Defending my blinds at the 2 + 2 table...

[Mike Gallo]

Hi everyone,

I had the following hand at GeeohTee's private table.
I had the big blind in this hand.

Folded to Speaker910 who open raises from the cutoff. The button folds and I three bet with A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. The small blind, GeeohTee folds speaker reraises I cap and speaker calls. Hmmmm, can I say maniac [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Flop T [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

I bet speaker raises I call

Turn 4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

I check speaker910 checks. So much for a turn checkraise [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img].

River J [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]7 :heart

I check, Speaker910 bets, I call.

What did Speaker have? How did I do?

[Mike Gallo]

Speak had A8 offsuit and I took it down.

[Gar Pike]

I would think he had something like a middle pocket pair, possibly one that flopped a set.

With the turn making 3 to a flush, he checked behind to avoid the CR from the possible flush, then bet for value on the river.

Barring that, suited or one-gap connector overcards that included a T or a J.

Why did you call his last bet with the 2nd worst pair?

[Gar Pike]

Nice read.

Is this typical?

[Mike Gallo]

Why did you call his last bet with the 2nd worst pair?

Because I had the winning hand.

He can raise from the button with many hands.

[Mike Gallo]

Is this typical?

Yes, many players will raise from the button with overcards and keep on betting, even if they do meet resistance.

If my opponent showed the same amount of strength from EP, then I would not have played the hand like this.

[DeuceKicker]

I am Speaker on Party. This was one of my first hands at the table, and I don't think I had adjusted to the table texture yet.

I was trying to be tight-aggressive, but I think I overemphasized the aggressive in this case. In the couple hands I'd watched so far, I saw that if you weren't aggressive you were going to get walked on, so when I saw a playable hand I put my foot on the pedal--maybe a little too hard.

For some reason (maybe thinking of a 'typical' Party table) I thought MG was over-defending his blind with junk, so I 3-bet pre-flop. I think both our hands were too weak for a 3- and 4-bet.

On the flop I guess I was semi-bluffing. I had a gutshot and miracle flush draw. I thought my Ace *might* be good, so I was giving myself seven outs, but I was really hoping MG would fold.

Where did all that aggressiveness go on the turn? Now I've got a double inside straight draw, and four to a (weak) flush but I check through?

On the river I know I'm beat, so a bluff attempt was my only hope.

[Gar Pike]

So, what do you open raise from the CO with, and what do you do pre-flop when it's re-raised from one of the blinds?

Post-flop?

I imagine it depends on what you know of the re-raiser, but without that knowledge...?

[Mike Gallo]

In the couple hands I'd watched so far, I saw that if you weren't aggressive you were going to get walked on, so when I saw a playable hand I put my foot on the pedal--maybe a little too hard.

When you say "you" do you refer to me, or to whoever reads the post? I think I know the answer.

I think both our hands were too weak for a 3- and 4-bet.

Agreed, however I wanted to set the tone. I had a feeling you could have any two hands.

but I was really hoping MG would fold.

No chance, I decided to bet and call a raise, instead of check raising.

Where did all that aggressiveness go on the turn? Now I've got a double inside straight draw, and four to a (weak) flush but I check through?

After the turn I put you on a medium/strong ace.

On the river I know I'm beat, so a bluff attempt was my only hope.

The pot became too big at that point for me to fold to a single bet.

Good post.

[Mike Gallo]

I imagine it depends on what you know of the re-raiser, but without that knowledge...?

Without that knowledge I might fold.