Poker plays with Pokerpeaker - Limiting Your Losses
I'm playing $25 NL in a full ring game on Bodog Poker. I called a raise from late position with K♠10♠. I am in
middle position. It's mostly a position call. It's not the best call I ever make, but I want to see what happens. I've had a lot of bad cards and I just want to play a hand. Plus the raise is only .50 more. It's really not a good call but let's see what happens.The flop comes K♥-K♣-3♦
GIN!
I check the flop because there's no real reason to bet there. There's no draw, so I can afford to see what he does. The guy checks behind me. Hmmm.
When the 9♣ comes down, there's a flush draw out there, so I bet the pot, $2, and he calls.
That raises my suspicions a little bit. After all, what does he have here that he was willing to just flat call a pot-sized bet on a board with two Kings? Did he raise with something like A-9? I suppose it's possible but not likely.
I'm starting to think he also has a King.
When the 5♥ comes down, I check. I am wondering what is going on with the hand and I need more information. Plus I'm not willing to put more money in the pot when I suspect I might be behind.
Remember, he raised pre-flop, so he must have something. It's quite possible he has a King. It's unlikely, but it's definitely possible. And I'm beginning to think that's exactly what he has after, he flat called my bet on the turn.
I always try to imagine what the other player might have when he flat calls. That usually means a draw but not always. It could also mean he's slow-playing what he thinks is a monster.
He pauses a long time and bets $3, probably half the pot.
Do you jam?
I figure that's a fair price to see what he has. He could have A-A and was worried about the two Kings out there. He could also have Q-Q or J-J. He could also have a lower King.
Remember, though, he raised, so he could also have K-Q or A-K, two common raising hands, especially in late position. If I jam my chips in on the river, I'm dead because he'll surely call.
This is why I checked in the first place. So I wouldn't be raised and could call a fair bet.
I call.
He shows K-Q
Lesson: Calling with an easy dominated hand out of position causes you problems like this one. But I limited my losses here when I was concerned. There's no reason to jam all your chips in with trips, yet I've seen far too many people lose far too much with that hand. Checking is not always weak. Sometimes it's a great way to control the pot size when you think you might be behind but still think your hand warrants a call.
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