PokerSoup Forums > Strategy > help me figure out if my great read turned into a dumb play

help me figure out if my great read turned into a dumb play

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1. • Posted by Jason M 2009-01-20 09:11:55
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   • Ace and I hit up Garden City real quick this afternoon. We had a solid session, which included both of us making some great (and not so great) plays. I was relaying one of the "better" plays to my girlfriend on the ride home and I started thinking it might have been a terrible play. What do you all think?

     The game is 3-100 spread with 1/2/3 blinds (1 on the button). The action is usually pretty fast and loose, and this table was no exception. A preflop raise of $20 will often be called by 3 players, for example. I had been playing pretty tight by most standards. I'd estimate I acted in less than 15% of the hands, which is pretty substantial considering I'm in the blinds 33% of the time. I couldn't pick up a good hand, and whenever I picked up a hand that I'd normally open a pot with, somebody would raise in front of me and I'd have to fold.

     Anyway, one of the more active players raised to $11. I don't think I'd call him a maniac, but he definitely plays more than his share of pots, loves to chase draws, and was in for about $500. I called with my in the cut-off and one of the blinds called also.

     Flop:

     Both players checked to me, and I was pretty happy with this flop, so I bet about 3/4 of the pot. The blind folded and the raiser just called. At this point, I figured my pair of tens was good and put him on a flush or straight draw and less likely just overcards. The pot had about $100 in it and he had somewhere around $120 left to get :)

     Turn:

     Seems good. He checks, and I get the overwhelming feeling that if I bet here, he's gonna shove on me. I don't want to have to make a hero call with top pair and a mediocre kicker here, so I decided to keep the pot small and see the river.

     River:

     He checks. I'm pretty sure this guy didn't call me on the flop with a 6, but there aren't a whole lot of hands that would call a value bet here that don't already have me beat. Maybe or , but everything else that calls has me toasted.

     He turns over and I win with top pair.

     Ace was sitting between me and the player, and evidently has some history with him and I overheard their post-hand analysis. Supposedly the guy was indeed planning to check-raise the turn. He might have been saying that to reinforce my giving him a free card, but he seemed like a guy who liked to talk about his hands and plays to try and get cred from other players, so I believed him.

     At first, I congratulated myself on making such a good read and not forcing myself into a tough situation. I was really happy with the play. But when I described this hand later on, I realized I just left about $120 on the table. How could I make such a good read and then not use the information to get more value out of my hand? I guess I wasn't confident enough to convince myself I could make the call...

     What do you think?

     Either way, there is a lesson in here for me. I had all the pieces: 1) he was weak, and 2) he wanted to shove. I didn't put them together. Maybe it was the right long-term play to keep it small, but for some reason my brain didn't put the pieces together and let me even consider using the read in a completely opposite way I would normally use it.

2. • Posted by Tony Gags 2009-01-20 16:21:38
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   • As played I think you played it fine. I woulda put in a value bet here of around 30-40 dollars on the river cause he can have all types of things here to call you cause he thinks you are on a busted flush draw, straight draw. Plus some opponents will be thinking how can he bet here with 2 6's on the board. He could be bluffing. a8 99 77 possibly even 55 ak aj I see this guy calling with. If this guy is calling you out of position to check raise you with nothing on the turn, he is certainly capable of paying you off with a high on the river here do to the drawy nature of that board. I love it. This guy is so good he is trying to float you out of position lol. Your read was good. You felt this guy was capable of check raising you on the turn, and then your playing a huge pot in a guessing game with top pair no kicker. Well played J. Looks like that coaching is paying off, Definatly played like a cash game player and not a tourny player. I worried about the use of your word "play" when your talking about hands(another tourny playa word thrown around a little too much). You know like I made a play on this guy. That word can lead to impatience and "fancy play syndrome", which you don't need at a live 1-3 spread game lol. Leave the plays to the actors :) Nice job. I likes your thought process

3. • Posted by Tony Gags 2009-01-20 16:27:32
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   • Disclaimer. I am runnning and playing so bad right now I need to practice what I preach :)

4. • Posted by FREMONTkyle 2009-01-21 04:15:03
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   • HUM coaching in a week i might be interested in some info into that for cahs game or maybe ill just create a daily blog for my online micro stakes play and get the free in put from the players on here. well see that 18 is gunna be 1800 in no time

5. • Posted by Tony Gags 2009-01-21 05:31:47
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   • lol. Chit your right Kyle. No more free advice :) lol

6. • Posted by FREMONTkyle 2009-01-21 11:57:15
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   • lol its ok i just officially ran bad and without the roll to support it am back out of the online game

     had AA cracked but Ak in cash game for half my funds then lost the other half with a flopped set against runner runner flush
     LOL

7. • Posted by Jason M 2009-01-22 04:43:32
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   • Thanks for the feedback. I didn't thoroughly think through the value bet on the river, so I appreciate that input for sure.

     After this discussion, I'm partially convinced I made the right play on the turn. I'm sure it's harder to believe in retrospect, especially since he didn't turn over or something ridiculous like that.

     Mainly I use the word "play" for lack of a better term for the action during a hand that something noteworthy occurred. I'll call a bonehead call of a value bet on the river a "play" just as I'd call an all-in preflop in the dark a "play", too. I like the latter play a lot more LOL

     Tks again for the comments. Hopefully we can get a few more viewpoints.... (hint, hint, you lurkers)

8. • Posted by Bhakti 2009-01-22 04:53:59
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   • sure, and if you had pushed, he would have had or something ridiculous like that. depends how much tolerance you have for the ups and downs, i guess. i prefer small ball in a situation like that.

9. • Posted by Jason M 2009-01-23 02:36:32
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   • exactly :p

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