Did I Make A Big Mistake?

[Patrick Brennan]

I’m trying to not be results oriented here. so even though I won this hand I think I played it terribly. This is the same 2/3 session as before.

$400 effective. We’re 6 handed now and there’s 1 player who is straddling from UTG. I have KJdd on the button. CO opens to $21 (he’s older Armenian player that I’ve determined is the worst player at the table). He’s been limp calling and folding flops all night. I call on the button and straddler calls too.

Flop: Js10s10d. Initial raiser Cbets $35 I call and straddler fold. Heads up to turn.

Turn: 7s. Flush gets there and so does the straight. Opponent bets $67. He’s on the opposite end of the table and I can tell his leg is shaking. I think for a little and raise to $167. The guy looks defeated… he checks his cards and holds them like he’s going to fold. Suddenly, he looks pissed off, he puts his cards down and calls in a way that he ends up splashing the pot and the dealer has to gather all the chips up and count them. He’s staring me down like he wants me to die right there. Someone makes a comment and he responds to them I have K9. opponent then shoves final $110 before the river is dealt.

River: 2d. I tank… I don’t think I can fold but I really don’t want to call. I’m cursing myself in my head for getting here. How does he not have me beat? Then I look at him… he’s not just watching tv. He has literally pulled his head all the way to the side and all the way up to show me specifically that he doesn’t care. His legs are shaking so much. I know this tell as I used to do the same thing when I wanted someone to think I was strong 15 years ago when I first started playing poker. I called and he mucks his cards angrily… then he sees I called with only a pair of Jacks and he’s so pissed he leaves and plays a different game.

I think I played this terribly but got lucky with my opponent. Let me knife what you guys think

[DeeKay]

Interesting hand… nice going.
I think Brad would tell you that if this guy is playing way too many hand, and you find an interesting hand like KJ suited… I would have raised it to $80. But given we have position. A call is fine too. Just saying that if we think he is always betting weak… we need to charge him for his weak hands.
Its a pretty wet flop. In this situation, giving we think this player is weak (although a 10 is certainly in his range), I don’t mind a re-raise off his c-bet with top pair and backend diamond draw. We are charging weaker Jacks and the flush draw. But given we have an over… I think we are ok to call and proceed with caution.
Its interesting to me that you chose to re-raise after the turn. I don’t like that. Too many hands get there as you point out. I think here I would prefer a call to control the pot.
On the river, I don’t think there is a situation where you are folding. If you didn’t think you were good the whole way, then why are we still in the hand. Yes, its a tough call and we could lose, but I think you have to trust your read here on the player. There’s a good chance top top is good.
The other thing I will add is that over the years, I’ve noted that weak players will eyeball you when they are bluffing. They’re trying to intimidate you. These days I rely very little on physical tells, but I still see it enough times. I think you made a good read on this guy and have to stick with it. You have top pair against a weak player… I like it. Nice hand.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by DeeKay.

[Patrick Brennan]

Thanks for the response DeeKay. I forgot to mention the straddler was probably the player I respected the most in the game as he was making some really good decisions for a 2/3 game. That being said he didn’t get much out of line that I saw.

I think I agree with the 3 bet pre-flop here… I didn’t do it because of how wary I was of the straddler but now that I think about it a 3 bet would almost certainly isolate me with the weaker player except for when the straddler wakes up with exceptionally strong hands.

The other reason I didn’t is because it was the first time the weak player actually raised pre-flop which had me very nervous. Also, looking back, this is the only hand I saw this player take past the flop in the hour we played together.

My question here is, as played pre-flop, would you really consider a raise on the flop when 3 handed? Isn’t that over repping my hand against 2 players? Especially one player that I consider competent?

My thought on turn was that I could rep the flush or straight since my range is fairly wide on the button and I was fairly certain this player had more hands in his range that missed on this board than hit. What do you think about a raise shove on the turn against this player type? Or am I giving this player too much credit in thinking he’s doing anything more than playing the 2 cards he was dealt? Therefore, I need to apply maximum pressure with top pair knowing I’m going to be good more often than not.

And thanks for reading… I really appreciate the feedback considering this is the only place I get to talk poker strategy these days. Not that I’ve been playing a lot anyways. Cheers!

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