Greg Raymer hand

[heavybody]

I was reading Mr. Raymer's World Poker Finals 2004 trip report when this hand came up...[ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ] Blinds are T600,1200 with a T200 ante.

Button starts in the 7 seat. I fold the first couple of hands, and raise UTG with AQ the next hand. Freddy calls. flop is K98, and we both check. turn is 7, he bets, I fold. I hated to lose the first one, but I felt he hit that flop.

I fold my blinds, and fold around to my next big blind. I wanted to steal, but usually somebody beat me to it, or it just wasn't a good spot to do so. In my BB I get Th8h, and 3 limpers. SB completes, I check. Flop is 679, but it's all spades. All check. Turn is Qc, and I bet T4000. First two limpers fold, and Alan Miller calls. SB folds. River is 5d. I think awhile, trying to decide if Alan has the flush. I bet T5000, leaving me with about T7500. Alan asks how much I have left. He does some chip counting and stacking. Finally, he bets enough to put me all-in. I immediately call. He says good call, he only has the As. I show my straight, and have T40,000, my highest chip count yet.

I was a little surprised he checked this rather dangerous looking flop considering there were 4 hands out against him.
The pot already has 7,000 in it which is almost half of his current stack . I think it would have been prudent to put at least a pot sized bet out, which probably would mean he was pot-committed anyways so going all in would be playable too.
Somebody could easily have flopped a set(lots of players limp with small to medium pairs), flush draw, flush(ouch) etc...why give them a free card? If I have the best hand I want to get some money in the pot and if i'm beat so be it. Head-up or maybe 2 players I might give a little rope,but not here. Comments accepted.

heavily bodied