Poker News

Dr. Scott Aigner

In a recent Thursday $330 no limit tournament I limped in UTG with a pocket pair of 3’s from seat 10. A weak player was in seat 1 and had been limping in a lot preflop, even from early position. This player had been getting very lucky in the tournament. He was playing hands like k-j off suit and then catching his hand when another player had a better hand preflop. He even avoided being unlucky when he caught his kicker when he was dominated. If he had A_J vs., A_Q he would hit the jack. Just like the 9 other players at the table he had the same probability of catching flush and straight draws too.

After this player limped in 4 other players also decided to call. The small blind folded, the big blind checked, and 7 players saw the Qd-3h-3d flop. I couldn’t believe it. I flopped quad 3’s! The big blind checked and I checked too. It was checked all the way around. I was hoping that the turn card would complete the flush or hit someone with a pocket pair in their hands so I could trap them. The turn was the ace of hearts. Now there were two flush draws and there was a good chance that the ace could have hit one of the other 6 players. I was disappointed when it checked around again. There was no reason for me to bet the turn as someone needed to hit a big hand for me to maximize my gain. The river was the 10s. Not exactly the card I was hoping for. Any heart, diamond, ace, or queen would have been a better river card to catch someone with a hand that would pay off a small bet.

I knew that I would be betting t800 into the pot of t2000 even before the river card hit. I also knew that I would hesitate slightly before I madethe bet. This slight hesitation when done correctly makes the bet appear to be one where the bettor is unsure of his chances of winning if someone calls. The bet amount prices in a player if he is holding an ace, especially if he is in late position in relationship to the bettor. The fewer players behind a potential caller, the less likely he will face a raise.

To my pleasant surprise the weak player to my left raised to t2000 at lightening speed which is a huge tell that this guy really liked his hand. He had no fear that he was beat because of his quick reaction. Everyone else folded and when it got back to me I decided to move just as quickly. I said “I’m all in.” Why did I do that? It was because this player’s quick action with his raise told me that he was not thinking things through. He was playing his hand and not his opponent. He called all in without even a slight hesitation. I knew he would. I have seen this reflexive reaction so often in my tournament career. Flopping quads and getting a weak player to overplay his ace high straight on the river is best described by the Master Card commercial. Tournament fee: $330.00. Tips to the cocktail servers for the evening: $5.00. The look on the face of this guy and his statement “How could you slow play quads?” Priceless! In part two of this article I will reveal common mistakes that weak and inexperienced players share.

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