Hey friends. This is a fantastic forum! For a long time I played mainly SnG's on the internet but reading this forum has inspired me to start playing the live game. I was always hesitant to play online ring game because I felt that I would want to see my opponent when faced with big bets. BTW, big for me is $100-$300 as I usually play my live game at Commerce in LA which has a terribly structured game - $2/3 blinds with $100 restricted buy in. You can rebuy for another $100 when you reach $50 but this means you are basically playing tournament style until you double up once or twice. You are just gonna be pot commited on most of the first hands you play and that is so much of a crap shoot. I cant complain about the Commerce game too much because my numbers show that I am winning way more than I would expect and my variance is quite low. Anyhow, BTP has gotten me started playing the .50/1.00 on PokerStars every day! Of course I am using PT and GT plus. I cant believe I played online poker all these years without these tools. When my 1000 hand trial ran out I couldnt see how I couldnt buy it! (I aint no good at english)

So far the online game at this level feels exactly like the game at Commerce except for the fact that I can't see my opponents. I do most of my reading through betting patterns instead of physical tells for the most part. Basically, since you are playing against loose players in the .50/1.00 that your main strategy is gonna be ABC poker. I pay attention when I play and only play one game at a time. Some of you may be able to read 18-45 players at a time but I find it nearly impossible.

I decided to post something because of a hand I played today. I have KK in early position and make it $3 to go. Just a standard opening raise, hoping to get action even though I am out of position. I get called in 2 places, the SB and BB. The SB is a player I have been chatting with and I know he is a young guy who is playing 30% according to PT so I know he is relatively loose. I have not actually seen any of his hands yet so he could be doing anything for all I know. SB has $100, BB has $50 and I have $100. BTW, I always keep my stack at $100 in these games and I think the real reason these games are so good is these fools that buy in for $40 and think they have a chance. Flop comes 779, 2 hearts. Check to me, I bet $12. ABC poker. I have an overpair, the pot has been raised, 2 players in it, bet it! Maybe against one player I would check it and let him come at me but generally I will lead and if there are 3 players in the pot I bet here 100% of the time. SB check raises me but it's a min-check-raise. BB folds. I hate this spot because I really dont know where I'm at. 3 things he can have right? A 7 and I'm in big trouble, a flush draw with an Ace which I'm only a bit favorite, or a 9 and I got him in big trouble. I think I make a mistake here and min-re-raise him. I hate the idea of betting to "see where I'm at" but in the moment it was all I could think of. Then this guy min-re-raises me back! Jeez, I'm done with this hand if he bets big on the turn. I call the re-raise and the river is a sweet King, he moves in and I quickly call. He shows pocket 4's and puts a smiley face in the chat box. As exciting it was to win this pot I realize that any card other than the King on the turn and I'd fold for the $76 all-in, giving him credit for a 7.

So, my basic question is, How do you play when the board is paired, you have an overpair, and you get min check-raised? My instincts tell me to call the min-re-raise and then re-asess on the turn. If he pushes the "right" amount, right being the amount I wont call, I'll give it up. If he bets weak again I would just call and continue either inducing him to bluff or just hoping he is bluffing.

Thanks guys...I'm sure I see some of ya on the .50/1.00 at Stars.
Oh yeah, I'm not here to push my blog but mine is www.livenolimit.blogspot.com.
It is mostly about the live action at Commerce.

I think you left out the more probable holdings for the opponent, which are TT, JJ and QQ.

yup a pair that you beat can usually be considered when you got kings in a raised pot...

generally i see this develop more in tournament play than cash games.

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:51 am Post subject:

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I think you left out the more probable holdings for the opponent, which are TT, JJ and QQ.<<<

Those are hands that I did not think of at the time! I kind of classify those as "hidden" hands because there was no re-raise before the flop. Personally, I usually cold-call with these hands when a guy raises up front but in the low limit games I expect players to re-raise with these hands pre-flop. Figuring those hands into the range of what he could have definitely makes me believe that I could of pushed harder on the turn.

thanks Ice, hope you are running well