Do you love or hate this hand?

tator2k · #1 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 08:30 AM

I was at Canterbury Card Club last night playing 2-4 just to pass some time. Playing their Tuesday special: Aces cracked = $75

I get

UTG, I raise (kinda pointless I know) Get 5 callers

FLOP:

, I bet get 3 callers

TURN:

Now at this do you love or hate your hand knowing the

is still out. I still get bet out and get two callers

RIVER:

. Now I REALLY DON'T LIKE MY HAND! I make the final bet, but only get one caller. He shows:

.

WHEW!

jdunford · #2 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tator2k

I was at Canterbury Card Club last night playing 2-4 just to pass some time. Playing their Tuesday special: Aces cracked = $75

I get

UTG, I raise (kinda pointless I know) Get 5 callers

FLOP:

, I bet get 3 callers

TURN:

Now at this do you love or hate your hand knowing the

is still out. I still get bet out and get two callers

RIVER:

. Now I REALLY DON'T LIKE MY HAND! I make the final bet, but only get one caller. He shows:

.

WHEW!

Well, I'm definitely not throwing away K-high flush with open-ended straight-flush draw to a couple of calling stations. If they start re-raising, then you have something to worry about. Anybody calling you without the As is an idiot. The best they could have is the 9s (Q-high) flush, with A, K, and J unaccounted for... idiots. If I were you, I'd feel guilty if I didn't take their money.

99%evil · #3 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 08:46 AM

In "Men on poker" fashion, LOve it! Two snaps up...ok the river gives one card inthe deck that beats you....but, most of the time you win anyway.

schimmel · #4 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 08:56 AM

i wonder. if you bet the river there and someone makes a sizeable raise are you going to toss your hand? if yes why then would you bet the river.. depends on the opponent i guess but i `d probably check because the bet he will make will be bigger then the valuebet he will call if you bet

jdunford · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schimmel

i wonder. if you bet the river there and someone makes a sizeable raise are you going to toss your hand? if yes why then would you bet the river.. depends on the opponent i guess but i `d probably check because the bet he will make will be bigger then the valuebet he will call if you bet

Easy answer: Because he's a weak calling station.

Longer answer: Work out the EV. Consider each scenario, and give probabilities of what he could have and could do based on the information you have. There's only 1 card that can beat you. He hasn't raised so far (and there were 2 players... only one could have the As). You can make a bet small enough that, even with a baby flush, your opponent should call based on the chance you're bluffing (i.e. give him 10:1 odds). If you check and they both check behind, you're losing money by not maximizing your profits. If you check and one of them senses weakness and decides to attempt a steal, you might fold. Don't encourage your opponent to steal a pot from you because you hold the 2nd-nuts and are afraid of a bet on the river...

schimmel · #6 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 09:09 AM

its not really a scared rivercheck what i meant. but more a pot control + giving your opponent a chance to bluff at it. it kinda works both ways.. but then again it very much depends on the stakes you play and the kind of opponent you are up against.

in the scenario of a patatoeheadeddonkeycallingstation i totally agree BTW

yeltzen · #7 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 10:02 AM

I would need to have taken a whole bottle of estrogen pills to lay down a king high flush with only 3 of a suit on the board. When 4 of a suit come, that's a different story.

gagners · #8 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007, 10:28 AM

Amen to Boris' estrogen pills comment.

If you check on the river, and someone behind you bets big, how do you know the difference between a bluff and a legit raise? If you bet the river, a call means weak hand (two pair or something) or smaller flush - hoping to win. A raise from an opponent gets you thinking, but at least you'll have some more info to work with by betting out the river.