by KikoSanchez » Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:44 am
The pot is $1200 and he has $1200 behind, hmmm. I think maybe a nice probe bet would do the same job as a push in this situation. Only an ultra aggressive player with steroids running through his veins might push all in to get me off a hand here on a bluff. You bet $250, then $350, maybe bet about $500 here, just less than 1/2 pot. He surely can't call here if he is on another junk hand like middle pair and he will push/call with any better hand, in which case you can fold, or check-fold if he calls/bets river. Is this a decent line to take? It looks sort of weak on paper, but I just don't think many players would say to themselves I SMELL WEAKNESS, ALL IN! when they only have $700 sitting behind them for a raise. It seems you can put them to a tough decision here without risking the whole $1200.
Checking isn't AWFUL, but most decent players would take the same stab as I just suggested at you, so better for you to be the first stabber than to have to fold the best hand here.