Hi-hiddly-ho, mates,

Here's a hand I played today that I think I lost about 1.5 big bets with. I'll give you the hand, followed by some analysis, and how I think I should've played it. If you think there's a better way still, let me know!

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: TW is Button with , .
2 folds, MP1 =#A500AF(Other Dude)/ calls, 2 folds, TW calls, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: (3.33 SB) , , (3 players)
BB checks, Other Dude bets, TW raises, BB folds, Other Dude 3-bets, TW calls.

Turn: (4.66 BB) (2 players)
Other Dude bets, TW calls.

River: (6.66 BB) (2 players)
Other Dude bets, TW calls.

Final Pot: 8.66 BB

Results in white below:
Other Dude has 9d Tc (straight, king high).
TW has 8c 8d (full house, eights full of jacks).
Outcome: TW wins 8.66 BB.

Okay, obviously I'm happy with the flop, but with draws possible, I figure that raising is certainly the best move. When he 3-bets, I figure him for either top two (QJ) or the flopped straight; the fear of the straight made me back down and call, and again on the turn. Now the river comes, I've made a boat, but now I worry that maybe he did have two pair and has a better boat! So, once again, I timidly call and win a pot that wasn't as large as it should've been.

Here's a better line, in my opinion: cap the flop. Now, if he leads out on the turn, I can be 95% sure he's got the straight; if he had two pair, he'd back down and check, fearing I have the straight. So, on the turn, I can confidently bet if he checks, and call if he bets. When the river brings a jack, I now have a solid read as to whether he's got the straight or the boat, so I can raise or call accordingly.

Thoughts?

-TW

I would have played it diff and won 12 bets I think.

On the flop I would have just called, being aware of the poss str8, but not wanting to let him know I gotta hand yet.

On the turn I would have raised him to see how he really likes his hand. Ok he reraises, holy crap hes gotta hand. Call knowing pretty well I gotta boat up to win.

River, Hot Dogs! Ive rivered someone for a change. Raise away.

Not sure if right but thats what I would have done.

I don't like either way to much but hey I dropped 46 BB in a 0.02-0.04 game last night

How I would play this: I would have raised preflop in an attempt to get the button and perhaps drive out the blinds to get it heads up but let's say that I just called like you did I like the way you played it on the flop as his lead bet and three bet smells alot more like KQ to me than a flopped straight, I'm wrong of course but still. The reason I don't cap on the flop is I want him to lead again on the turn so I can raise him there for two Big Bets instead of getting the extra small bet from the cap if indeed he only has KQ or perhaps K10 and when I do this and get three bet on the turn I now know where I am standing and can confidently raise him on the river. I misread his hand on the flop but I gained several more bets in the process due to playing it this way although I had to draw out to do so. I think you played it way to soft on the turn and river. Although that straight possibility is out there you can't shy away from that too much in heads up situations as many more times than not that hand is not going to be out there and I believe you will lose alot more equitity in your hand played in this way over time than playing it how I suggested because even if you are behind you are due to fill up enough times to make this play way more profitable. Hope that makes a little sense. Good luck.

What about raising the flop like TW did, call the 3 bet (so he leads out the turn), raise the turn, call the 3 bet and then raise the river when you boat up? That would be 3 more big bets or more if he continues to raise the river. I've seen too many people 3 bet with top two or even AQ or KQ after not raising preflop and they they see top pair and good kicker and go nuts. he could also have QT for tp with straight draw but that would take a special kind of opponent.

Edit: Turns out I was writing this as Piers was responding too so it seems we would have had the same approach to the hand except for the raise preflop. Makes me happy.

First off, thanks to everyone who responded...

I think my table selection must suck, because I'm honestly not used to opponents 3-betting me in this type of situation with a hand like KQ or AQ. I really felt pretty certain he had either two pair or a straight.

That being said, I certainly played the hand pretty soft. The results make it look like I played right (except for the river), but as you guys pointed out, most of the time I won't be shown a straight here. I think calling the 3-bet and raising the turn is probably right on as far as the best option, along with playing the river a whole lot stronger.

We live and learn!

-TW

im a newbie but i woulda raised preflop, and raised on the end with the boat.