First time playing at Poker since I started playing 2 years ago. I haven't played ANY poker in a while and I'm afraid I'm very rusty. Will post several hands from this session. I'm playing $25 since I haven't been able to get enough mony into Neteller and I'm not comfortable on this skin yet.

Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (9 handed)

SB ($24.25)
Hero ($64.30)
UTG =#A500AF(Party Maniac)/ ($23.85)
UTG+1 ($24.90)
MP1 ($11.40)
MP2 ($10.65)
MP3 ($25.70)
CO ($30.75)
Button ($27.10)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , . SB posts a blind of $0.10.
UTG =#A500AF(Party Maniac)/ raises to $0.85, 4 folds, CO calls $0.85, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3.25, UTG =#A500AF(Party Maniac)/ folds, CO calls $2.65.

Flop: ($7.95) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $4, Hero calls $4.

Turn: ($15.95) (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

River: ($15.95) (2 players)
Hero ???


No real read on opponent, was hoping to play against the maniac obviously. He seems loose though. I'm curious on how you play every street but especially the river (where I think I made a mistake).

Bet the flop... if he calls/raises I'm done... If you check/call like that, you're BEGGING him to bluff you off, which is what he would've done if he bet the turn... I may throw out a blocking bet on the river, and fold to a raise...

FLop: your bet was good
Turn: check is good or a $4-$8 bet would be good. The turn is where most slow players spring to action and would re-raise there ... So a Call and i feel my hand is best and bet the river.
River: I bet $6 .... a blocking bet He probably has a pp and might even call. If he re-raises I'm out. He either has a Q or outplayed you. Either way I dont call. The $6 looks like a value bet so most opponents would be too scared to bluff at the end.

I actually like your logic about checking the flop there Stoneberg. He probably would check if he has a Q and bet if he doesnt. And if you bet out on the flop strongly it represents that you probably dont have Q. If i saw that flop and had someone bet strongly into me after they raised pre-flop i would be inclined to not put them on a Q and go for the bluff by calling the flop then go all-in on top the next time they bet. I like the check.

i would be suspicious of the 1/2 pot bet on the flop....it's either an underpair, a missed AK, or a weak lead with a Queen. i think i agree with the check-call...any serious aggression on the flop pushes out all the hands you beat. the only card that would change things significantly is an Ace on the turn. i think the turn check is good too. against a looser player....the river is certainly nasty. but i think his most likely hand is JJ, followed by a missed AK. i would bet for $5-8 and reluctantly fold to a push.

jon

After scrutiny I am happy with how I played the hand. I am however unhappy with how this hand prompted me to do the same thing with QQ on a JJx flop...

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , . SB posts a blind of $0.10.
3 folds, Hero raises to $1, MP3 calls $1, 4 folds.

Flop: ($2.35) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets $1, Hero calls $1.

Turn: ($4.35) (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks.

River: ($4.35) (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks.

Final Pot: $4.35

Results in white below:
Hero has Qh Qs (two pair, queens and jacks).
MP3 has Ks Ah (two pair, kings and jacks).
Outcome: MP3 wins $4.35.


As soon as I hit the call key I was kicking myself thinking "He could very well have AK and 6 outs you idiot", I should have CR:d or bet out. Two cards higher than my pair available makes a world of difference.