Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Wouldn't a pokey bet be giving a flush draw proper odds to draw?

[/ QUOTE ]

You should be more concerned about how a big pot hand pans out than giving incorrect odds to a flush draw. If you get raised on the flop you get a chance to push allin/make a huge reraise, which is excellent.

However, if you are just called, you will unlikely be moved off the best hand because your pokey bet makes it looks a lot like you have a draw; thus people will become more passive when a scare card comes - perfect.

NB: I am speaking of a bet of about $70.

Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

hail caeser!

for he played the turn well.

preflop i'd call too. the big reason not to is if you just can't read your opponents at all or you'll go nuts with top pair. but it's a playable lie.

flop check-raise is fine how you describe it. he doesn't know what you have when you check-raise because he'll know you know he bets the flop there.

turn it's decision time. you decided he'd bet anything if checked to and that he didn't have it and check-raised. no worries. sometimes you're wrong.

if all your reads were correct except the last, that's a good hand.

matt

Re: Results
 

I think you're right it's a sticky situation no matter what, especially if he's likely to flat call, and I think a lot of flushes will. I think the only time you can save your stack is if you can definitely fold to a raise on the turn, or if the 4th spade comes on the river.

how would you have played it if you were in your opponent's shoes?

--turnipmonster

Re: Results
 

[ QUOTE ]


how would you have played it if you were in your opponent's shoes?

--turnipmonster

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd probably do everything exactly the same as he did. I like his semi-bluff on the flop, and I like the medium-weak bet on the turn after he made his hand. If I was called on the turn I'd push, except in the case of the fourth spade dropping on the river (it would've scared me with only a ten high flush into checking behind as likely I'll only be called with a better flush.)

He immedi-called my all-in raise on the turn (to my great dismay as I knew what he had when it happened), here I think I probably would've at least given some pause to consider the possibility of losing to a higher flush on the checkraise, but would definitely lean towards a call here, mainly because my BB checkraise on the flop indicated a hand that would rather not see any more spades.

Otherwise, I think the various logistical variations of how the hand would've played out are probably just an example of just how much advantage position gives you, especially in no-limit.

Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

What about the idea that he'll only call my raise with a flush, and could even fold other holdings that otherwise might pay me off such as KT, TT, or 99?

Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

pot's big, less than a pot bet behind after you call, and any spade gives him a draw to the flush. so i'd just move in here if i thought i was ahead. he may call with a flush draw but at least you're making him pay for it.

Re: Results
 

Hey caesar,

Don't let the results mess with your head. Your line was almost surely best against a good player. I REALLY don't like betting out and folding to a raise here...

Better luck next time.

ML4L

Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

[ QUOTE ]
Don't call pre-flop.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you insane?!?!?!?! This is an easy call.

Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

Check raising the turn seems bad to me. Betting and folding to a raise, and betting and calling a raise both seem significantly better to me. I don't think he is betting this turn without AT LEAST top two plair, and you really don't want to give a free card on this very draw heavy board.

Re: 10/20 NL hand
 

I tend to agree with you, Justin. Despite the numerous positive responses, I feel like I messed this one up pretty badly. I don't particularly enjoy getting most of my money in when I'm dead with no way to win the pot.