[Jiggs77]

I had a hand 2 weeks ago that's been gnawing at me for awhile. I was playing online at a 0.10/0.25 NLHE table when I was dealt pocket aces in the big blind. I raised 1.50 and the button called. (There was only 2 other callers prior to my raise). I had about $11 at the start of the hand and the caller had about double that amount. The flop came out 3 8 4. First to act, I bet a little over the pot. The big blind raised me (the guy was playing aggressively the whole time I was there) and I went all-in. The big blind called and showed a 34 suited and took down the pot. While I was re-buying, the guy types in ' you got spanked son' I replied 'brilliant preflop call'. He then replied 'implied odds, I knew that if I hit I would win a big pot'.

Is that really the correct use of implied odds? Could any hand preflop be justified playing preflop based on implied odds because it could hit and win big? This guy was dead serious. That comment has had my scratching my head for the last two weeks. Am I missing something or is this guy a little off-base?

Jiggs77

[Irish Se7en]

***not an expert***

To answer your question, YES. There are several people that will play suited connectors and hope to hit the flop big as in two pair, trips ect. Then if they hit the flop hard like he did and he can put you on a high pocket pair, then he'll take your money if you can't get away from your hand.

My brother who mainly plays cash game ($1-$2) will play 4/2 suited because it's the number of his house. He will call a minimal raise with it too, hoping to hit the flop like I posted above.

There are several people in here that can give you a better answer but the guy played the hand well and hit big.

[shadesofgrey]

all day.. AA $11.. vs what 57o? hit a straight.... it happens...

theres a large diff between online and live.

[TheMightyJim2k]

this guy is not very good if he thinks this was a good gamble. He is not going to make a better hand on the flop frequently enough that he is getting correct implied odds against your relatively short-stack. He was getting less than 8-1, and he has to understand that he isn't going to stack you 100% of the time he hits a set or two pair. His flopped straight draws won't always win etc.

He really needs to be getting much better than 8-1 implied odds to be making this call.

now if you were playing significantly deeper, say $25+ in your stack, you could start to justify his play if he plays terrificly post flop and you play poorly. But even then 34 is still a pretty borderline call.

[99%evil]

I don't know...I tend to play a lot of small suited cards in cash games. For the purpose of taking down big pots or pushing someone out of the pot with over cards. In our .25/.50 game I call preflop raises to $2 and $3 all the time. My main goal is to make a straight or flush with the hand, I definitely don't go nuts if I hit a pair. It tends to work well for me more often than not, I did get felted back a few weeks ago, but the prior weeks I was up and the week after I won just about all I lost back. It's easy to lay down when the flop comes all big cards...I may see 3 or 4 flops for $2 or $3 and fold, also limp when I can, when the hand hits it usually takes a decent pot...and also people have no clue as to what I have since I play a wide range of hands, and I will raise with small cards as well. There are definitely times when i'm playing a hand I really want someone to have a big pair, if they don't raise enough preflop (I will fold if I don't like my position or the raise or the aciton at the table) I'll stick around to see how commited they are to their hand.

I do like to gamble a bit, but when it's only for $40, why not?

[smoore]

He knows enough to be dangerous to himself. He gambled $1.50 in an attempt to win $11. Like TMJ2K said, that's not good enough. If both of you have $22 then he could justify it but I think it's still incorrect. 43 is always going to produce bottom two pair unless there's a deuce.

Bottom line, put it out of your mind. He's probably one of the players that just likes to run uphill and crack big PF hands.

[Poboy]

Originally Posted by TheMightyJim2k

this guy is not very good if he thinks this was a good gamble. He is not going to make a better hand on the flop frequently enough that he is getting correct implied odds against your relatively short-stack. He was getting less than 8-1, and he has to understand that he isn't going to stack you 100% of the time he hits a set or two pair.

You've got both yourself and the villain as the big blind. And what happened to the limpers, they fold to the preflop raise?

Anyway, what Jim wrote is right on. Your stack is not big enough to justify the call. But, you being short, he does have a pretty good chance of stacking you if you have a hand (like you did). Once he raised the flop, with your stack size all you can do is push.
Notice though, that his hand isn't crushing yours, as you have 2 Aces, 3 eights, you pick up 3 outs on the turn, and you have a BDSD. Your villain clearly didn't consider the times he hits his hand and gets outdrawn - which is not so unlikely given his small cards.

[guitarizt]

Yeah you want people to play that way, and they'll keep playing that way at the low limits. He could have had 78 or 99+ too which is what I would probably be putting him on.

[Wedge Rock]

Here's a thought: a small stakes online player knew a term without fully understanding it... then bragged about it.

[99%evil]

I'm intrigued...are you only supposed to play, big cards and pocket pairs? Sure the guy had a rotten attitude and could only stand to win $11...but in general, do you really have to only play big cards? If you did that....wouldn't you be the most predictable person to play with? Don't you want to play a random hand once in a while and do something a tad crazy to get action at a later time? I play small cards in short games, not in full ring games, thenI stick to slightly better starting hands....position plays a major part as well. I'm not sure you can fault people for playing unorthodox hands, if I've won a few hands, I will play almost any hand, playing the rush...I don't think playing predictably is the way I want to play.