Texas Hold'em Hand Play-By-Play Example - Mixing Up Your Play
Chasing a flush when not getting the correct pot odds is a poor play.
Many inexperienced players do not know when to lay that hand down. And as the stronger
player, we must make them pay for that poor play. That means that if you have hit a
good hand on the flop (ie - top pair, two pair, etc), yet there are two suited cards on
the flop, we must make them pay for those drawing hands. The poor player will often chase
that flush, because they cannot lay that hand down. Of course, they will hit
that flush every 3rd try, so we must make our money off of them on the other two tries and
not lose too much when they do hit the hand.
Also, this particular hand was played completely different from my normal play pre-flop.
This table was very tight, so I tried to mix it up going into this hand. If you play the
same way with the same people, you become predictable. It is good to play some different
hands differently on occasion. An occasional misrepresentation of your hand
could help your overall results. But rather slow-play a monster - ie. - not raising with
AA - why not raise with a mediocre hand?
Check it out:
Hand #X-X at X (No Limit Hold'em)
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Started at 25/Nov/03 13:57:13
The button is at seat 7.
Player9 posts the small blind of $.25.
Player0 posts the big blind of $.50.
Player0: -- --
Player1: -- --
Player2: -- --
Player3: -- --
Player4: -- --
Player5: -- --
Player6: -- --
Flop Turn River: 9c 6c
Player9: -- --
*I have 96 suited on the button. Only 1 player has called the bet, everyone else has
folded (except for the blinds who are still to act). I decide to mix it up this hand and
raise with my 96 clubs. I do not recommend this as your normal play, but I do recommend
misrepresenting your hand ONCE in a while. My intention was to fold out all the players
and then show my cards. Then everyone would see that I raised on junk, so the next time
I raise with a monster hand (AA, KK), I would get some callers.
Pre-flop:
Player1 folds. Player2 folds. Player3 calls.
Player4 folds. Player5 folds. Player6 folds.
Flop Turn River raises to $1.75. Player9 folds.
Player0 calls. Player3 calls.
*I raise $1.75 on the button, unfortunately my plan does not quite work out, I have two
callers.
Flop (board: 8c 2s 9s):
Player0 checks. Player3 bets $.50. Flop Turn River raises
to $4.75. Player0 calls. Player3 calls.
*Well, now since I have callers, I have to play the hand out. Fortunately for me, I've hit
top pair! Early position bets the minimum bet, I have top pair so I bet the pot to protect
my hand. Two players call - which is weird, Player0 checks before and now calls a $4.75 bet.
Not sure what's up with that, either has a straight draw or flush draw (there are two
spades on the board).
Turn (board: 8c 2s 9s 4h):
Player0 checks. Player3 checks. Flop Turn River goes
all-in for $7.75. Player0 calls. Player3 calls.
*Turn card is a 4 of hearts, should be a non-factor. I still have top-pair, I do not want
these guys to hit their straight, flush, or over cards. Both players check to me,
so I go all-in - $7.75. Both players call. They are obviously chasing something. I'm
hoping to avoid the club one more time...
River (board: 8c 2s 9s 4h 3h):
Player0 checks. Player3 checks.
*River brings a 3 of hearts, so no flush, an unlikely straight, my only concern is losing
to TT or JJ.
Showdown:
Player0 shows 7s Qs.
Player0 has 7s Qs 8c 9s 4h: queen high.
Player3 shows 3s Ks.
Player3 has 3s Ks 8c 9s 3h: a pair of threes.
Flop Turn River shows 9c 6c.
Flop Turn River has 9c 6c 8c 9s 4h: a pair of nines.
*Both players were chasing the spade flush. Both players missed it. They called my
bets all the way down which was a poor play. Especially because neither player had
the nut flush!! The first caller, Player0, should not have called my bet after the flop,
but once he did, that gave better odds to the second caller. The same situation goes
for the turn bet. Either way, a poor play by two poor players, especially Player0.
I win a nice pot AND get to show my 96 that I raised on!
Hand #608862-21214 Summary:
$2 is raked from a pot of $43.
Flop Turn River wins $41 with a pair of nines.
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