Mind Games

In these situations, I always wonder if I could have got opponent to call a larger bet...
But I'll take what I can get...

PokerStars, 5 Card Draw No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $8.85 (35 bb)
CO (Hero): $25.00 (100 bb)
BU: $33.18 (133 bb)
SB: $18.61 (74 bb)
BB: $8.31 (33 bb)

Deal: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 3♠:T♦:A♦:A♠:A♣:
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.10, 3 players fold, UTG calls $0.85

Draw One: ($2.55) 3♠:A♦:A♠:A♣:A♥: (2 players)
UTG draws 2, CO (Hero) draws T♦:
UTG checks, Hero bets $1.68, UTG calls $1.68

Total pot: $5.91 (Rake: $0.27)

Showdown:
CO (Hero) shows 3♠:A♦:A♠:A♣:A♥: (four of a kind, Aces)
UTG mucks 2♦:2♥:2♠:7♦:Q♦: (three of a kind, Twos)
CO (Hero) wins $5.64

In this case, I was just expecting a fold

PokerStars, $0.46 + $0.04 - Hold'em No Limit - 15/30 - 2 players

SB: 665 (22 bb)
BB (Hero): 835 (28 bb)

Pre-Flop: (45) Hero is BB with 7♣:A♠:
SB raises to 60, Hero 3-bets to 835 (all-in), SB calls 605 (all-in)

Flop: (1,330) A♥:A♦:3♦: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (1,330) A♣: (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: (1,330) K♦: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: 1,330

Showdown:
BB (Hero) shows 7♣:A♠: (four of a kind, Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 55%, Flop: 98%, Turn: 100%, River: 100%)

SB shows J♣:Q♥: (three of a kind, Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 45%, Flop: 2%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins 1,330

I feel really sorry for the opponent, since this has happened to me before.
PokerStars, 5 Card Draw No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $29.86 (119 bb)
CO: $1.51 (6 bb)
BU: $20.01 (80 bb)
SB: $15.27 (61 bb)
BB (Hero): $28.26 (113 bb)

Deal: ($0.35) Hero is BB with Q♣:J♦:5♥:Q♦:Q♠:
3 players fold, SB calls $0.15, Hero raises to $0.95, SB calls $0.70

Draw One: ($1.90) Q♣:5♥:Q♦:Q♠:Q♥: (2 players)
SB draws 2, BB (Hero) draws J♦:
SB bets $0.91, Hero raises to $4.65, SB raises to $14.32 (all-in), Hero calls $9.67

Total pot: $30.54 (Rake: $1.37)

Showdown:
SB shows A♥:T♣:T♦:A♠:A♦: (a full house, Aces full of Tens) <<< he draws 2 — keeping tens and an Ace kicker, and hits a full house. 119:1 odds
BB (Hero) shows Q♣:5♥:Q♦:Q♠:Q♥: (four of a kind, Queens) <<< I held trip Queens, and drew one. 46:1 odds to hit quads
BB (Hero) wins $29.17

You running pretty well with so many quads hands. Keep it up

Originally posted by SDK1987
You running pretty well with so many quads hands. Keep it up
I never post the bad beats, overall yesterday I was down slightly, but without that hand it would have been worse.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Second Quads of the Day

I feel really sorry for the opponent, since this has happened to me before.

Well, I still remember this hand from two years ago...

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
he draws 2 — keeping tens and an Ace kicker, and hits a full house. 119:1 odds

Some people also like to draw 2 with trips. I personally always preferred keeping a kicker of some sorts and draw 1.

Originally posted by Harrier88
Well, I still remember this hand from two years ago...

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
he draws 2 — keeping tens and an Ace kicker, and hits a full house. 119:1 odds

Some people also like to draw 2 with trips. I personally always preferred keeping a kicker of some sorts and draw 1.

You have an extremely good memory!
I mix up drawing 2 and drawing one with trips. I also now will occasionally keep a kicker as well when holding a pair. The more possible hands you could hold, the harder it is for opponents to guess what you might have. I will also occasionally even limp low flush draws, and also limp pat hands from UTG, since if you bet you just get the blinds.

there is no board that could possibly happen where this would be a winner

PokerStars, Omaha H/L Pot Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $20.32 (81 bb)
CO (Hero): $25.57 (102 bb)
BU: $28.21 (113 bb)
SB: $27.19 (109 bb)
BB: $32.79 (131 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 5♦:5♠:5♥:5♣:
1 fold, CO (Hero) folds, BTN calls $0.25, 1 fold, BB checks

Flop: ($0.60) 3♣:K♦:J♥: (2 players)
BB checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($0.60) A♠: (2 players)
BB checks, BTN checks

River: ($0.60) Q♦: (2 players)
BB bets $0.43, BTN raises to $1.86, BB calls $1.43

Total pot: $4.32 (Rake: $0.18)

Showdown:
BU shows 8♥:T♥:9♦:J♣: (HI: a straight, Ten to Ace)
BB shows A♣:T♣:9♥:J♠: (HI: a straight, Ten to Ace)
BU wins $2.07
BB wins $2.07

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
You have an extremely good memory!
I mix up drawing 2 and drawing one with trips. I also now will occasionally keep a kicker as well when holding a pair. The more possible hands you could hold, the harder it is for opponents to guess what you might have. I will also occasionally even limp low flush draws, and also limp pat hands from UTG, since if you bet you just get the blinds.

Well, those are the kinds of hands you don't forget...

For a while, my approach was to just never draw 2, with the exception of some freeplays in the blinds when I was on a "cat hop" or some other draw I wouldn't normally go for anyway. I would always draw 1 with trips, and never keep a kicker when drawing to a pair. I hoped that this would conceal those trips well enough, as "draw 1" in this case could be anything from straight/flush draws to two pair to trips - or possibly even quads.

Eventually, I think it was around the time when I started trying PL/NL games, including SNGs, I also occasionally kept good kickers when drawing to a pair, which ended up saving my skin in a few spots. It would make sense to occasionally mix it up with drawing two cards to trips every once in a while.

I rarely take notes on opponents, but when I do, the kinds of hands they draw two cards to are among the first things I add in 5CD. And while I didn't originally like the idea of drawing two cards to trips, in my experience, the general player pool seems to mix it up often enough with drawing two to a pair with a kicker to give you plenty of guesswork. It doesn't even have to be a certain player who mixes things up, the fact that there is some variation among players in general can be enough to make people question their moves.

So maybe it can make sense to occasionally keep the kicker, if nothing else to disguise your standard pair hands a little more, which would otherwise always draw 3 under my old approach. It has been a while since I have been grinding 5CD games anyway.

to see that neither opponent had a reasonable contender for the high hand

PokerStars, 5 Card Omaha H/L Pot Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

UTG: $22.71 (91 bb)
MP: $35.99 (144 bb)
CO (Hero): $26.59 (106 bb)
BU: $48.55 (194 bb)
SB: $30.72 (123 bb)
BB: $61.81 (247 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with J♠:J♣:3♥:6♠:5♠:
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, SB calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1) 8♠:4♠:4♦: (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($1) 3♠: (4 players)
SB bets $0.96, BB folds, UTG calls $0.96, Hero calls $0.96

River: ($3.88) 7♠: (3 players)
SB bets $1.86, UTG calls $1.86, Hero raises to $11.16, SB calls $9.30, UTG calls $9.30

Total pot: $37.36 (Rake: $1.59)

Showdown:
CO (Hero) shows J♠:J♣:3♥:6♠:5♠: (HI: a straight flush, Eight high; LO: 7-6-5-4-3)
SB shows A♥:A♣:2♣:2♥:5♥: (HI: two pair, Aces and Fours; LO: 7-4-3-2-A)
UTG shows K♣:A♦:2♠:T♦:Q♣: (HI: a pair of Fours; LO: 7-4-3-2-A)
CO (Hero) wins $17.89
SB wins $8.94
UTG wins $8.94

Well not quite — the first hand I held JJ and everyone folded to me in the BB
This is a $0.50 Power Path Step 1 played on the daily free ticket
PokerStars, $0.46 + $0.04 - Hold'em No Limit - 10/20 - 3 players

BU: 490 (25 bb)
SB (Hero): 510 (26 bb)
BB: 500 (25 bb)

Pre-Flop: (30) Hero is SB with A♦:A♠:
BTN raises to 40, Hero 3-bets to 140, BB calls 120, BTN 4-bets to 490 (all-in), Hero 5-bets to 510 (all-in), BB calls 360 (all-in)

Flop: (1,490) A♥:5♥:4♦: (3 players, 3 all-in)

Turn: (1,490) T♣: (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: (1,490) J♠: (3 players, 3 all-in)

Total pot: 1,490

Showdown:
SB (Hero) shows A♦:A♠: (three of a kind, Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 76%, Flop: 76%, Turn: 88%, River: 100%)

BU shows 4♠:4♥: (three of a kind, Fours)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 20%, Flop: 10%, Turn: 2%, River: 0%)

BB shows 2♠:A♣: (a pair of Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 5%, Flop: 14%, Turn: 10%, River: 0%)

SB (Hero) wins 1,490

I think opponent was counting on the magic six. Without that 8 on the river, I would have had 3/4 of the pot. That would have been nice, but the whole thing is a lot better

PokerStars, 5 Card Omaha H/L Pot Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 5 players

UTG: $26.14 (105 bb)
CO (Hero): $27.33 (109 bb)
BU: $36.72 (147 bb)
SB: $46.29 (185 bb)
BB: $25.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 4♥:6♣:7♥:3♠:A♥:
UTG raises to $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, 2 players fold, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($1.60) 2♥:5♠:4♠: (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $0.61, BB calls $0.61, UTG calls $0.61

Turn: ($3.43) A♣: (3 players)
BB bets $3.28, UTG calls $3.28, Hero raises to $16.40, BB raises to $23.89 (all-in), UTG folds, Hero calls $7.49

River: ($54.49) 8♠: (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $54.49 (Rake: $2)

Showdown:
BB shows 3♥:K♦:K♣:9♦:6♦: (HI: a straight, Two to Six; LO: 6-4-3-2-A)
(Equity - Turn: 17%, River: 0%)

CO (Hero) shows 4♥:6♣:7♥:3♠:A♥: (HI: a straight, Four to Eight; LO: 5-4-3-2-A)
(Equity - Turn: 83%, River: 100%)

CO (Hero) wins $52.49

I keep thinking I could have got more out of this hand

PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

UTG: $26.70 (107 bb)
MP: $42.47 (170 bb)
CO (Hero): $27.97 (112 bb)
BU: $22.92 (92 bb)
SB: $50.95 (204 bb)
BB: $25.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with Q♠:A♦:
2 players fold, Hero raises to $0.60, BTN 3-bets to $1.95, 2 players fold, Hero 4-bets to $6.20, BTN calls $4.25

Flop: ($12.75) Q♥:Q♦:K♠: (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($12.75) 6♣: (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($12.75) Q♣: (2 players)
Hero bets $0.25, BTN calls $0.25

Total pot: $13.25 (Rake: $0.60)

Showdown:
CO (Hero) shows Q♠:A♦: (four of a kind, Queens)
BU mucks A♣:5♣: (three of a kind, Queens)
CO (Hero) wins $12.65

Once one opponent shows a set, and the other has a King, I'm down to just one K for the win

888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 125/250 (25 ante) - 9 players

UTG: 2,952 (12 bb)
UTG+1: 6,081 (24 bb)
MP: 2,952 (12 bb)
MP+1: 5,894 (24 bb)
LP: 2,975 (12 bb)
CO: 3,212 (13 bb)
BU: 2,677 (11 bb)
SB: 2,702 (11 bb)
BB (Hero): 3,552 (14 bb)

Pre-Flop: (600) Hero is BB with K♠:K♦:
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to 6,056 (all-in), 4 players fold, BTN calls 2,652 (all-in), 1 fold, Hero calls 3,277 (all-in)

Flop: (10,056) 9♥:8♠:A♥: (3 players, 3 all-in)

Turn: (10,056) K♥: (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: (10,056) A♠: (3 players, 3 all-in)

Total pot: 10,056

Showdown:
UTG+1 shows 8♥:8♦: (a full house, Eights full of Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 21%, Flop: 92%, Turn: 24%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows K♠:K♦: (a full house, Kings full of Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 71%, Flop: 4%, Turn: 76%, River: 100%)

BU shows J♦:K♣: (two pair, Aces and Kings)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 9%, Flop: 3%, Turn: <1%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins 10,056

Pre-Flop: 71%

This is what really matters in this case

Originally posted by NapoleonBonaparte135

Pre-Flop: 71%

This is what really matters in this case

True.
This is just one of the ways KK can win by the river.
Still felt good after that flop

you rarely see cash tables though

There were 3 players when I sat down, but soon down to just 3 of us, and both the others had 40BB level stacks

on review, I may have overplayed this. Keep in mind that Courchevel is like 5-Card Omaha, but the 1st card of the flop is dealt before the pre-flop betting round.

PokerStars, Courchevel H/L Pot Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 3 players

BU: $11.17 (45 bb)
SB (Hero): $37.16 (149 bb)
BB: $12.04 (48 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) 9♦: Hero is SB with A♠:9♥:7♠:7♦:9♠:
BTN calls $0.25, Hero raises to $0.60, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.35

Flop: ($1.45) K♦:A♥: (2 players)
Hero bets $0.56, BTN raises to $2.75, Hero calls $2.19

Turn: ($6.95) 2♣: (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $4.98, Hero calls $4.98

River: ($16.91) 8♥: (2 players)
Hero bets $16.19, BTN calls $2.84 (all-in)

Total pot: $22.59 (Rake: $0.96)

Showdown:
OK, if I overplayed it, BU most certainly did!
SB (Hero) shows A♠:9♥:7♠:7♦:9♠: (HI: three of a kind, Nines)
BU shows 3♦:K♣:2♠:2♦:A♦: (HI: three of a kind, Twos) <<< in fairness, BU had a decent shot at the nut low but the A♥: OTF, then the 2♣: OTT counterfeited it.
SB (Hero) wins $21.63

in this case it might be "idiot equity" since overshoving w/ AJo isn't usually a wise play
However, it is a freeroll, and with only 10BB left...

888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 125/250 (25 ante) - 9 players

UTG: 6,688 (27 bb)
UTG+1: 4,126 (17 bb)
MP: 2,864 (11 bb)
MP+1: 2,755 (11 bb)
LP: 5,590 (22 bb)
CO (Hero): 2,669 (11 bb)
BU: 2,594 (10 bb)
SB: 2,269 (9 bb)
BB: 6,629 (27 bb)

Pre-Flop: (600) Hero is CO with J♥:A♣:
UTG calls 250, UTG+1 calls 250, MP raises to 2,839 (all-in), 1 fold, LP calls 2,839, Hero calls 2,644 (all-in), 3 players fold, UTG calls 2,589, UTG+1 calls 2,589

Flop: (14,600) 6♣:J♠:5♠: (5 players, 2 all-in)
UTG bets 3,824 (all-in), UTG+1 calls 1,262 (all-in), LP calls 2,726 (all-in)

Turn: (21,314) 2♦: (5 players, 5 all-in)

River: (21,314) 2♣: (5 players, 5 all-in)

Total pot: 21,314

Showdown:
UTG shows 9♠:3♠: (a pair of Twos)
(Equity - Flop: 36%, Turn: 26%, River: 0%)

UTG+1 shows T♦:4♦: (a pair of Twos)
(Equity - Flop: 3%, Turn: 8%, River: 0%)

MP shows A♠:8♣: (a pair of Twos)
(Equity - Flop: 6%, Turn: <1%, River: 0%)

LP shows J♣:Q♣: (two pair, Jacks and Twos)
(Equity - Flop: 12%, Turn: 5%, River: 0%)

CO (Hero) shows J♥:A♣: (two pair, Jacks and Twos - higher kicker)
(Equity - Flop: 43%, Turn: 61%, River: 100%)

LP wins 7,494
CO (Hero) wins 13,820

888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 425,000/850,000 (85,000 ante) - 8 players

NA: 69,996 (0 bb)
UTG: 610,914 (1 bb)
MP: 262,529 (0 bb)
MP+1: 194,321 (0 bb)
CO: 139,755 (0 bb)
BU: 622,988 (1 bb)
SB: 1,199,863 (1 bb)
BB (Hero): 136,191 (0 bb)

NA ante 69,996 (all-in)Pre-Flop: (1,141,187) Hero is BB with T♣:4♠:
5 players fold, Meroveus tips the cocktail waitress

Flop: (767,378) J♥:9♥:6♦: (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (767,378) K♠: (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: (767,378) Q♣: (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: 767,378

Showdown:
SB shows J♦:3♣: (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 59%, Flop: 94%, Turn: 91%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows T♣:4♠: (a straight, Nine to King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 41%, Flop: 6%, Turn: 9%, River: 100%)

NA shows 5♣:J♣: (a pair of Jacks)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 0%, Flop: 0%, Turn: 0%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) wins 767,378

Finished 7th