PTOTW #27 Week 38 - September 2008

[RiverstarsVictim]

Dont worry gamer, you went out during the holdem round I know what I'm doing there.

[gamer4life27]

Yes, but you have to play all the games in HORSE in order to take the title. If you don't know how to play one, then you shouldn't last long.

[RiverstarsVictim]

Maybe you forgot your helpful post which I thanked you for earlier in this thread, I wasn't totally clueless

[Krahsami]

I know I went out behind in the hand I went out on But I did have a respectable hand though. I honestly didn't think he had a Jack. But I reraised best. Just got unlucky.
I made the wrong read thinking another Jack helped me even more. wouldn't be the first time.

[frob23]

Since you brought it up, let's take a look at that hand.

START OF HAND

1: Hero: $980.00
2: BB: $1835.00
3: UTG: $1195.00
4: MP1: $1015.00
6: CO: $925.00
7: Button: $2035.00

Dealt: K K

Hero posts $5, BB posts $10, 2 folds, CO raises to $35, 1 fold, Hero calls $30, 1 fold.

What are your thoughts about your pre-flop play? Obviously, I don't like calling here. Reraise and just take the pot if possible. If not, great, you've got a hand that will play well especially if you can get it all-in. Calling to take the pot on the flop isn't terrible -- if the original raise was larger -- but the original raise wasn't large enough to be sure the BB is going to fold... so I'd always reraise with Ks here.

Flop: J 3 9 (Pot: $80)

Hero checks, CO bets $80, Hero raises to $160, CO calls $80

Hmm, $80 is a little large for a continuation bet but it's possible. It's also big for a semi-bluff with a draw like a flush draw but that's possible. You decline to provide any pressure and min-raise him. If you're going to check-raise... make a big one. The pot will be $240 after your call... so make it $320 to go, right here. If you do that, you've ruled out flush draws completely when he calls. He's not calling on that board, with a big reraise, without a Jack... and likely A-J. As it is, he's likely got a Jack or the flush draw. I can't see him calling with anything else. A stronger hand, like a set, should be reraising you again on this flop.

Turn: J 3 9 J (Pot: $400)

Hero bets $790 (all-in), CO calls $730 -- $60 returned to Hero.

Holy crap! We know his hand either has a Jack or is a flush draw. There's $400 in the pot and we're going to throw $730 after that? If he's on the draw, he folds. If he's got a Jack, we're drawing to 2 outs for our entire stack. There has to be a sane way to find out. Especially since a Jack is one of the worst cards that can show up. [Jack, Ace, and spades being the bad cards for your hand on the turn.] If you must bet... fire off $200-$300 and see how he responds. If he raises, easy fold. If he was on the flush draw... he'll fold now for $200 as easily as $730. I would have to bet something here. If he's on a draw, I don't want to give him a free card when the pot is this big. But, if we decided to check... and he checks behind... if a spade comes on the river... check/fold.

END OF HAND

Originally Posted by Krahsami I honestly didn't think he had a Jack. But I reraised best. Just got unlucky. I made the wrong read thinking another Jack helped me even more. wouldn't be the first time.

I would love to know, from this action or previous hands, why you didn't think he could have a Jack here.