BTP = bet the pot - there is a button on the Full Tilt tables that says POT and it makes it easy to BTP. Sometimes it is too much.

FullTiltPoker Game #202656936: Table Broadbent - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em 2005/08/31

Seat 1: SB_400 ($53.55)
Seat 2: BB ($81)
Seat 3: UTG ($178.40)
Seat 4: UTG+1 ($86.35)
Seat 5: UTG+2 ($206)
Seat 6: MP1 ($41.80)
Seat 7: MP2 ($293.20)
Seat 8: LP ($138.50)
Seat 9: Hero ($166.75)


*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to Hero

UTG calls $2, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $9,Hero calls $9, 2 folds,UTG calls $7

I called here hoping that I would hit my set and get paid off.

*** FLOP ***

UTG checks, MP2 checks, Hero bets $18, UTG calls $18, MP2 folds

*** TURN ***

UTG checks, Hero bets $66

I bet too much. He said that he had AT. Only TT and some kind of straight draw was going to beat me. I did not like the 6. I should have figured he had big cards and bet less or even check.

UTG has 15 seconds left to act
UTG folds
Uncalled bet of $66 returned to Hero
Hero mucks
Hero wins the pot ($63)

A few things...

I see a lot of guys doing this on these FTP tables: someone limps, maybe one or more follow, then they raise to $7 or $9. In a MTT I love this play, but in a cash game I don't like doing it without a good raising hand. If you are at a table full of weak/passives then I use this more liberaly because you will take it down right there often enough to make it +EV. My point being people there use it too much and it doesn't mean AA or KK.

Get notes on UTG. He's limping AT from UTG (thats important to note) and he called a $7 raise *after* you called as well. Exactly what is this guy hoping to see on a flop? Outside of KQJ there isn't anything he can feel good about. He took a fold, turned it into a $2 mistake, parlayed that into a $9 satellite which won him the -$27 grand prize. ***FISH***

When he calls your flop bet you have to start planning the turn EV-wise. Does he have a big pair that is going to get stacked? No. He smooth called a raise and a call preflop, there's no way he's not pumping that up with KK or AA. If you had other notes on him it would be nice to know if he limps JJ or QQ in EP - most people don't. So he's either slowplaying top set (doubtfull) or you're fading only a few outs. I start to value bet here, something like 1/2 pot or even $20 again to show weakness. This will keep calling hands in and induce a bluff from some players. The board is so blank for draws that are reasonable here that I wouldn't worry about BTP so much as getting my value. To give incorrect odds (heads up) you don't need to BTP on every street you only need a 1/2 pot bet. BTP is a must multiway because you stand to get more than one caller and it's more likely someone is drawing. In this situation I don't think a draw is going to see the turn very often.

Manyways, my point being that you played this too fast and probably lost some EV by pushing so hard. When the board is that ugly you want to bet for value instead of trying to get his stack. Keep your eye on the prize but realize that you can often make more money in the long run by stringing him along than trying to BTP.

Thanks - very nice response - good advice. I realized that he was not going to call a pot size bet when I fired; too fast on the trigger – that button is too easy to push. I have to stop that.

I posted for confirmation and advice.

I have 87 hands on him and he sees the flop 57%. Wow. He raised 6% - I do not have any statistics on him where he cold called and showed his hand.

I have only been playing on FTP since 8/8/05 so my PT statistics are just for FTP - 4,800 hands.

I have 60,000 hands at Party but I quit that site.

Thanks again.

I have 0 hands in PT. In fact, I don't have PT.

p.s. How did you like that QQ hand I played at the same table? Some people still amaze me.

For everyone else:
1/2 NL
I have QQ and raise to $7 from EP. Folds around to SB who smooth calls.
Flop comes T8T and she leads for $10. I don't see her as a strong player who would lead with trips so I define my hand by raising to $40 (figured I would be facing a $30 turn bet anyway so gain that info here). She smooth calls??? Turn brings an ace and it's checked to me, I check behind (at this point everyone should have me on KK or QQ). River is a blank and she checks, I check behind and she shows A8. NICE! How on Earth can A8 call that flop reraise? I love these people.

I think you got a bad beat there which is standrad for the site - good to check it down since I am sure she would have called.

here is the hand from my PT.

FullTiltPoker Game #201887700: Table Anthem Club - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:52:21 ET - 2005/08/30
Seat 1: kamizzle ($59.25)
Seat 2: Tokenizer ($211)
Seat 3: Eside Gangsta ($99.10)
Seat 4: Night_Hawker01 ($190), is sitting out
Seat 5: kanuck74 ($72.25)
Seat 6: dahlh79 ($166.55)
Seat 7: bigmess77 ($37.95)
Seat 8: Karon ($110)
Seat 9: AlamedaMike ($535.60)
Karon posts the small blind of $1
AlamedaMike posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to AlamedaMike [2s 7h]
kamizzle folds
Tokenizer raises to $7
Eside Gangsta folds
kanuck74 folds
dahlh79 folds
bigmess77 folds
Karon calls $6
AlamedaMike folds
*** FLOP *** [Tc 8c Ts]
Karon has 15 seconds left to act
Karon bets $15
Tokenizer has 15 seconds left to act
Tokenizer raises to $40
Karon calls $25
*** TURN *** [Tc 8c Ts]
Karon checks
Tokenizer checks
*** RIVER *** [Tc 8c Ts As]
Karon checks
Tokenizer checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Tokenizer shows [Qh Qd] (two pair, Queens and Tens)
Karon shows [Ac 8s] (two pair, Aces and Tens)
Karon wins the pot ($93) with two pair, Aces and Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $96 | Rake $3
Board: [Tc 8c Ts As 5d]
Seat 1: kamizzle didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Tokenizer showed [Qh Qd] and lost with two pair, Queens and Tens
Seat 3: Eside Gangsta didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Night_Hawker01 is sitting out
Seat 5: kanuck74 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: dahlh79 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: bigmess77 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Karon (small blind) showed [Ac 8s] and won ($93) with two pair, Aces and Tens
Seat 9: AlamedaMike (big blind) folded before the Flop