Archive for December 28th, 2009

The more I think about it, the more I feel like this is one of the worst calls I’ve made in a long time:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (5 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($4423.50)
BB ($2026)
UTG ($2477)
MP ($2168.50)
Hero (Button) ($2000)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, 10
UTG bets $30, MP calls $30, Hero calls $30, 1 fold, BB calls $20

Flop: ($132.50) 7, 10, 8 (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP bets $80, Hero calls $80, 2 folds

Turn: ($292.50) A (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks

River: ($292.50) 9 (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $333, MP raises to $2057 (All-In), Hero calls $1555.50 (All-In)

Total pot: $4069.50 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had J, 10 (straight, Jack high).
MP had J, Q (straight, Queen high).
Outcome: MP won $4066.50

I talked myself into a call on the grounds that I didn’t think he would check QJ after turning a double gut shot and a good bluff card. But it’s far less likely that he would make this check-raise with a bare J, that he would get here with air (I’d expect him to bet the turn or river), or that he’d turn a pair into a bluff (since my overbet is basically J/air and he probably doesn’t expect me to fold a J). Granted it’s not very likely I have QJ, as I’d almost certainly bet the turn, but that’s about the only thing that makes this a viable bluffing spot for him.

Feels like a good spot to me because it’s plausible that I’m giving up with some trash that I 3-bet, most of the hands that I could stack with a  bet-bet-bet line will value bet for me anyway, and there’s a very plausible way for lesser hands to make something second-best. The only drawback is that if I start showing interest on the turn or river after checking the flop, it looks suspicious.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $6.00 BB (6 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($819.10)
MP ($600)
CO ($246)
Button ($486.85)
SB ($1083.60)
Hero (BB) ($1609.45)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, A
1 fold, MP bets $21, 3 folds, Hero raises to $72, MP calls $51

Flop: ($147) 8, 8, 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $60, Hero calls $60

Turn: ($267) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks

River: ($267) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $156, Hero raises to $1477.45 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: $579 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero didn’t show A, A (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $576

My best guess is he had some sort of mediumish pair that tried to go for thin value but figured out what was going on when I check-shoved the river. I doubt I would have won more from such a hand by betting flop.