I played two pretty interesting hands on Friday, both against a new player. Maybe I just remember them because I tend to make a lot of mental notes with new players. Either way…

The new guy in these hands looked like he was a little uncomfortable at the table. From what I saw of his play, these were his trends: he was folding to bets a lot, only calling on draws (but would bet a draw) and raising hands to find out where it was or to protect. I don’t remember him having a monster, so no idea what he leans to there.

He’s also been remarking about how aggressive I am.

Hand1:

I have AT in middle position and raise to something like 20 (2-3 blinds, straddle), new player calls, button calls. Three to the flop.

Flop: 249

I bet 40, new player calls and seems very interested in the hand, other player folds.

Turn: 8

I check, he bets 80, I raise to 180, he really, really wants to call but folds. Damn.

Hand2:

I have JT in middle position and call the straddle after two other callers, new player calls behind, another player calls. 5 to the flop for 30.

Flop: QJT

Checked to me, I lead out for 40. New player makes it 80. Folds to me, I consider mucking but realize I probably have outs in either my J or T (dangerous reverse implied odds if he has QJ or QT however). More importantly, I have LOTS of bluffing outs and he only made it 40 to go into a pot of 150.

Turn: K

There is a God and she loves me. I quickly lead out for 100 in an easy steal and the new guy folds.

I think I take the same line if he raises to 100 or less on the flop. If he’d made it 120 to go, I’d have mucked and waited for another hand.

And I play it the same way if I had made my flush for a few reasons:

If it’s not the nuts, I don’t want to check the scare card and risk letting him draw out on a freebie here, especially with this size pot.

It’s also worth donk betting into people with strong hands. People don’t like being bet into when they’re taken the lead. You’re supposed to check to the lead in most peoples mind. You’re taking thier initiative away that they paid for on the previous street. Even in the unlikely event you’re paid off on such a scare card, you’ll rile the player up and they’ll want to go out of their way in a future hand with you. Very likely against the odds.

Others will see the play you made and jump to far swung conclusions. It is a scare card, of course you’re bluffing. And you’re the kind of player who isn’t scared of scare cards (you bet a hundo into a player who could have had an ace or the flush).

Finally, it’s fun to bluff ain’t it?