$25 NL at Party. No read on the opponent (SB) except he hasn't impressed me notably and has only about $18 at the table. I have about $40.

Get T8o in the BB. Folds to the SB who completes. I raise to 75c (3x). He re-raises to $2. Uh-oh. Decision time. Oh what the hell I'm up on this table and I don't think much of this guy. Call.

In the back of my mind, I'm going into "we both know we're bullsh*tting each other" mode. We'll try to push each other off any way we can. I hope he's thinking the same way.

Flop K82 rainbow. The ultimate no-draw flop. He bets $2 into the $3+ pot (after rake). I call, hoping that middle pair is solid heads-up. I decide he doesn't have a K. If he had a K, he would check-raise or slowplay the flop, assuming he is in bullsh*tting mode. Pot is $7+.

Turn is another K. Now he bets $3. I *definitely* can't put him on a K now. No way. And if he has AA he has to be scared of the paired K and wouldn't likely be betting. Starting to feel like a pure bluff. But I'm not sure. I flat call again.

River is a 5. No flushes, no straights, no nothing. I still have 2nd pair. He pushes all-in with his last $11 into a $13 or so pot.

Well, now's the time to find out if my read has been correct. I have to call.

And I win.

But ...

I played a huge hand with a marginal holding. I hate doing that.

I was totally passive the whole way. I never play like that.

Who hates the way I played this? Anybody like it?

Anybody want to guess his hand?

The push-in at the end means he has "any 2 cards". One of them might be an Ace.

I think your passivity worked to induce his river all-in. You played this one situationally, which I think is good. You realize that you don't normally play this way, so mixing it up is fine.

I'll throw 3 hands out there, but anything is possible. AQo, 77, 78s.

Per my rules, I think you deserve pushups for your play even though you won.

Going for fancy play or ultra-tricky must have a great read on your opponent play at a $25NL Party room is not wise. Many of those guys don't even know their own plays much less you being able to read it.

Drop and give me 50!
TR

trodgers,

I didn't think of my play as fancy or tricky. I was just calling with what I thought, but wasn't sure, was the best hand. I didn't feel like raising because ... well, because I was not happy with things. I was being passive and stubborn, but not tricky.

I'd like to see you raise on either the flop or turn...

If youre going to play that hand, you really need to raise the flop.