Actually taking a stab at a pot is an interesting issue ... I do not mind it at all, I must confess though, that I have never have played at those limits, so I have no Idea what so ever about the calling station ratio pr. pot (a newly invented parameter/concept for the occasion)

Anyway here goes:
What is important is two things

1. What am I representing

2. What can my opponents hold


1 depends on preflop betting .. if you are the preflop raiser, then you can represent an overpair and sling out a leadbet on the flop .. that is pretty basic .. I might also buy a free card on the turn if you have position ... but enough said, that is just basic stuff seen all the time, and certainly not the case here

So what is the case here ??

Here if you bet you are representing

A. you are holding a deuce and just made trips

B. you are holding a small pair like 88 and now you are betting out for value and to protect your hand (Why didn't you bet on the flop then ?? Well this is where is becomes slightly advanced. You didn't bet on the flop because you figured that a small bet would not drive anyone out and didn't want to build the pot since it then would get harder to drive opponent out on turn if the board still favors you)

C. You have picked up a flushdraw with the second spade and now betting for value (admitted this play is only good if you expect all four opponets to call and still be weak enough to not raise, which is not uncommen at low limits)


D. You are trying to steal the pot .. (perhaps holding overcards)

Which of these is more likely to scare your opponents

A. is a scary ... you have hit trips ... is it likely .. hmmm perhaps, perhaps not ... people do not play many deuces, and since two of them are already on the board ... well ...

B. This might come to mind at a higher limit, but .. well

C and D are most likely



But the crux of the matter is being ready to fire that second barrel !!


What you where doing was actually setting yourself up to win the pot if either a spade or perhaps a blank would hit on river ...

Although the play might work, It is properly best saved against fewer opponents and at a higher limit, where players think more (and bets hurt more)

And you have to be prepared to fire that second barrel on the river


Seen from your perspective An Ace on The River was a awfull card to see