The Barber's Chair

Rational Insanity…

As I have mentioned in some earlier blogs, the lowest level that I have seriously played online is .25-.50 FR LHE and 6-max. The only times that I have played lower stakes were for some 2+2 tables just to LAG it up and have some fun. So, with the fact that I have taken 99.9% of my funds off online poker sites, I have been forced to “start over”, hence my Challenge (see first blog posts). This hand just came up which made me think about playing at the lowest of lows.

.02-.04 LHE 8-handed

Cake poker does not allow me to use PT3 HUD so I am flying a bit blind and this is only the 2nd orbit.

Hero is UTG w Ac Jh

Hero raises, 2 folds, MP1 calls, all fold.

2 players (5.25 bb)

FLOP-Kh 9h 7s

Hero bets, MP1 calls.

2 players (7.25 bb)

TURN-4c

Hero bets, MP1 calls.

The 4 on the turn probably did not help villain unless he hit a set and is waiting to raise the river which I doubt since the turn will give him more value if I am holding a big hand like AK, PPAAs. At this point, I am putting villain on a hand like K10s, or a mid PP 88s, 66s-55s or possibly J10s or a flush draw. I would expect a flush draw to possibly raise the flop, as he would normally be CCing with a strong suited hand and possibly the same with J10 and a strong TP hand. I plan on C/Fing the river unless I improve.

2 players (6.13 BB)

RIVER-Qd

This is neither a great card for me nor a horrendous card. Villain could have improved with J10, but I am done with the hand anyways, so I elect to check.  Any thoughts so far?

Now for the meaning to my quandary. Normally at the stakes I was playing before the Fall of the Big 3, which was .50-1, 1-2, I probably would be C/Fing the turn depending on the villain, but this is .02-.04 and I have no clue as to what rationale these players are using to continue on the flop. The only thing I know about the average player, is that they want to call to a showdown to see what you’ve got, regardless of the cards they’re holding.

Long story short, Villain checks back and he shows 6d 8d for the missed straight draw.