Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Deuces Never Loses?—Bah, Humbug

Really, I think I played this hand more or less correctly, but since the result was not pleasant I want to run it by you good folks and see what you think.  Besides, it's been awhile since I posted some actual poker content here, and there's a rumor that this is a poker blog, so here goes….

It was a rather boring table the other night, although the stacks were all decent sized, not too many players were putting chips in play.  But there was one guy there that I thought might be more than willing to pay me off if I caught a hand, so I decided to stick around for a bit.

Actual, there was a dynamic there that I thought could work out for me.  Let's call the aforementioned guy "Villain" cuz I'm too lazy and too rushed to think of something clever.  He and his two buddies at the table were clearly all there to have a good time.  They seemed to be reasonably knowledgeable players but I got the impression that they were more interested in taking the money from each other than the other players at the table.  I think the greatest thing for any one of them would have been to have felted his two buddies, and if he had given away some money to the other players in the process, no big deal.  Everyone else at the table was playing fairly tight, it was these three guys who would likely be the source of any money to be had.

Villain was by far the most aggressive of the three, but the other two seemed to like to play in hands he was in to try to suck out on him, and similarly, he seemed to like playing when one of his pals was the aggressor.

So I was down to about $180 when I got a couple of deuces.  I was the second limper, one of the Villain's buddies limped in right behind me, and the Villain, in one of the blinds, made it $16.  Note:  I was distracted by another hand right after this one, then by chatting with a buddy who was in the room and recognized me, so it took me awhile to jot down my notes.  Thus my details might not be perfect, but I'm pretty sure anywhere I'm off wouldn't make a big difference.

It folded back to me. Villain had me covered.  With my stack, it was marginal at best to set-mine there.  Maybe it was a definite fold.  But I felt that if I called, the guy's buddy would call as well, giving me better odds.  Plus, I really felt Villain was a guy who could stack off light if I hit the flop. I had been waiting for a chance with this guy and this seemed like that chance.

I called but his buddy folded rather quickly, so it was heads up.  The flop was sweet, Queen-6-2, rainbow.  Villain led out for $16.  I thought about raising but really, the flop looked about as dry as could be.  I was fairly certain if I called he would bet the turn.  So I decided to just flat.

The turn was a 10, and put four suits on the board, so no flush possible. I didn't think a straight draw was much to worry about. I started thinking then about how much to raise his inevitable turn bet, and wondering if he would be bet big enough so I could just shove.  But instead, after appearing as if he was going to bet, he surprised me by checking.  So I had to bet.  I thought about maybe a 3/4's pot bet, but then I figured, if he's going to call $45, he's just as likely to call $60.  And if he's getting trappy with a bigger set, I'm suppose to lose my stack there.  So I put out $60.

After a few seconds, Villain announced all-in, and I snap-called.  If he had me set-over-set, well, that's poker.  We didn't show and the river was an Ace, at which point he announced, "I have the nuts," and turned over King-Jack.  Seriously?

I was already in the process of turning over my deuces.  He said, "Wow, I had no idea you were so strong there, you bet so much."  Then he added, "You really played that well.  You made me play bad.  I just got real lucky."  Yes, runner-runner to take down a flopped set is pretty lucky.

For whatever that's worth.

But what say you?  Did I make any mistakes there?  I mean, other than the preflop call, which I know was iffy but I think was justified. Seems to me that my assessment was pretty damn good, I gave him 2-to-1 odds and he needed 4-to-1 to be correct with his open ender.  He was indeed prepared to stack off light. Or do you think deserved to lose for not raising on the flop?

I'll mention the next hand because it sort of ties in.  I rebought, and called $8 with pocket 7's.  It was four-ways. The flop was Queen-high, two clubs, no 7.  But no one bet.  The turn was a 7 of diamonds, giving me a set and putting a second diamond out there in addition to the two clubs.  First to act put out $17.  Next guy called the $17.  I bet $60.  Last guy, who was one of the Villain's buddies, said, "That was my move…I was gonna do that.  I was gonna bet $60 too."  And then, with great reluctance, he folded. The other two players also reluctantly folded.  All the players in the hand, seriously, all of them, told me, "Good bet."  They actually went on and on about how great a bet it was. "You priced out all the draws," one said.  He had a draw, the other guy said he had a Queen. I seem to recall Poker Grump once commenting on how stupid it is to say, "Good bet," as you have no idea if it was a good bet or not.  You don't know what the player who made it had and you don't know what he was trying to accomplish.  Maybe he wanted a call?

Anyway, I couldn't build on that win, and had to leave the session early due to matters out of my control, down another $10 from the second buy-in.

So, I would appreciate some feedback on the big hand I lost (or even the one I won).

Who says deuces never looses?






22 comments:

  1. Wish I could give you some amazing feedback here but there's not much to say. Pre flop is borderline and probably neutral EV so it's fine. Flop call is standard for most. I would usually consider a tiny raise to give him rope to do something dumb when he has air, and also get more money in when he has a Q or an overpair, as well as folding out hands like 77-JJ which likely won't put any more money in the pot unless they turn a bigger set than yours, but it's fine as played. Turn is spot on. My first instinct was to just bet big for the exact reason that if he's calling 40 he's calling 60, plus it looks a little goofy when you get so large which is a plus when you have a set.

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    1. Thanks, Benton, appreciate the feedback, always nice to be reassured.

      Regarding making a small raise on the flop....maybe I'm thinking or playing at a different level, but to me, and I think most of the players I play with, a small raise, basically a min raise, looks like a monster.

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  2. Kinda standard. I like the small close to min raise on this flop because it makes your hand look like an inquiring mid pair (think TT-77, A6s) or KQ like hand and it gets more money in pot. A QX, TT+ hand is gong to call and board is not draw heavy. It also gives him a chance to think you might have one of these hands and try to push you off it with overs like AK.

    So pretty much what Benton said

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    1. Thanks Vook, great to hear from you again.

      Appreciate the endorsement, as I said above, I tend to feel the small raise (min raise) smells like a monster to most players I play against. Maybe I should rethink that?

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    2. My thoughts are calling on a rainbow flop after he raised to $16 already looks strong. Min or small raise looks quirky and or strong and gets more money in before additional cards come. Heck if it's three way I'm leading flop with a 3/5th bet or so.

      Top that stAck off if you're nut peddling. :)

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    3. Thanks again, Vook, he had first action so I couldn't lead out. But I definitely get it about raising the flop (and also topping off).

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  3. Pre is quite marginal on the math. I probably fold-pre and wait for a better spot. You can't do much with deuces if you don't flop a set.
    How deep were villain and his buddies? Obviously he covered you. But if he covered by a lot, I would have wanted to be topped off before the hand.
    If you are $250+ effective, it's much easier to call the raise.
    As played, it's fine and standard. He played it quite poorly.

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    1. Thanks, Dave. All the stacks were in the $225-$300 range. V had close to $300. I get your point tho, perhaps I should have gotten my stack up before going after this guy.

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  4. Shove the turn and curse him out when he hits the river,just as TBC would. lol

    GL and Thanks for great blogs and boobs,

    Big L

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    1. Haha...Thanks Big L. I usually avoid cursing out my opponents, but I'll consider that next time.

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  5. Fine as played Rob, just the result sucked. Awesome pics, especially the first one! Anger would be proud of you. Have a great holiday and keep up the great work.

    Paul

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  6. Agree with the others.

    As to "nice bet" I usually figure it is fishing for info. See if you will say or clue them in on your hand. Usually little to do with your actual intentions.

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    1. Yeah, that's possible...but EVERYONE was saying it. I think they really thought I had done something brilliant. LOL.

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  7. A++++++++ U lost Cuz u hate cHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!! the hand played itself out.u want 2 play a set slow to win a bigger pot and he cbet he flop from preflop raise

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    1. Thanks, I think. For the umpteenth time, I do NOT hate Christmas, and I don't have a war against it. I just don't celebrate it. You can look it up...Jews don't observe that particular holiday. Even tho it does celebrate the birth of the most famous Jew.

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    2. Larry David was born on Christmas

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    3. Anger...that would have been a funny line but you forgot to put the question mark in at the end.

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  8. P.S Kate Upton says since u r at war with Christmas u may not b invited to the wedding , soooo fix that SHEEEEEEEEEEEEIT

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    1. Kate does have a couple of lovely Christmas ornaments, I'll give that

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  9. I probably fold the deuces pre-flop. However, if you want to set mine against an aggro, I have been guilty of limping a low pair.

    That said, when an aggro leads out from in front, I usually just slow play a set. If he is trying to steal then he may double barrel. Then if he checks the river, there is good chance he will call a decent bet thinking you are bluffing. Of course, I Hollywood it up just a little on the way. On my last trip to the MGM, I had a set of Aces on the flop and called all the way to the river. When the fish checked, I stacked enough to almost felt him. After ten minutes in the tank, he called. I don't know what he had, didn't care.....

    Having a set of twos, you know any other set is going to probably stack you unless the board is scary.

    Anyway, I don't think you misplayed it. Except when you let the Ace fall on the river. That was a really bad play. That is only thing I would change about your play in the future.

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    1. Thanks, Darryl, appreciate the feedback. Great story on the set of Aces.

      Next time I'll make sure I see to it that there's no Ace on the river!

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