Wave of Mutilation

All I can think about is exploiting my image at a poker table whenever I hear that line. That’s pretty sick.

I have various flavors of hands and situations to look at today, some will have played out one way, but I want to know what would happen if they played out another. So Krantz, going to need you on this one.

Lets see….

So in this hand, villain is a 6 tabling 19/16 type of a guy that I have no real history with, but seems pretty straightforward. My plan was to fold on the turn if he bet, but once he checks back, I was going to check and raise the river. When I see him NOT bluff the river w/QJ and give up so weakly, should I be more or less likely to checkraise bluff the river in the future. Is your average multitabling guy going to be more likely to bluff me, or more likely to keep playing his standard game? I guess I should build a history with each player and go from there, but what about the initial thought to checkraise this time? Good? Thought process being that he rarely has a flush, I can, he usually has pot controlling Ax hands that will bet/fold the river.

Full Tilt Poker $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 6 players – View hand 412916
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $183.95
UTG: $305.80
MP: $414.80
CO: $400.00
BTN: $410.00
Hero (SB): $529.80

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is SB with T T
2 folds, CO raises to $14, 1 fold, Hero calls $12, 1 fold

Flop: ($32.00) 9 5 A (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $20, Hero calls $20

Turn: ($72.00) K (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

River: ($72.00) 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

Final Pot: $72.00
CO shows J Q (Ace King high)
Hero shows T T (a pair of Tens)
Hero wins $69.00
(Rake: $3.00)

In this next hand, I think I misplayed it (it’s subtle) and I have a crazy idea and I want to know if I should put down the cocaine or keep sniffin’ it. We’re playing 4 handed on one of the 5 handed tables, there’s a fish w/150 bucks or so and then 2 regs and I. I’m sitting here because I want to get in some tougher spots w/regs for educational purposes. I’ve been playing pretty aggressively and winning most of the pots (like 47/40 or something) and villain is also pretty loose, and he’s started to stop folding.

Anyway, in reality I check the flop, check and call the turn, and go for a checkraise on the river. I think it’s OK but what I immediately thought after was, checkraise the turn, and checkraise the river! Thought process being that he isn’t betting A high on the turn, he’s either pot controlling Kx because I’ve been so aggro, slowplaying a J, or turned AQ or a FD. So I think the majority of his turn range is calling a checkraise, and if he is frustrated and picked up a flush draw, he may even jam drawing dead? Too optimistic? Probably, he’s still going to call though. Which brings me to the reason for the river checkraise. He’s probably going to value bet if he hits a flush, he’s prob going to value bet if he has AQ or a K, if he has a J, all that jazz. and if he misses a flush, he has the chance to bluff. Is that good? Or is he going to be checking back thinking there’s no value if I checkraise the turn and check the river b/c I have nuts/air. I’m not entirely sure if I’m on to something or gettin’ fancier than a stelladoro breadstick on a gold plated doiley (which may not even exist but I’ll tell you what, it sounds pretty fucking fancy no?)

Full Tilt Poker $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 5 players – View hand 412933
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $136.05
Hero (BB): $446.10
UTG: $423.00
CO: $0.00
BTN: $497.00

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is BB with T J
UTG raises to $12, 2 folds, Hero calls $8

Flop: ($26.00) K J J (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks

Turn: ($26.00) T (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $16, Hero calls $16

River: ($58.00) 5 (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks

OK, I wasn’t entirely sure about barreling on this turn, but here’s what I’m thinking (villain is 30/16 a bit random, not super aggro, not much history)….

I’m ahead of a lot of the draws he’ll peel with again, rarely be checkraised, I may get a fold from a 7 or a T, and I have the 4h (not high value b/c he can def have a bigger heart some but w/e it’s still notable) and A high, and can check down the river.

Full Tilt Poker $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 6 players – View hand 412962
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $206.55
BB: $302.10
UTG: $811.00
MP: $424.10
CO: $400.00
Hero (BTN): $599.50

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is BTN with 4 A
3 folds, Hero raises to $12, SB calls $10, 1 fold

Flop: ($28.00) Q 7 T (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $22, SB calls $22

Turn: ($72.00) 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $44…

I feel like I’m doing well and improving my hand volume, which has been traditionally very poor and a big leak of mine. I’m starting to play more sessions more often, even though the past week has been pretty trying. Like, I had a lot of coaching to do, and that was fine, I love it, butttttt there was one day that I woke up in the middle of the night with terrible indigestion and my throat and chest were swollen and I was weezing and couldn’t breathe. It was terrible and I felt pretty sick for 2 days straight. Food poisoning? Must be. It was pretty nasty. I’m OK now though :)

That’s all I got for today I think. There were some other interesting hands but I don’t want to overload it. Also, speak up folks. I know a lot of you are reading this, ship me some comments. It makes me sad when I don’t get any feedback. We’re all supposed to be improving from this :) Don’t be shy, say hi!

The Jag abides (but not always because I definitely don’t dabble in pacifism, not at the poker table anyway)