Am I trying too hard?

[that_pope]

This hand happened early in the session, before I got very cold and couldn't do anything about it. I still had some respect at this point....

CAZ 20/40. 8 handed. 2 folds to me, I raise with JTo, LP calls, BB calls. BB has been pretty straightforward, and is a decent player who can fold. LP is fairly loose preflop, but has something if he continues on.

Flop comes KT6. BB donks, I call, LP calls.

Turn A. BB checks, I contemplate betting, but check, to see what LP does. LP checks.

River 9 (no flush possible). BB bets. I raise....

Results in White: <font color="white">I assumed BB was someone who could value bet a K here, and I jumped at the opportunity to represent a big hand (Aces up, straight, set), and LP folded instantly, and BB thought for about 15 seconds and finally folded. This was the highlight of my session, and it all went downhill from here [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]</font>

[ssmallz]

JTo is too weak to raise pf in this situation, just toss it. Once bb donks you've gotta raise the flop. Too many possible gutters and weird strait combos to allow to see the hand. You also might be able to fold LP off of QT or even AT w/a raise. Another good thing is that it allows you to clean up your J outs if he's got a hand like Q9.

Turn: Checking here is ok b/c bb doesn't want to fold

River: Your river raise looks really fishy and I dont know how often you get bb to fold a better hand. He might just look you up b/c your line doesn't really represent anything. You're never checking the turn w/an ace b/c the board is too drawy. QJ doesn't check the turn here either. You're not raising w/78 here and certainly not calling a flop bet w/that hand so BB might just call you out of curiosity.

[Howard Beale]

Agree J-10o is too weak to raise w/ unless you've been running pistol-hot and everybody is scared of you and/or you want to mix it up. As played you must raise that flop, imo. You started out representing a big hand and I think you've got to keep at it plus you'd like to fold LP and maybe even BB depending on how weak his hand is. The likely reason that BB checked that turn was because he was worried that you'd caught your Ace. Had you raised the flop (hopefully dropping LP) and bet the turn you may win it right there.

Raising the river after the way the hand played is risky but, as you said, BB can fold. In that game, though, there are going to be plenty of players who call figuring that you're trying to pull one on them. They won't think of what hand you may have, they'll just think they don't want to be fooled, so be careful.

[tradingman123]

I would not raise J/T off in early position... the hand is just not strong enough with so much of the field left to act. I would raise with this hand pre from the button and maybe the CO/HJ if the remaining players are tight. Nice raise on the river, I dont think that many 20 players I know would fold a K there.

[Entity]

You're not representing anything, but that not might make a difference to them.

Rob

[elindauer]

Too loose preflop. Fold JT until, say, the CO.

Your river play is goofy. The problem is that you aren't really representing anything but an "I don't think you have it so I raise" kind of raise. The pot is way too small to be trying moves like this. Fold.

I'm glad it worked out for you though.

-eric

[Hass]

I would like to be in later positon to raise this hand, but I'm sure I have done the same. Howard can attest that I probably play too many hands out of position. When I'm losing I have a bad habbit of opening with weaker hands too early.

I didn't read results yet but I just call the river and expect to lose.

Pope I'll say hi next time. I was the one that pointed out who you were to Howard but I'm always too lazy to get up and say hi, cause I don't think you know who I am. I'll be back in town Wed.

[that_pope]

Nope, I don't know who you are, but Howard sure does. I know you know who I am, you are being sly and secretive, like I did to Nate when he still lived here. Howard and his man purse are playing 40/80 a lot now, so I don't get to hear about how tortillas are made.

And I think calling on the river is the worst choice. I think folding or raising are much stronger than calling, I have no shot to win if I call IMO.

[Howard Beale]

[ QUOTE ]
Nope, I don't know who you are, but Howard sure does. I know you know who I am, you are being sly and secretive, like I did to Nate when he still lived here. Howard and his man purse are playing 40/80 a lot now, so I don't get to hear about how tortillas are made.

And I think calling on the river is the worst choice. I think folding or raising are much stronger than calling, I have no shot to win if I call IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a MESSENGER BAG!!!! Plus, I played the 40 so bad last night it's back to the 20 for a while for me. I ran into some tough luck (flopped sets NG, TPTK NG) but mostly I played bad. There's nothing wrong w/ losing but there is no excuse for playing bad so now I'm really mad at myself. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] which brings up another, related topic: Avoiding playing if you're not in the right frame of mind.

Anyway, I've gotten so good at making the tortillas the Mexican dealers I've showed them to are impressed.

[bigjoet]

agree with everyone else... raise the flop... i think bb just folded the worst/same hand...