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So, Ive spent the last couple days trying to figure out a better way to play this. The best I could come up with is that I have to be content to play a big pot with one pair here, and whats the best line to maximize the chance that my money goes in. On the flop, I think smoothcalling is best. Sure, it lets him come in behind me, and there are a lot of turn cards that Im not going to like, but what are the alternatives? Folding sucks, since Im almost always ahead of the BB and most of the time the button is going to get out of the way anyways. Any raise would basically be allin. This has some merits since it forces the button out with a draw (or at least makes him put his stack in), but I dont think I like it. It allows him to play his hand perfectly. Im basically saying "I sure hope you didnt flop a set/straight. If you did, heres 200BB's" I really dont think hes going to call with any non-drwaing hand that I beat. So I think calling is best.
As for the turn, well, I dont know. I think I like betting, since he might be on a flush draw and I dont want to give him a free shot at the river. Betting more than I did/pushing is nice in that I dont have a sticky river situation. However, by betting a lot it makes it impossible for him to make a play at the pot, and I reduce his holdings only to draws and hands that beat me. So, I actually think that betting 3500 was pretty good, as long as Im willing to check fold getting really good odds on the river if a heart hits, since I think the chances of him waiting until the river to push me off my hand are pretty minimal. (basically what flynn and diablo said)
Anyways, after he pushed I ran most of my time down and finally called, hoping that he had ahjh or something like that and was trying to squeeze me. The river was an inconsequential 2d. The BB flipped over A6o. The button flipped 88, and mhwg. My hats off to the button though, I think he played this hand absolutely excellently, and almost managed to scoop a 21k pot. If I were him I wouldnt have even thought of attempting it.
-Evan
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