Playing the player.

[CreamPuff]

Just thought I'd share a few thoughts, on
one reason prefop play shouldn't always be
automatic.

Sometimes when a steal raiser raises on the button,
I just like to call from the SB. Some consider this a weak play.

I say it depends.

If you reraise and kick out the BB, sometimes it's
extrememly difficult to get the button to lay down,
often you play a guessing hand with hands like KQ
or KJs, wasting lots of ammo (Or even getting bluffed
when you hold an Ace).

If you notice a tendency for them to lay down fairly quickly postflop, by all means reraise.

A particular opp. I played tonight, would actually
give up and check the flop when I smooth called (whether
the BB called or not).
So I knew when I had a hand like KJ, I would just call,
because I would often get to see the turn for free,
giving me the option to take another free card or go
for a bluff.

Frankly I would have called him with a hand like KT, maybe
even K9...If I flopped top pair (T or 9) I would have just bet out every time.

I also think that if your opp plays very good, you should
fold KJ from your SB for a raise (I would even
fold KQ about 1/2 the time, depending on my image).

(This post is very similar to the one where I talk
about peeling off a card on the flop to opp's that
are afraid of being check-raised)

Opinions?