When Things Aren't Right With Your Poker Hand
Poker
Jan 30, 2000, 14:00
By Gary Carson http://www.gaminglinks.com
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Here's a hold'em hand I played that I think has a lesson in it.
In a typical game, with a little loose and mostly weak, predictable opponents, I had a queen and jack of diamonds on the button.
Everyone folded to a late position player who is usually fairly aggressive. He limped in. I raised. The small blind called, the limper called the raise.
The flop missed me completely. Ace of spades, nine of diamonds, and four of clubs. But, I suspected this flop missed everyone.
The small blind checked and the original limper bet. What did he have? This was a fairly aggressive player and he had just limped before the flop. From late position, with any ace this player would have opened with a raise. Since he hadn't, I guessed that the best hand he could have was a nine. I called. The small blind folded.
The turn brought a second ace. Now I'm almost certain he doesn't have an ace. He checked. Now I don't even think he has a nine. I bet. He folded. Apparently his bet on the flop had been a bluff attempt to win the pot right then.
Just looking at the cards, my call on the flop might appear to be a weak call. I had two overcards to second pair. Generally my hand didn't have a lot going for it. Why did I call?
Because his play hadn't been consistent with what I knew of his playing habits. With callers in front of him, this player would have raised before the flop with any ace. So, even though his bet now might suggest he has an ace, I'm pretty sure he doesn't. It just didn't fit, and I suspected a bluff, calling just to see what happened next.
Whenever your opponents past actions aren't consistent with the hand he appears to be trying to represent now, suspect a bluff. This is an important concept in that part of your game involved in protecting yourself against bluffs. Look for inconsistencies and when you find one, exploit the probable weakness of the player displaying them.
Whenever you see a player who usually plays consistently doing otherwise, exploit it.
Acknowledgment: Les Smith, an email poker buddy from Mississippi, read an early draft of this essay and made a couple of useful suggestions that improved it a lot. Thanks, Les.
Signing out - on poker
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