My basic strategy is to selectively play suited connectors when I know that I can just call a pre-flop raise and see a flop, or slow-play big pairs by just calling a raise. I will quickly throw the connectors away if the board isn't friendly and I usually check my big pairs, hoping to re-raise the pot. The idea is to try and trap big pairs, since I find drunk guys on TILT will give all their money away when they have AA, KK, QQ, despite the board offering straights and flushes. The up and down straight with flush draw is nice combo, offering 15-17 outs, so a pot-sized bet usual justifies a call when I'm sure they are on AA or KK.
So, applying this technique, I found myself absolutely burned 3x last night and lost $3k in three all-in pots, despite having seriously out-played my opponent. A bad beat now and then is understandable, but 3x in about 2 hours was my breaking point. I logged off in disgust and went back to bed, licking my wounds. Here are the three hands:
AA vs. my KQ suited
Playing $5/10 9-way table, I'm on the button and call an early $35 raise. Flop comes Jc,10h,4h and gives me the up and down straight draw and flush draw. He makes an $85 pot bet and I call, thinking he has KK or AA, but conscious that he could be drawing to the A-high flush. When the Ah falls on the turn, I'm GOLDEN. I have the nut flush, and I hope my opponent was sitting on AA, not KK. He bets 1/2 the pot, $135, which looks like a feeler bet from KK. I min raise $270 and he pushes all-in, I call for a pot of ~$2,000. He turns over AA and I show my nut flush. I quickly realize I'm a 4:1 favorite, despite his set of A's. The river......oh, the river. He hit his 20% outs, pairing the T on the board to give him the full house.
QQ vs. my KK
Same table, same opponent. I am in late position again, and face two callers of $35 raise, so knowing my KK could be in rough shape against AA, I raise to $105, seeing who is real and who is looking for a flop. Everyone drops, except the second caller. I'm sure he's on a draw, but certainly doesn't have AA, maybe AK or QQ/JJ. Flop comes Js,4h,8c and he bets 1/2 the pot, $150. If I hit top set with no draw, I'm not going to lead-out betting. So, I raise to $300 and am sure he's bluffing with AK or testing the waters with QQ. He quickly calls, probably in frustration, knowing he is beat by AA or KK. When a blank comes on the turn, he makes a puzzling bet of $100, hoping I go away. I push all-in, not feeling 100%, but think the betting pattern justifies my 80% confidence. He pauses and right before time expires, calls. $2,000 pot and he flips over QQ. Feeling good and a little relieved he didn't have JJ or 88, we watch as the river comes Q and I face my second bad beat from this table and player.
AQ vs. my AK
The third and final bad beat that snapped me and sent me to bed was AK vs. AQ. My pre-flop $105 re-raise was called by the button, so I'm pretty sure he has a strong hand. Board came AQ2, and I called a pot bet. The turn was my K. He pushed all-in, so I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the nutz with his hasty all-in and I called. And, as I had seen 2x before, the river delivered a nasty blow with the second Q, making his absolutely dominated hand, magically delicious.
No comments:
Post a Comment