flop small :: Bet Big

If you’re into poker like I am and you haven’t read Ed Miller and David Sklansky’s No Limit Hold’em book, I think you should. Especially the Concepts chapter at the end. In fact, read that chapter first.

I talk with my poker pals about the sins of getting too emotionally invested in your big pocket pairs. This is a serious leak in a lot of players that play very tight. They sit there and wait for a gorgeous hand and scowl at players who see the flop for a big raise with 97s (without even considering stack sizes). Here’s a couple KK hands, one I played over the weekend and one I saw in Las Vegas.

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Here’s a hand that was played over the weekend. The villain is pretty tight, especially when he’s doing other things like shuffling, getting food, etc.

I’m in the kitchen and it’s raised 12 to me, I call, villain and I think a couple other people call behind me. Who knows how many people to the flop.

Flop: three random cards.

Checked to me and I bet $30 as I’m pouring myself a rum and coke. Actually, it’s only a rum and ice right now, I just popped the top on my coke.

Villain makes it 2-hundo. That’s American for two-hundred! Everyone else folds and now I gotta see what I got.

I look down and see 99 and the board is 872 rainbow. I look at the villain and he’s not 100% comfortable and has another 130 behind. I also am up quite a bit already and putting him all in would be using all profits. I give it a good think, and the longer I think, the more uncomfortable the villain gets. Also, I’ve pulled this stunt a few times and I get the feeling he’s a bit aggitated about it (though I think it’s good for the game). He’s joked previously that someone should push all-in against me when I do this just to pull my pants down.

I stack up the 330 and push it in, he calls. I ask if he’s got a set, he says no, if I have an 8 I win. I roll my 99, he rolls his J7 and he gets no help on the turn or river.

Here’s a hand I played against a pretty good player Sat night. He’s tightish though people rarely give him respect for his bets. We’ll call him Manque.

I have 33 in middle position, suits unimportant. I limp for $3. Two other limpers, Manque in the BB raises to 40. He has AA, KK, AK, QQ or is completely fucking around. He’s sitting about 1300 deep, I’m about 1100 deep. I call. Everyone else folds.

Flop: 37Q

Manque checks, I think for a moment. I’m thinking he either flopped a monster or has AK. I check. Normally I bet here 99% of the time, but I have a feeling I want to wait and see what develops.

Turn: A

Manque checks again, I can’t keep checking a set, too much value to loose and I paid $40 to see this flop. I bet $70. Manque calls.

River: Q

Now Manque immediately bets out into me for $135 and now I know I’m fucked. No way in hell do I raise and I almost folded but made the crying call.

This was a hand I played over the weekend. I bet a lot of my draws, but this is a nice change of pace and can really confuse opponents.

I have AJ on the button and raise a few limpers. Two call, three to the flop.

3J8

Checked to me, I bet, both call.

Turn: 5

Checked to me, I check…