Party Poker 5/10 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: TW is MP1 with , . CO posts a blind of $5.
3 folds, TW raises, 2 folds, CO (poster) calls, 3 folds.

Flop: (5.40 SB) , , (2 players)
TW bets, CO calls.

Turn: (3.70 BB) (2 players)
TW bets, CO raises, TW calls.

River: (7.70 BB) (2 players)
TW checks, CO bets, TW calls.

Final Pot: 9.70 BB

Results in white below:
TW has As Qd (one pair, fours).
CO has Js 7h (two pair, sevens and fours).
Outcome: CO wins 9.70 BB.

Okay, I should add that after he raised the turn, he only had 1.5 big bets left. His short-stack status factored a bit into my thought process, which was: it's doubtful he has a mid pocket pair, because he'd almost certainly raise me on the flop being scared of overcards. Reasonable hands that beats me are: slowplayed big pair (AA-QQ), a set of sixes, quad fours, or a hand with a four in it. But none of these hands are all too extremely likely, so I figured there was a good enough chance he either picked up a draw or was just trying to bluff me off. Yes, I know, I call down with A-high too much, but in this case I think it was warranted.

And I was right, he had nothing, but he caught anyway. That's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that I could've played better. Like I said, he only had 1.5 big bets after his raise anyway, so maybe he was destined to get it in there. But since I'm only risking an extra .5 big bets if we get it all in, as opposed to calling down...why not just 3-bet the turn? Even with his short stack, maybe...just maybe...he would've given up to a 3-bet and I would've won without risking the 6-outer. Just some thoughts.

-TW

Well I'm drunk so I'll leave the math to someone else, but I think it works out better to let him bluff off the last bet instead of pushing him out. Either way you're putting in two bets, and getting reraised is not a great situation, so I think it's better to just get to a showdown.

If I had something that didn't have good showdown value, like JTs, I might consider throwing in a 3-bet there, but only if my opponent was inclined to bluff a lot.

This is a pretty common situation against a aggro player at the 6max, and yeah, it really sucks to call down and see their 39s hit on the river.

Overplayed AQo a little? Dont worry, Tightie, I couldn't have laid it down with that action either--I would've made him donk off the last of his chips on the turn though (thinking he was playing a flush draw). All that means is that we'd have lost the same amount of chips, and that I'd have gotten it in with the best of it...