Let'em Hang

I played well tonight and want to go through 3 hands with you and give you some insight on thinking like a poker player. Whenever I play I am always thinking (1) I know what I have (2) What range of hands could they have? (3) What do they think I have? (4) Based on what they think I have how should I play this hand to get maximum value. Well folks tonight I ran through this progression of thoughts perfectly as I played and the results showed. The first hand I will talk about is the one where I got AT UTG +1. I decided to raise with this hand to $20 and got 1 caller who was UTG. The flop came 

AA9 

After seeing this flop I knew what I had…A MONSTER(1). I had a good idea what he had too, suited connectors like 67s, T9s, etc. or a small to medium pocket pair like 66, 77, etc(2). So I decided to bet the flop and I bet $35. So I knew what I had, I had his range of hands, and I thought if he calls this $35 he thinks I am bluffing(3). Well he called. The turn came:

6 

I decided to check the turn because if he thought I was bluffing that is what he would expect me to do is check behind him. So I did to setup a river bet to get max value(4). The river came: 

7 

This completed a potential flush, but I didn't put a flush draw in his range of hands because of the way he called and seeing how he played previously. After he checked to me on the river I was 100% he was just trying to catch me bluff so I bet $45 ad he called. I showed my hand and he mucked his. I winJ



The second hand I got KQ in late position. There were 6 people in front of me that limped in for $5. I could have raised but I decided to just call. I had a hand that played well in a multi-way pot. 1 other player called and there 8 people to the flop. The flop came: 

KQ2 

This was a perfect flop for me in a multi-way pot. Everyone checked to me and I bet $25 the guy who was on the button raised my bet to $75. Everyone folded and the action was back to me. So now I had to think a bit. I knew I had top two pair(1). The hands that would raise me here based on the way I have seen him play are AK, 22, KK, QQ, KQ and MAYBE KJ. I didn't put him on KK or QQ because he didn't raise pre-flop with all the callers and I had top two pair which greatly reduces the odds of him having those two hands. The only hand that could beat me that I put in his range of hands was 22(2). After a second to think I decided to just call the $50 to complete his $75 raise. I thought he thought I might have JT, and wanted to get me off of the draw so I just called because if he had AK or KJ, the two hands that I beat he probably would bet again on the turn and river so I wanted him to do that (3). If I raised instead of called he could fold AK and KJ easily knowing he was beat, and just call with all the hands that beat me(4). The turn came:

J

I was HAPPY now…if he had KJ I am going t get his whole stack! So I checked to him and he decided to push all in for $250. I said to myself if he has 22, KK, or QQ good for him…but I plan on calling NO MATTER WHAT so I called. The river came:

6 

He turned over AK and I quickly turned over my top two pair. I win again!!!

The last and final hand is a quickie. I got AT in middle position there was one limper and I decided to raise to $25. The BTN called and the limper called my raise as well. The flop came:

Q33 

I decided to check because I had nothing (1) and I wanted to start to narrow their range down too based on their actions(2). The button checked behind me and then came the turn card:

K 

The limper decided to check the turn and I thought for a second about what they had…the BTN and limper probably had a small pocket pair like 22-JJ and wanted to see a flop to see if they could hit trips(2). They could have QQ or AK too, but unlikely because they didn't re-raise me pre-flop. So when the action got to me I decided to bet $50, by doing this I wanted them to think I had AK(3) and fold the better hands that they had. Needless to say they both folded after my bet and they probably thought I had AK and hit my King on the turn…but in reality I had nothing. This week's lesson…poker is a lot more than just sitting and waiting to get good hands. You have to do that but also think about maximizing your value in every hand to make your time at the table worth it. You also want to manipulate your opponent to give you their money…hopefully these hands help you to see into what goes on in Gary's head. Until next week! Good Luck at the Tables…and BTW DON'T forget to LET'EM HANG when you are there. If you are a lady…I don't know what to say here that applies to you, but if you think of something just do that and you will be good! Later…

Pre-Session Stack:

Post- Session Stack