Playing the Hand Smartly

For about three years now, I’ve been playing poker live as well as online. Well, for three years, I admit I’ve played tightly, smartly, and aggressively. I was comfortable with how I play then, but I guess things are much different now. Recently, an unusual hand occurred at my local casino 1-2 no limit, by which has really troubled the way I look up to myself.

It all started when the player to my right walk in by which at that instance I was in 4th position and had AJ off. I used to overcome situations like this but I don’t know what happened as on that night most of the table seem to be very weakly to me. I had won a number of hands in a row, eventually building my stack from a $160 buy in to roughly $450.

Afterwards, I decided to raise to $12. Someone I knew back then, who is an extremely loose player, raises me the minimum to $22. Then, the Player to my right calls the 22. Well, I had just taken a large pot and called the extra $10.

After which, the flop came A,9,3 rainbow. Quite to my surprise, the player to my right leads out and bets $50. I pondered on about things for about 5 mins and afterwards arrived into an assumption that he limped with actually a weak ace. As a result, I raised him to $150. At the table, the other player folded and the player to my right moved all in. Later on, it was only another $25 or so to call, therefore, I called him believing I am outwitted. You know what? I was actually outwitted. Eventually, he had AK.

Do you think I played the hand smartly? Over-all, do you think I played well?

Thanks for your time.

Blake

Blake,

You were in a situation where someone limped in to two raises with a drawing hand. You were the aggressor and someone else raised. The player with A-K called two raises cold. That was a somewhat marginal play by him.

When the player bet out on the rainbow flop, you said that you put him on a weak ace. How weak of an ace did you put him on? Was it something like A-5? If so, I can see you putting on the pressure. Personally, I think I would likely have put him on a weak ace as well, or maybe even a big pair such as kings or queens. When he moved all in, I would have assumed I was behind, as was the case.

Based on what you said your read on the opponent was, I don’t think you played the hand poorly. Your read was wrong and it cost you. However, that will happen a lot in poker. Don’t stress yourself out over one hand. Learn from it and profit from the lesson you learned.