The best example of how to play like an idiot ever.

[frob23]

This is not a bad beat thread... but it really should have been.

This hand happened a while ago at a live private tournament. I recently remembered about this hand when I posted the slowplaying thread. Since I had posted this somewhere else, I decided I needed to share how badly I play with the world.

I played this so badly that I deserved to be dragged out and shot. I'm going to post the whole story, as well as my comments about how I think I messed up. Further comments are welcome if you see a better play that I think I should have made. Believe me... every time the action is on me in this hand, you're going to be screaming at your monitor to have this donk dragged out and shot.

7 players left at my table (about 15 left in the tournament). The blinds are 200/400.

The average at the table is about t3,500. I've had a huge stack (I'll get into that in a moment) but recently lost about t3,000 against a loose player.

BB: t4,500
Donk_Hero: t4,000

Donk_Hero: A - A

I am UTG. In the short time this tournament has been running, I have already had pocket Aces twice before and had someone shove into me both times (once before I acted and once after I raised). Both times before I had put the other two out of the tournament with them. The whole table it talking about how I'm getting Aces. So I decide to mix it up and limp with them.

It folds to the SB, a solid and observant player, comments, "You're in this pot? What... do you have aces again?" I point out that I just called this time. He tosses his hand anyway. And the BB checks.

Pre-flop comments: I think my biggest mistake pre-flop was limping with this hand. I had been doing a lot of raising up to this point and even though I had the cards to do it, someone could have been getting sick of it and decided to play back. I ended up getting very lucky to have just one player go to the flop with me... but I have no idea where he is at because he could have ATC in the BB. I also don't know if I should have responded to the SB's comment because I am almost certain that he folded because he picked up on the idea that I felt strong.

Flop: A 8 6 Pot: t1,000

Bingo! A set of Aces. The BB leads out for t800. I think for about 2 seconds (who am I kidding... I didn't think) and decide that this hand needs to be slow-played... despite the fact that I know the BB is the type of player capable of leading out with a flush draw against a player who limped pre-flop. I flat call.

Flop Comments: How badly could I have played this? Obviously the BB has something... or some draw... because he won't normally bet when he misses completely. Almost anything he has dictates that I should raise here... mainly because of what I know about him betting draws. If he has a pair and folds to my raise... oh well. If he has two pair, then the money is likely going in after I raise. And I can't let him draw for free. Since I only have t2,800 after calling and the pot is going to be close to that... I think a shove should have been made here. There is no raise that I can make this short and get away from.

Turn:A 8 6 5 Pot: t2,600

Disaster!!! A third heart. The BB checks to me... and suddenly I just "know" that he's trying to trap me :lol: and I check behind.

Turn Comments: I massively over-thought this. The BB isn't a strong player... and a check might mean exactly what it looks like it means. It could mean that he doesn't like the flush. But, I really have to bet here. Since I have no hearts in my hand, I can't give him a free draw if he has just one. But I guess I put him on the flush and decided to go with my original read... even though my original read had a range that included non-flush hands... but I am seeing monsters under the bed here.

River:A 8 6 5 9 Pot: t2,600

BB bets t1,200. Well, now there is 4 to a gutshot straight on the board... and 3 to a flush... and the BB makes what looks to be a flat out value bet. I min-raise to t2,400. Yes... I raise and leave myself t400 behind. I am mentally challenged, I swear. The BB thinks about it and calls.

Final pot: t7,400

River Comments: I don't know what drugs I was on... but they must have been good ones. I thought I was beat on the turn and the river is even more threatening as the BB could easily have a 7 in his hand. The BB makes what looks and feels like a value bet. If I really couldn't have laid down my hand... calling is at least the 2nd worst option. But minraising is #1 on the list of bad decisions. Even shoving is better because I left myself with only 1BB if he calls and I lose (and am in the BB next hand) and I have to call if he raises. I think, at this point, having played this hand so badly... that folding is the only real choice. A terrible and painful choice but the only proper punishment for playing so badly.


Warning: There are results below this line.








The BB turned over A 4 and nearly puked when he saw my set of Aces. I played this very very badly and got really lucky. I'm honestly sick about this play... even though I won. It seemed like I was TRYING to get my aces cracked or something. *sob*

[dew12109]

Wow... and that's why you get no respect when you move all in

[powrdragn]

I can totally respect this post.

I've had those times where I played a hand absolutely terrible but won a huge pot. i'll sit dumbfounded and upset at myself and my friends don't get it.

They just look at the results. For me, I know that in most cases I would have lost and it sucks.

I guess part of getting better though, is getting to the point of that realization and working to fix it.

Kudos on the post frob.

[Vito_Nuccio]

Originally Posted by powrdragn I can totally respect this post. I've had those times where I played a hand absolutely terrible but won a huge pot. i'll sit dumbfounded and upset at myself and my friends don't get it. They just look at the results. For me, I know that in most cases I would have lost and it sucks. I guess part of getting better though, is getting to the point of that realization and working to fix it. Kudos on the post frob.

I agree. Learn from mistakes and file away for later. The nice thing is you made a less than stellar play, learned something, and still took down the pot.

UTG limper later in a tourney (especially from a solid player) is a definite red flag of a monster hand. I like to see a raise with AA UTG and a pot bet on the flop especially since the flush draw is present.

Whatever, a good lesson and a raked pot, poker can be one strange game........

By the way, Frob you did not mention finishing position, how was the end result?


Later,

[frob23]

Originally Posted by Vito_Nuccio I agree. Learn from mistakes and file away for later. The nice thing is you made a less than stellar play, learned something, and still took down the pot. UTG limper later in a tourney (especially from a solid player) is a definite red flag of a monster hand. I like to see a raise with AA UTG and a pot bet on the flop especially since the flush draw is present. Whatever, a good lesson and a raked pot, poker can be one strange game........ By the way, Frob you did not mention finishing position, how was the end result? Later,

The sad thing is, I was supposed to know better than this. I knew, almost every step of the way, how bad my move was as soon as I made it.

In the end, I managed to take down the entire tournament. Even with my bad play, there is only so much you can do when the deck runs you over. And the deck did run me over that night. Aside from having AA 4 times total, I kept out-flopping everyone late in the game... and even when I didn't, most people folded to my bets because of how I had been running.

Edit: Just so you know, this hand happened back in February and that post is almost word for word what I wrote about the hand right after I had the chance when the tournament ended. I usually pick a couple hands from the tournament and write myself notes about them and how I think I played (to review later). When I did this, I knew exactly how bad I played. That commentary is pretty much a reflection of my personal disgust at how poorly I played. Had I not known better, I would have been easier on myself because I don't fault myself on mistakes I am unskilled enough to avoid -- I just learn and try to not make them as often in the future.

I do hope that someone can look at this hand, maybe who makes a mistake like one of the dozen I made, and will keep themselves from making similar mistakes in the future. I think this is an excellent non-example of how to play AA UTG.

[Legion III]

Originally Posted by frob23 I think this is an excellent non-example of how to play AA UTG

And I think your English is horrible here.

I would have said, "I think this is an excellent example of how not to play AA UTG."

And I agree by the way.

[liladypokerpro]

LOL nothing like some good old fashioned friendly nit-picking