How to play a hand like crap: An example

[kennyg]

1/2 NL Prima poker $200 max buyin

opponent - 200
i have him covered.

This guy just sat down and posted. I've never see him before in my life.

BTW, i can't get hand histories at the moment so this isn't 100% accurate but pretty close.

I get [Qd] UTG+4 I raise to $8. Only the BB calls.

FLOP $16.50
[6s][5d]

Harmless looking flop. Opponent leads into me for $12???? Well that's interesting. I raise to $48. Opponent calls.


TURN $112.50
[6s][4d][8c]

Still pretty harmless. Opponnent instantly leads for $22. I'm completely confused now....a blocking bet? trips? two pair? gutshot straight he just hit? He's sure playing like a maniac. I call...I think i have the best hand..but I'm afraid of trips.


RIVER $156.50
[6s][5d][8c][9c]

Opponent instantly moves all-in for about $130. Pot is like $290 and $130 for me to call. Not the best odds in the world. I call. LOL cuz i'm a moron.

Opponent shows [9d] two pair and takes it down.


Ok...so now we have to analize wtf i was doing.

Flop..play is great.

turn....WTF was i thinking???? call his small $22 bet???? The pot was over $100 which I forgot apparently. If i'm decided I'm gonna call an all-in on the river..I should just move in now! unless I know he's full of crap and want him to bluff on the river
...but that obviously wasn't the case here.

River. So the board is very cooridnated know and I'm gonna call an all-in?? Should just fold here. The only thing you're beating is a bluff or jacks down. I don't have the odds to call this bet the way the hand happened. Should have had all my money in on the turn.


So what do you guys think?

[Rhound50]

As TUP says the hardest player to beat is the one sitting in your own seat. I think what you said about your own hand is right on. Flop play is solid, but the turn and river are very weak. If you can put this guy on a set or 2 pair than you fold to the $22 bet if not you push him all in and if he hits his river oh well. Calling an all in on the river is weak too there is almost nothing you can beat other than TPTK, or JJ and there is so much that beats you 2 pair, a set, a straight which are all solid possibilities.

[kennyg]

I'm just hoping I can learn from these mistakes. This was played very, very badly by me.

[iceman5]

[chpstlk4m]

a good player that hits the set will check that too u to see if u are actually on a hand. from there usually he will do one of 2 things. either call flop bet depending on size of ur bet or check raise. if he checks again on turn after only calling flop bet and comes back over then he is def. on set..........so in that situation i think the right move would be to put him all in on the turn.............but hey its a tough spot

[iceman5]

chpstlk4m, thats actually how most people play a set so youre right its easy to detect.

A good player however, will lead into that flop so another good player like KennyG will raise him (which is exactly what happened). Once KennyG raises, its much easier to get all in at some point during the hand.

Be very careful when a good player calls a raise and then leads into you.