TPTK: A Realization

[orange]

Alright, after getting stacked twice yesterday with TPTK, I've finally learned a costly (but very vital) lesson in my poker career.

Too often will I read 'raise flop shove turn' or whatever w. TPTK. This is generally a decent line vs. donkeys, those who have very wide betting/calling ranges (where they will stack off with TPNK, flush draws, etc).

Here is a hand where I don't think I should have been stacked: Villan is a TAG, 18/12.

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $1/$2
6 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
orange: $200
UTG+1: $155.60
CO: $214.30
Button: $519
SB: $298.50
BB: $242.70

Pre-flop: (6 players) orange is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
<font color="#cc0000">orange raises to $7</font>, UTG+1 folds, CO calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] ($28, 4 players)
SB checks, <font color="#cc0000">BB bets $22</font>, <font color="#cc0000">orange raises to $70</font>, 2 folds, <font color="#cc0000">BB raises all-in $235.7</font>, <font color="#cc0000">orange calls all-in $123</font>.
Uncalled bets: $42.7 returned to BB.

Turn: 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] ($414, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $414)


River: T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] ($414, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $414)


Results:
Final pot: $414
<font color="#ffffff">BB showed Qd As</font>
<font color="#ffffff">orange showed Ks Ac</font>

Too often will I go into the robotic modes of thinking, where there is a standard line and I should take it. I fail to take into account what my opponent's hand range is. In this particular spot, my line is fairly good vs. a bad player. The bad player will stack off with Ax/hearts/etc, and sometimes even worse. Instead, I fail to realize that my villan is a TAG until it is too late, and I do not accurately weigh his hand range.

For instance, in this particular AK hand, what hand could he possibly have that is leading into many others, including the PFR? The b/3b is a popular line for TAGs with monsters. here is an example .

Instead of stacking off in this poorly played hand, I should have taken a moment and thought about it a little more. His hand range, IMO, is a set or AQ. I beat very little in this spot.

So, maybe this is just the idle ramblings of a player who has just learned something. Take a moment and think about your opponents before acting instead of just going through the same old routine.