Posted by Junelli 2:43 PM
2 Monster Hands

I was playing in an extremely live $5-$5 NL game. By "live" I mean the game was about as juicy as it could get. Lots of action, constant flow of new money and players, and players with serious weaknesses that are visible immediately. At this table, raising and re-raising is common and I've noticed a tendency for players to overvalue their hands, and in turn, being unwilling to let them go.

Such situations are ripe for trapping with weird holdings.

I am dealt 2d 4d in the BB. An early position ("EP") player raises to $25 straight. A raise for this amount was very common, and had no hopes of driving people out. Over the past 2-3 hours, I'd noticed that a $25 raise might as well have been a limp. A $35 raise was a little more standard. And a $45-$50 raise meant serious business.

Anyway, the EP player makes it $25 straight, and he is called by 4 people. I smooth call from the BB, and the pot is $130 before the flop. The flop comes 247, and I'm first to act.

I decide not to trap here, because I have a pretty good feeling the EP (who is directly behind me) is strong, and will likely call/raise thereby generating more action for me.

My strategy works out perfectly:
I lead out and bet $100 on the flop. The preflop raiser, moves all-in for $240. And another player smooth calls the $240. I move all-in for $675 (a re-raise of $435). The smooth-caller is disgusted that he called the $240, and now has to call $435 more. I of course, and delighted becuase I feel very good about having the best hand.

And since I'm all-in I get to take insurance to protect my 2 pair.

He reluctantly calls, and the main pot is about $850. The sidepot is $870.

We flip our cards up and they hold exactly what I thought: two overpairs. AA and 88. I have 14 outs against me (88, AA, 777 twice). This place only allows insurance after the turn, so I can't take it yet. However, I strike a deal for the sidepot and give up $150, locking up the rest.

The turn is a 2, and I have a full house. This card eliminates the outs for 7 or a running pair. Now I have 4 outs against me. I insure it and give up an additional $80.

The river is a blank and I win a huge pot.

===============

The next hand I had KK UTG. I limped in for $5 fully expecting someone to raise. If it was raised I planned to re-raise significantly. Of course, wouldn't you know it? 8 people limp in.

Oh well, so much for this hand. I take the flop ready to fold.

But wait, the flop is K9T. I have top set. I check. Wouldn't you know it? All 8 players check.

The turn is a 7, and I lead out for $30 (about the size of the pot). 1 caller, and another (weak) player raises to $75. It's folded around to me, and I reraise it $150 more (making it $225 straight).

He moves all in for $490.

I'm pretty sure he has me beat. He is very confident and seems like he wants me to call.

I'm in the tank for at least 3 minutes, but ultimately decide to call for several reasons:

1. There are only 2 hands that can beat me. 68 or QJ (for the straight). Although it's entirely possible that he could be holding either of those hands, it's also entirely possible that he could make that same move with AK, or any combination of 2 pair. He is not a very good player, and I can't be certain he already has the straight.

2. I've already invested $230. It's only $265 more to win a $785 pot.

3. Even if he has the straight, I still have 10 outs (K, 999, TTT, 777) to make a full house.

4. And it's very difficult to lay down top set.

I call and he turns up QJ (the nuts). We make a deal, and I take $200 out. We deal the river twice, and I get no help.

Oh well. Misplayed from the start. I deserved that one...

Now what was I saying about fish who "overvalue their hands, and won't let them go?"

2 Comment(s):

Posted by  Anonymous, at 12:55 AM, March 18, 2006  

on that KK hand, I think if you bet it pre-flop, nobody flinches. In other words, there is nothing to lose by betting and plenty to lose by checking. I think that the game you described is riper for calling your bet than it is for raising. my$0.02, and i think you already agree

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Posted by  Anonymous, at 12:55 AM, March 18, 2006  

but dont you think the QJ calls a preflop raise anyway

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