Did I do the right thing?
Okay so here's the story. I was playing at the local casino, at the $1/$2 table (only two tables and they are both $1/$2 though). I had been playing for about three hours, was doing well, started with $100 dollars and was up to $260 before I met a flush and lost a big chunck of my stack. I think for this hand I am going to tell you about I might be a little skiddish because of a previous hand where I made my Ace high straight on the river and failed to realize the the flush out there. Okay well I want to know what everyone things about how I handled this hand.
3 people to the flop, I am holding A/Q off. Paid 15 bucks to get to the flop three handed, thought my hand was strong. The flop comes down Q/3/7 with two hearts. I hold top pair with a runner runner nut flush draw.
It's checked to me on the button so I throw out a 15 dollar bet to get the guy on the big blind out cause I am sure he didn't hit and has no draws. Ofcourse he folds but the other player calls after a second of thought. I put him on the heart draw or maybe a low pair hoping to hit the next two cards.
Turn comes down another heart, I think it was a Jack. I was really hoping he didn't have the flush now, but I thought my hand was still pretty strong and if another heart hit I was in the lead again. So I made a 30 dollar bet when he checked to me and instantly he comes over the top and pushes in 100 dollars like it was just pocket change.
I took my time. I knew I had a good draw here, but only the river left. I now doubt that he hit two pairs, because he was a tight player. So I put him on the flush. But something just wasn't sitting with me. He could be trapping me but I didn't think so. I wanted to call but at that point it was push all in or fold and if I pushed all in then he most likely would have called even on a draw or a bluff because it would only have been another 30 dollars I believe after my loss against the nut flush.
I ended up folding, wish I could have seen the river card on that one. He pocketed the money and left the table right after that. Do you think I was right in folding or should I have made my stand on the nut draw and top pair?
3 people to the flop, I am holding A/Q off. Paid 15 bucks to get to the flop three handed, thought my hand was strong. The flop comes down Q/3/7 with two hearts. I hold top pair with a runner runner nut flush draw.
It's checked to me on the button so I throw out a 15 dollar bet to get the guy on the big blind out cause I am sure he didn't hit and has no draws. Ofcourse he folds but the other player calls after a second of thought. I put him on the heart draw or maybe a low pair hoping to hit the next two cards.
Turn comes down another heart, I think it was a Jack. I was really hoping he didn't have the flush now, but I thought my hand was still pretty strong and if another heart hit I was in the lead again. So I made a 30 dollar bet when he checked to me and instantly he comes over the top and pushes in 100 dollars like it was just pocket change.
I took my time. I knew I had a good draw here, but only the river left. I now doubt that he hit two pairs, because he was a tight player. So I put him on the flush. But something just wasn't sitting with me. He could be trapping me but I didn't think so. I wanted to call but at that point it was push all in or fold and if I pushed all in then he most likely would have called even on a draw or a bluff because it would only have been another 30 dollars I believe after my loss against the nut flush.
I ended up folding, wish I could have seen the river card on that one. He pocketed the money and left the table right after that. Do you think I was right in folding or should I have made my stand on the nut draw and top pair?
Comments
The play was on the flop not the turn.
I hate the 1/3 pot sized bet on the flop.
Betting 15 into a 45 pot is giving flush draws 4 to 1 to call.
Exactly what you don't want to do.
Betting 1/3 pot gives you zero information about flush draws and offers up implied odds.
If you have $75 on the flop I'd just push it all in to that $45 pot.
However, you said you wanted to bet to see where you were at. When he re-raised all-in, you found out what you wanted. He probably did have the flush. If not, he smelled weekness or picked up a tell and knew you'd lay it down. It all depends on how he's been playing. Did this guy have a habit of check-raising monsters? Did he ever bluff with a check-raise?
I don't hate the 1/3 pot bet on the flop. Depending on the player, some people will chase no matter what odds they're given, especially with two cards to come. When I notice players like this, I'll give them the odds to take 1 cheap card... and when the turn comes, I'll push if they missed their draw. Chances are they'll fold their draw because the pot isn't that big and there's only 1 card to come. If I think they hit their draw, then I'll slow down and play it down as cheaply as possible.
Too many times I've pushed on the flop with 2 pair or top set to get outdrawn. Most times, I'll bet 1/2 the pot, and if they missed their draw on the turn, THEN I'll push.
Should have taken the free card on the turn or bet more than $30 into a$75 pot.
You have top pair with an excellent kicker, that's it; when you start thinking you have runner, runner anything, you are going to lose a lot of money. With that logic, you also have runner, runner quads. Why limit yourself to a flush draw if you are going to think like that.
If you put him on a heart draw with two cards to come, bet the farm here. I would likely bet $50-$75 here to make the other player play to see another card. If he hits, its variance and there is nothing you can do. On the turn, if he missed the heart, bet more than the pot again here to not give him proper odds to call. If he chases and hits, variance again unfortunately.
As he should, now he is taking control of the hand and making you pay to see your last card. You can run the math but if you aren't getting the right odds to call, then I would likely fold at this point. The problem is, if he is holding say 23 hearts, if a fourth heart hits the board, you are likely not going to get paid off anymore.
Lesson learned, start to control the action before someone else takes charge. This is why I love NL! Plays like this.
problem with this is you won't get paid off with 4 hearts on the board; better to take it down on the flop and move on.
You aren't checking behind just to try and hit a heart. You could very well have the best hand, and checking controls the pot/induces bluffs on the river
I think I will go with the make a bigger bet on the flop and make him pay the most to see his next card, no cheap cards anymore. Probably give me the best chance then just taking a free card.
In theory this is the best move, but a lot of players will call you down to the river to chase their flush/straight draws. I only mention this because your bankroll better be ready for these swings, when they hit.