight is any indication, it's going well. I decided that instead of just limping into pots with medium cards (or junk), I'm going to raise with them. By "medium" I mean middle suited connectors and gappers, and even unsuited connectors and gappers.
In position, I was raising with suited gappers, suited connectors; I was calling raises in position with a fairly wide range, with plans of taking down pots by raising or betting out if checked to. This worked perfectly. Maybe I just lucked out and found two super-soft tables. Eh, who am I kdding - these tables are soft.
Here's the flop of the night:
Folds to me in the cut off minus 1 with 45o, so I pop it to $0.30; button raises to $0.60, folds to me - what the heck, he's playing position or has big cards, I'm live and connected - I call.
If he's got a big pair, I'm gold. No need to slow-play, as if he doesn't have anything OR if he does have a big pair, he'll probably raise here, or smooth call: I want money in the pot NOW, so I hope he can raise! I bet pot, he min-raises, I re-raise, he shoves... and, of course, I call :)
I don't fault the guy, except that if he put in a larger raise preflop he could have won it preflop. I'm not sure, if I were him, I don't get felted there either. Correction: at this level, I know I lose a lot of money here. Granted, I may have not shoved the flop, but tried to wait until the turn to get it all in, but maybe not.
Here's another hand I floated preflop: MP raises to $0.30, one caller before me. 64o on the button, I call, and the BB calls. He bet, I raised the flop; he bet, I raised the turn; he checked, I put him all-in on the river:
This next player was the ultimate calling station. After tangling in four hands, I knew there was no way a bluff would work if they had connected at all, so I needed to wait until I had a monster. They were in practically every hand anyway, so it was almost certain we'd tangle again. AKo UTG. I hate being OOP with AK, but I'm raising. Standard $0.30, calling station does what calling stations do: calls.
In previous hands, I had made smaller bets (1/2 pot, 1/3 pot, 3/4 pot), but now with TPTK, I'm building the pot for myself. SO, I bet the pot on the flop. And, of course, calling station calls. I am slightly worried about K9 or A9, but not too much (I couldn't put them on a range for anything) - I'm pretty sure I'm way ahead here. The turn is my money card, and I bet just under pot, insta-called. On the river, I bet enough to put them all-in, INSTA-call.
Not sure when 44 is good on this board; however they'd already won two hands against me when I bet throughout the hand with nothing and they'd hit bottom pair on the flop and called me down.. they'd also won a hand or two where I raised pre, I bet the flop, and checked the turn and river once they called me (I'd decided to not try to bluff them anymore), so there's a good chance that they remembered me showing down losing hands to them 4 times. That, or they just can't lay down a pair for anything.
Besides these hands where I connected, there were plenty that I just won by firing: raise preflop with something like a 79s, fire at a ragged flop (or a scary flop!), and take it down... played much more aggressively , and much more "poker" than "cards."
Here was a fun one: I raised pre, I got called on the flop, turn was check / check; and I pot-bet the river:
When the river was dealt, I was checked-to, and I almost gave up, but then saw that if they had a Q, they'd have bet the turn; if they had an ace, they'd probably bet the river (a small bet, since they probably don't have a flush). So I just fired, and they went away. :)
A few weeks of this as I tweak my selection and aggression, and if all goes well I'll move up to $0.10 / $0.25.
In position, I was raising with suited gappers, suited connectors; I was calling raises in position with a fairly wide range, with plans of taking down pots by raising or betting out if checked to. This worked perfectly. Maybe I just lucked out and found two super-soft tables. Eh, who am I kdding - these tables are soft.
Here's the flop of the night:
Folds to me in the cut off minus 1 with 45o, so I pop it to $0.30; button raises to $0.60, folds to me - what the heck, he's playing position or has big cards, I'm live and connected - I call.
If he's got a big pair, I'm gold. No need to slow-play, as if he doesn't have anything OR if he does have a big pair, he'll probably raise here, or smooth call: I want money in the pot NOW, so I hope he can raise! I bet pot, he min-raises, I re-raise, he shoves... and, of course, I call :)
I don't fault the guy, except that if he put in a larger raise preflop he could have won it preflop. I'm not sure, if I were him, I don't get felted there either. Correction: at this level, I know I lose a lot of money here. Granted, I may have not shoved the flop, but tried to wait until the turn to get it all in, but maybe not.
Here's another hand I floated preflop: MP raises to $0.30, one caller before me. 64o on the button, I call, and the BB calls. He bet, I raised the flop; he bet, I raised the turn; he checked, I put him all-in on the river:
This next player was the ultimate calling station. After tangling in four hands, I knew there was no way a bluff would work if they had connected at all, so I needed to wait until I had a monster. They were in practically every hand anyway, so it was almost certain we'd tangle again. AKo UTG. I hate being OOP with AK, but I'm raising. Standard $0.30, calling station does what calling stations do: calls.
In previous hands, I had made smaller bets (1/2 pot, 1/3 pot, 3/4 pot), but now with TPTK, I'm building the pot for myself. SO, I bet the pot on the flop. And, of course, calling station calls. I am slightly worried about K9 or A9, but not too much (I couldn't put them on a range for anything) - I'm pretty sure I'm way ahead here. The turn is my money card, and I bet just under pot, insta-called. On the river, I bet enough to put them all-in, INSTA-call.
Not sure when 44 is good on this board; however they'd already won two hands against me when I bet throughout the hand with nothing and they'd hit bottom pair on the flop and called me down.. they'd also won a hand or two where I raised pre, I bet the flop, and checked the turn and river once they called me (I'd decided to not try to bluff them anymore), so there's a good chance that they remembered me showing down losing hands to them 4 times. That, or they just can't lay down a pair for anything.Besides these hands where I connected, there were plenty that I just won by firing: raise preflop with something like a 79s, fire at a ragged flop (or a scary flop!), and take it down... played much more aggressively , and much more "poker" than "cards."
Here was a fun one: I raised pre, I got called on the flop, turn was check / check; and I pot-bet the river:
When the river was dealt, I was checked-to, and I almost gave up, but then saw that if they had a Q, they'd have bet the turn; if they had an ace, they'd probably bet the river (a small bet, since they probably don't have a flush). So I just fired, and they went away. :)A few weeks of this as I tweak my selection and aggression, and if all goes well I'll move up to $0.10 / $0.25.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
How do they do it?
3 of the first 4 hands at a table, I had 44, 55, and 44 again. Limp / called a preflop raise with the first 44; all overs flopped, BB pot bets, I fold. 55 I raised from UTG+2, player to my left re-pops, I smooth call for set-mining odds. Overs with 2 clubs hit the flop, I bet 1/3 pot, guy shoves, I fold. I don't even remember the 3rd 44 hand. I had trouble at this table, though: my raises weren't getting respect, and I dropped from $10 to $7 quickly. I bailed, and found another table. Well, 2 actually, and figured I'd play until I decided which was more comfortable.
Not long after I sat down, sitting with approx. $9.50, I find 44 (again!) from late position. I join a couple limpers, then the button pops it to $0.50, and it folds back to me. Of course, I have to call: he's got $9.30 left, and I know if he's got a big pair, and I hit my set, it's all going in. $0.40 to flop a set and get the remaining $9.30? Of course I'm calling.
FLOP: Kc 2d 4c.
"I love it when a plan comes together."
I'm not gonna check-raise to give away the strength of my hand. I bet what I'd bet if I were on a flush draw: a little more than 1/2 pot. I bet $0.60. He raises to $1.60. Unless he has KK, I'm golden here. For these stakes, online, with very little information to go off of, I cannot start making psychic reads or hero laydowns because it may be a set over set deal. If he's got any sort of hand here, I know it's all going in.
I re-raise pot: $5 or something. I don't remember exactly, and am not clear on how to do the math for that (I just clicked the pot button), but I do know that it only left me a couple bucks left. The other guy shoves, and of course I'm calling:
How is top pair good here? How can you think, if someone has re-raised enough to only leave him a buck or 2 behind, that they're not completely dominating you? I hoped to god the guy had AK here and wanted it all in. He didn't even have that!
Over the summer I was getting pummeled at these micro-limits, and I know why now: I was playing like that dude was, figuring top pair would be great, and if not, oh well, it's only ten bucks. That's a great way to develop bad habits. Playing these limits like they mean something is a great way to play profitable poker (albeit small profits) against bad players.
I recently read an interview with Doyle Brunson, and he talks about playing poker at different levels. Here's a guy who's played $1,000 / $2,000 games, and he says that he knows players at that level who can't play well at $100 / $200 because they don't treat the game the same way. Your chips are betting units, not money. Treating the betting units as that, then you should be playing optimally at whatever level you choose.
Of course, you'll have to make adjustments to the skill of your opponents, and you may need to play a much more straightforward game at small levels, but you make that adjustment at any table you're at.
While I started out a tournament player, I am much, much more interested in cash game play. Much more interesting IMHO.
Not long after I sat down, sitting with approx. $9.50, I find 44 (again!) from late position. I join a couple limpers, then the button pops it to $0.50, and it folds back to me. Of course, I have to call: he's got $9.30 left, and I know if he's got a big pair, and I hit my set, it's all going in. $0.40 to flop a set and get the remaining $9.30? Of course I'm calling.
FLOP: Kc 2d 4c.
"I love it when a plan comes together."
I'm not gonna check-raise to give away the strength of my hand. I bet what I'd bet if I were on a flush draw: a little more than 1/2 pot. I bet $0.60. He raises to $1.60. Unless he has KK, I'm golden here. For these stakes, online, with very little information to go off of, I cannot start making psychic reads or hero laydowns because it may be a set over set deal. If he's got any sort of hand here, I know it's all going in.
I re-raise pot: $5 or something. I don't remember exactly, and am not clear on how to do the math for that (I just clicked the pot button), but I do know that it only left me a couple bucks left. The other guy shoves, and of course I'm calling:
How is top pair good here? How can you think, if someone has re-raised enough to only leave him a buck or 2 behind, that they're not completely dominating you? I hoped to god the guy had AK here and wanted it all in. He didn't even have that!Over the summer I was getting pummeled at these micro-limits, and I know why now: I was playing like that dude was, figuring top pair would be great, and if not, oh well, it's only ten bucks. That's a great way to develop bad habits. Playing these limits like they mean something is a great way to play profitable poker (albeit small profits) against bad players.
I recently read an interview with Doyle Brunson, and he talks about playing poker at different levels. Here's a guy who's played $1,000 / $2,000 games, and he says that he knows players at that level who can't play well at $100 / $200 because they don't treat the game the same way. Your chips are betting units, not money. Treating the betting units as that, then you should be playing optimally at whatever level you choose.
Of course, you'll have to make adjustments to the skill of your opponents, and you may need to play a much more straightforward game at small levels, but you make that adjustment at any table you're at.
While I started out a tournament player, I am much, much more interested in cash game play. Much more interesting IMHO.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
How NOT to play 2 pair
Caesar's $1/$3 game; was playing more like a 2/5 game (average preflop raise was $15) with a $500 max buy in. Fairly aggressive, but were still a number of limped pots.
Setup:
I had played the day before with Villain, who was an OK player, but had a tendency to misread player's hands (which is why I was able to win a big pot from him with AJ vs his A10 when 2 aces hit the flop). He had backed down to my reraise twice (I re-raised so seldom I don't think anyone called my re-raises). I know he remembered all this because he mentioned bits and pieces of these during the few hours we played on Sunday. Villain is in the BB
When no one shows any aggression off the bat, the table became very limp friendly, so I thought nothing at all of limping on the button with 45s. 5 to the flop:
A 4 5 rainbow.
SB checks
Villain bets $10
folds to me, I pop it to $40.
Fold to Villain
after a slight consideration, he pops it to $100.
I'm confused, as while he could have 23 in the limped pot, I would guess he'd want to keep me around to the turn & would call then push the turn. I take a lot of time on this, talk to him a bit, and he says "big blind special."
I call.
editorial: this is by far and away the worst thing I could have done. At this point, I have bottom two pair in a limped pot and only $43 invested. I really have only two options here: I fold and take the loss, or I push my two pair. Calling is awful because unless another 4 or 5 falls on the turn I'm going to be in the same predicament, only with more money invested. My only other option would be to not have re-raised his initial bet.
Turn: Qc
Villain announces all-in.
THIS, of course, is the problem with calling the large bet on the flop. I didn't have a plan when I called that bet; if a 4 or 5 fell on the turn, then obviously I'm good, but what about a blank? Calling that flop raise gave him the license to represent any number of hands.
What happened was that I invested one small bet in hopes of flopping big; when I flopped big but got played back at I made an incorrect decision: calling his re-raise was wrong. I ended up folding, and thus losing almost $150 on a 45s.
I wish the story ended there....
After he announced all-in, I was trying to pick up something from him; I even flipped my cards over in order to try to get something from him; I was so caught up in the adrenaline that my typically rock-solid observation skills were shot. After I folded and the pot was pushed to him, he showed me his hand:
45o.
Now, I can understand that to an extent -- if he wanted to put me on tilt a bit, then that was a perfect way to do so. Thing is, immediately after collecting that pot, he racked up his chips and left the table. As he was racking the chips I even said to him, "Dude, that was like rubbing salt into the wound, I wish you hadn't shown me what you had." He responded, almost in anger, that he had told me he got a BB special and he couldn't put me on the hand that I had.
No kidding. I played tight enough that no one would be able to put me on that type of hand (though I did play them and took down pots with them but not needing to show the hands).
Lessons learned:
1. don't call with that type of hand in that position with that flop action, as the turn will rarely bring about a "good card," as there are so few left in the deck. Some may think I should have folded after the re-raise on the flop, but I'm still of the opinion that pushing here was the right move. I bet we would have chopped the pot, and moved on.
2. always have a plan with a hand: if you're playing 64s and flop an OESD know what you're going to do or how far you're willing to go with it on the flop; if you have ATC and flop two pair have a plan of what you're going to do when you flop a draw, flop just one pair, etc etc.
Always go into a hand with a plan. Sure, the plan can change on the fly with the cards in play and action in front of you, but you've got to have some sort of plan. And tell the consistent story.
Poorly played hand, and I still wish that dude hadn't shown me his hand -- he had no reason in the world to except to rub-in the fact that he outplayed me. And as I said, since he was leaving the table it wasn't even a tactical move on his part to tilt me: he's not going to benefit from me being on tilt after he leaves. He was, basically, being a dick. I guess you'll find that at the poker tables at times.
Setup:
I had played the day before with Villain, who was an OK player, but had a tendency to misread player's hands (which is why I was able to win a big pot from him with AJ vs his A10 when 2 aces hit the flop). He had backed down to my reraise twice (I re-raised so seldom I don't think anyone called my re-raises). I know he remembered all this because he mentioned bits and pieces of these during the few hours we played on Sunday. Villain is in the BB
When no one shows any aggression off the bat, the table became very limp friendly, so I thought nothing at all of limping on the button with 45s. 5 to the flop:
A 4 5 rainbow.
SB checks
Villain bets $10
folds to me, I pop it to $40.
Fold to Villain
after a slight consideration, he pops it to $100.
I'm confused, as while he could have 23 in the limped pot, I would guess he'd want to keep me around to the turn & would call then push the turn. I take a lot of time on this, talk to him a bit, and he says "big blind special."
I call.
editorial: this is by far and away the worst thing I could have done. At this point, I have bottom two pair in a limped pot and only $43 invested. I really have only two options here: I fold and take the loss, or I push my two pair. Calling is awful because unless another 4 or 5 falls on the turn I'm going to be in the same predicament, only with more money invested. My only other option would be to not have re-raised his initial bet.
Turn: Qc
Villain announces all-in.
THIS, of course, is the problem with calling the large bet on the flop. I didn't have a plan when I called that bet; if a 4 or 5 fell on the turn, then obviously I'm good, but what about a blank? Calling that flop raise gave him the license to represent any number of hands.
What happened was that I invested one small bet in hopes of flopping big; when I flopped big but got played back at I made an incorrect decision: calling his re-raise was wrong. I ended up folding, and thus losing almost $150 on a 45s.
I wish the story ended there....
After he announced all-in, I was trying to pick up something from him; I even flipped my cards over in order to try to get something from him; I was so caught up in the adrenaline that my typically rock-solid observation skills were shot. After I folded and the pot was pushed to him, he showed me his hand:
45o.
Now, I can understand that to an extent -- if he wanted to put me on tilt a bit, then that was a perfect way to do so. Thing is, immediately after collecting that pot, he racked up his chips and left the table. As he was racking the chips I even said to him, "Dude, that was like rubbing salt into the wound, I wish you hadn't shown me what you had." He responded, almost in anger, that he had told me he got a BB special and he couldn't put me on the hand that I had.
No kidding. I played tight enough that no one would be able to put me on that type of hand (though I did play them and took down pots with them but not needing to show the hands).
Lessons learned:
1. don't call with that type of hand in that position with that flop action, as the turn will rarely bring about a "good card," as there are so few left in the deck. Some may think I should have folded after the re-raise on the flop, but I'm still of the opinion that pushing here was the right move. I bet we would have chopped the pot, and moved on.
2. always have a plan with a hand: if you're playing 64s and flop an OESD know what you're going to do or how far you're willing to go with it on the flop; if you have ATC and flop two pair have a plan of what you're going to do when you flop a draw, flop just one pair, etc etc.
Always go into a hand with a plan. Sure, the plan can change on the fly with the cards in play and action in front of you, but you've got to have some sort of plan. And tell the consistent story.
Poorly played hand, and I still wish that dude hadn't shown me his hand -- he had no reason in the world to except to rub-in the fact that he outplayed me. And as I said, since he was leaving the table it wasn't even a tactical move on his part to tilt me: he's not going to benefit from me being on tilt after he leaves. He was, basically, being a dick. I guess you'll find that at the poker tables at times.
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