Sunday, March 30, 2008

Hand analysis

Hey, since I've nothing to talk about, I thought it'd be somewhat interesting to analyse one of the hand I play on Pokerstars in medium Limit $10-$20.
In that game players are pretty tight aggressive, so that it needed to make some adjustments in my game in response to the predictable actions post flop players have developped during this game.
Therefore, I've decided to play a little more aggressive than I used to, planning to raise more and using deception.
I've noticed CO is eager to limp with a large rank of hands. I had the position on him and tried to isolate by raising preflop with the idea of putting pressure on him as the hand is developing.

Poker Stars, 10/$20 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
Hand History Converter

HellMeT1: (BTN): $2250
SB: $930
BB: $5000
UTG: $3360
MP: $590
CO: $750

Pre-Flop: J T dealt to Hero (BTN)
2 folds, CO calls $20, Hero raises to $80, 2 folds, CO calls $60

Flop: 7 9 J(2 Players) (Pot size : $190)
CO checks, Hero bets $130, CO calls $130

Turn: 3 (2 Players) (Pot size : $450)
CO checks, Hero checks

River: ($450) 4 (2 Players)
CO checks, Hero bets $120, CO calls $120

Results: $690 Pot
Hero showed J T (a pair of Jacks) and LOST (-$330 NET)
CO showed Q J (a pair of Jacks) and WON $690 (+$360 NET)

Analysis : What went wrong in this hand?
Well, I raised on the button with J-T suited which is a good but not extraordinary hand to play with. In such situation regarding the relative strength of my hand, I might just be willing to call here but since I elected to play aggressive, I went for a raise and make it $80 to go(4 times the big blind).
CO calls the $60 and we go head's up.
The flop comes along with my hand giving me top pair,so I bet the flop and CO calls my bet. At this point, I put him on a draw something like Queen-ten, Ace-nine but he may have hit the flop as well with K-J, Q-J, A-J.
He checked on the turn so did I in order to keep the pot small.
Now the 4 comes on the river and he checked again, it seems like he's giving up and I decided to bet for value there, he calls me with Q-J and won the pot.
The mistake here is probably the bet on the river, there is no much value in betting the pair of jack since the only hand my opponent have that I can be paid off is a smaller pair (4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 8-8, 10-10); a missed draw (queen-ten) and second pair with top kicker. Plus, If I get raise in this spot I probably have to fold.

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