"Whose money do I want to take?"

[MN_Mime]

Villain is actually somewhat decent, but aggressive and annoying. Probably around 25%-30% VPIP, but it's hard for me to estimate that at a card table. Great B&M micro table.

I'm UTG and I Pre-flop raise AQs, 2-cold-callers (SB completes)

FLOP: 4 players, AQJ, rainbow

Hero checks, 60%+VPIP checks (CALLING STATION), Villain bets, 90% VPIP calls (SUPERFISH), Hero raises, 1 fold, Villain 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero caps, Villain RAISES?! ( ugh... no caps heads-up).

I look over and see less than a BB left in his stack (he's one of these chip holders), so I put him all-in expecting to see KT and I'm not disappointed (offsuit and he called my PFR). He crows about having the nuts and all that jazz. I turn a flush draw and he starts to freak, but his hand holds up on the river.

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Same orbit, Villain is in the BB, there's a poster at CO, and it's folded to me with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. I open-raise, FISH calls (of course), poster calls, and Villain calls.

FLOP: 4 players, Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Villain checks, I bet, 2 callers, Villain check-raises!, all call.

TURN: 4 players, A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Villain bets, I call (I'm certain I'll lose the other two if I raise), Calling Station doesn't disappoint, but the poster folds.

RIVER: 3 players, 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Villain bets...

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Here's the thing. If I call, calling station will call. If I raise, calling station folds and villain will probably just pay me off.

I should raise just for possibility that I'll get further action from Villain but the question I asked myself was, "Whose money do I want to take?" I wanted to keep Calling Station in the game to continue paying off and I wanted to bust the better player out of the game, so I raised.

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The situation isn't perfect for asking if this question ever factors into the thinking of other players, but it felt like a breakthrough for me.

Are all of our decision dictated by value bets and pot odds or are there other metagame factors worthy of consideration at these times?

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Calling station folded and Villain called and demanded in a disgusted voice if I had the flush. I told him I had the nuts.

Villain's hand (in white): <font color="white">AJo</font>