I was happy with the way I played this hand at the time

[k3nt]

I think I like my play here. Comments welcome, though. Let me know if I was an idiot so I can play better next time.

10c/20c NL on GC as usual.

Get [3d] in the SB. Two limpers then a guy in MP raises to $1.00, I call trying to flop something. 4 of us to the flop: MP, me, plus the 2 limpers.

Pot $4. Flop is T64 with no diamonds. OK, that totally missed me. I'm ready to give up this hand. I check, it's checked to the MP raiser, he bets $1.00. Wow that looks weak. I put him on AK right away. I'm next to act and I know I can't appear to be thinking about it, so I quickly throw in a check-raise to $3.00. I figure I can make a strong looking bet for less than the size of the pot and have a chance to take it down. Other players fold, MP thinks and calls. Dammit!

Pot is $10. Turn is a 3. I'm pretty sure I'm ahead now -- but not too sure. And if I am ahead, I don't want him to fold. I check, he bets $2, I call.

Pot is $14. River is an A. Bingo. If he's on AK he's in big trouble. I am all-in for my last $13 or so. He thinks and thinks and ... calls with AQ.

Well, what do you think? Feel free to rip me a new one if you think I need it. Thanks.

[kennyg]

Well, I wouldn't call that preflop raise with A3s there. He raised 5x the blind which is a pretty good amount. The biggest problem though is that your out of position throughout the hand. IMO you should have let it go preflop.

Flop check raise is fine...though I might have made it $4.00 to go just because it's a lower limit and you need to bet more to get them to even consider folding.

On the turn I don't like your check. If you're gonna call a bet you should just go ahead and bet it yourself. You don't want to give him free cards to outdraw you if you think you have the winning hand. Also if you bet strongly, he might fold a hand better then yours like pocket 99 or 88.

On the river I like your bet.

The way your opponent played his hand only reinforces my opinon; to win on these low stakes...one only has to wait for the good hands. The checkraising on the flop worked for you this time..but as you can see..these guys don't fold. Instead of trying to make moves on what look like weak bets...IMO you're better off waiting till your hands actually hit. At least until you get to .50/1.00 NL or higher.

[briachek]

I agree with kenny on all points. Preflop, you were likely dominated and the first person to call the raise so you didn't know if it would be multiway. Also, you are out of position.

The flop, I like the checkraise. As you play, you learn to trust your reads. You make mistakes every once in a while but you can make a lot of $ too. However, what you have to worry about is someone trying to do the same thing you did with a hand but was checking to the raiser. Therefore, that's what being out of position to the whole field, not just the raiser can do to you. If you were in the before the raiser but after the limpers, it wouldn't be so bad. You would be able to take a cheap turn and hit your runner runner.

The turn, I would prefer to continue betting. Your hand got better and you may not be sure what exactly he has. If you put him on a strong ace, he could have AK, AQ, or AJ. If any J, Q or K hits the river, how would you feel about your hand then? You could try another checkraise but I think that's an unnecessary fancy play so you should just bet out.

The river pretty much played itself, more so if you bet out the turn and got called. Congrats on your read.

[k3nt]