I'm so mad at myself about this hand because I've worked so hard to eliminate things like this from my game and it's gone a long way towards my winrate, and for me to do something like this on my first day after moving up a level made it even worse. Did I play this ok until the river? Is there a way to lose less money not factoring in the river call? I highly considered a turn check but after the flop I'm putting him on a hand like KJ/AJ or TT, I won't get into all his stats but this is what I'm putting him on after he calls on the flop. So I thought checking the turn would give him way to much incentive to make a large bet that would be hard to call even though I thought I was ahead. Thoughts?


*Uh oh, I think I messed up PokerTracker. Just tried to open it to get the hand history and it says "Error finding default database" I figure I messed something up when I was attempting to creat a new database for my NL50 hands, anyone know how to fix this?*
(Edit: Found the answer to this problem, the PT forum saves the day)

I'll do it from memory.

NL50

My stack: ($70)
Opponent stack: ($145)

Opponent is 3 off the Button, I am in the SB.

I'm dealt

Opponent is only limper, I raise to $2, he calls.

Flop
Pot: $4.80

I lead for $4
He calls.

Turn:
Pot: $12ish

I lead for $8
He calls.

River:

Pot is $28, at this point I think the only hands I beat that could possibly call a bet are AJ or KJ but by this point I'm a lot less confident and check.

Opponent bets $15.63 (why? I don't know, but he does)
Right now I can feel in my bones that I'm beat, I know that if I click call the pot is not sliding my way, there's no doubt in my mind.

I call.

Oponnent shows

I expected to lose, but not like that, I had 75 hands on this guy and no evidence of him being a calling station until this hand, of course 25 hands later PT rates him as a calling station and I wish I had know that before lol.

Anyway, how do you play it?

I don't see that is so bad with his play (except for the fact that he called a raise with QT)? After that he calls with an OESD on the flop. Agreed he doesn't have the pot odds to call the river but once he hits his straight he probably has put you on top pair or overpair.

If I were him when you check the river I would like to put a bet big enough but not too big to make you fold you pair. I mean you would fold to a potsize bet or more here right ?

The reason I'm asking is that I might myself put in a half a pot bet here on the river (wrongly?). Why is that bet so bad ? Or do you mean he should push his last bet on the river ?

Also how would you play the villains hand here if you flopped an OESD ? raise the flop ?

If there aren't pot odds, as there usually aren't in NL, your only options are fold or raise. Being a calling station is bad.

the play is awful because he was calling with bad odds. all he had to do to win this pot from a solid player with an overpair is raise the flop and push the turn. all his calling does is guarantee that he'll lose money over time.

also....to JJSCOTT....i think you played this one just fine. when you think the opponent is drawing....you have to check/call the river. you certainly can't check/fold to a 1/2 pot bet and it's a very bad idea to lead the river.

jon

i thought you played it fine. you were oop, so it's awkward sometimes. outdraws happen.

i actually think opponent's turn call is quite defendable w/ the implied odds. he's in position and his hand is quite hidden if he hits (hero didn't see it!). opponent only has to make ~$8 on the end to make this a profitable play. of course, the board being paired is bad (and for that reason i think it's a clear fold), but let's just say we ignore that for argument's sake.

of course, i doubt opponent was thinking about it this way, but it's no less valid.