Thank you Mike Caro

[DesertCat]

The 5-150 spread game at Casino AZ is the closest thing Arizona can have to a NL ring game. And I was doing pretty well for a guy who, basically isn't that good. A series of well timed bluffs based on good reads, and betting my strong hands had me up $200 or so for a few hours.

But then I hit the wall. A series of poorly timed bluffs, bad reads and betting strong hands into the nuts brought me back down almost even. I realized I was getting tired when I allowed the dealer to push my pair of eights, deuce kicker pot to the guy with the missed straight draw.

Vowing to leave, I look down and see ace king, not suited. I raise to twenty. At this point my table image isn't so great, having been caught with my pants down the last few times I raised. So the big blind and a EP limper call. The big blind is the table big stack. A regular, but actually hasn't been at our table that long. In the short time he has been playing well, very aggressive, snapping off lots of bluffs. He has me outchipped about three to one.

Flop comes AT5, rainbow. BB bets out $40. EP folds. I'm sitting there, thinking WTF? Is he testing whether I hit the flop, or is he betting a set or two pair hoping for a raise? I finally decide I'm either way ahead (KQ/KJ?) or way behind, so I call.

Turn is a King in the fourth suit. I'm thinking, good card for me, and he bets out $75. Hmm, I'm still either way behind KT, TT, 55, or way ahead of KQ, KJ. So I call.

River is ace of diamonds. BB pauses, scratches his nose (outside, not in), and bets out $75. I have only one play, "raise $150" I call out. The dealer and I take some fumbling turns counting out my chips. I've got $20 left.

He scans the board. "Ace King?" he asks. I resort to my usual strategem of staring at the board as to hold back the myriad of tells my goofy expression usually contains. He is so reluctant to lay down that he clearly must have had me beat until the river. And just as clearly, I want him to call.

He checks his cards one more time before chucking them as I think back to Mike Caro's book of tells. I realize, suddenly, that I'm playing it all wrong.

For the first time in the day I turn and look at my opponent. He seems a little surprised. I wear no sunglasses, so I'm allowing him to peer directly into my soul. And I stare back. Leaning forward. If a five foot five inch man can intimidate anyone, this one was giving it his best shot. I even puffed up my chest.

Finally, it was enough for this guy. "I call." he said almost as if he knew he was being had. He didn't show. I was almost embarrassed to play after such a cheap trick, and left as soon as it was socially acceptable.

Thank you Mike Caro. Thank you for writing the "book of tells". And, evidently selling a copy to this guy. I owe you one hundred and fifty dollars. Put it on my account.