Harrington on Hold'em Volume III

I just bought Volume III, after reading I and II of course, and I have to say I wish I had of read this yesterday. He talks about and interesting concept that came up for me in a $1/$1 no-limit ring game. I was in the small blind with about $125.00 ( I bought in for $100) and I had pocket queens. 2 limpers in front of me and I raised to $5.00. BB raised $10.00 to $15.00. Both limpers folded. He seemed like a solid player but he was fairly new to the table so I wasn't sure. I called.

Flop came 8d, 8s, Qs. Perfect flop. I actually put him on AA, KK or AK, with 10,10 or JJ possible but not likely. I checked figuring if he had one of those holding he had to bet with the flush draw on the board. He bet $15.00 and I smooth called.

Turn is 2h, I check. Opponent bets $15.00 again and again I smooth call. I think this is where I made my first mistake. I could have reraised here I think but I wanted him to think i was on a draw or had AQ.

River comes 4s. I did not want to see another spade since I didn't put him on a draw and thought it was likely he put me on a flush draw, if so, I just hit and might not make any more money. Here's where I definatley erred. I checked. He thought for a few seconds, said "You slow playing me?" and checked back. He had pocket aces and I won a nice pot but I could have owon more I think. He would have had to call a raise between $10 and $20.00 I think with that hand.

What Harrington says in problem #7 is that if you think you are facing a good hand but one that can be beat, you should bet because they may call but will be happy to check it down at the end if you don't bet. If you think he had nothing then you check to induce the bluff since that is the only way he can win and obviously he can't call a bet or reraise.

Like i said I wish I had of read that yesterday, lol.

I did end up wining about $250.00 for the session so it wasn't too bad.

If you haven't read Harrington's books do so immediatley, the best Hold'em books written I think.

If you think your opponent has A's or K's why would u just call that turn?? You need to reraise there. You opponent could put u on AQ, KQ, or even a mid pair or KK. You could have easily made atleast $40 more by reraising the turn and value betting on the river. He would have had to call your bets. He is not laying AA down to a reraise with that board unless he picked up a huge tell.

I agree, I said I made 2 mistakes here. I got too smart for myself I think. I was thinking if he puts me on a flush draw and it doesn't hit I can bet the river and he might think I bluffing with a busted draw and reraise me in which case I'd ende up with all his chips. But like I said I screwed up here.

i feel your pain

i check after river occasionally when i KNOW i have the best hand trying to induce a bet that i can re-raise...makes me sick when the opponent checks as well....

If you put your opponent on AA KK The best way to get his stack is to fire a little more then half the pot right into him on flop. Lead right into the raiser is an advanced play. Usually This will piss him off and he will mostly likely reraise you huge. Then from there you can call or just put the rest of his stack in. Usually if you put him on high pockets Just reraise all in so the turn cards don't scare him.

I think you played the hand right. Your opponent seemed aggressive so, you might have been able to reraise and get a call.

I would have bet high on the river to try to act like I was bluffing the pot. But, you might also want to check to show weakness and see if he will try to bet you out.

It's hard to say what the best move is. Nobody knows how their opponent is going to react until afterwards. The only thing you can do is anticipate his next move based on how he has played past hands.

Harrington's are without doubt excellent. I think one of the difficulties with waiting for the river to make a move is that one of the elements of uncertainty in the mind of the other guy has been removed. On the flop and more particularly the turn, he's not only got to think about what you might have but also consider what the other cards yet to come might be. Often this provides the necessary (and misguided) hope that leads to a call.

On the river he still doesn't know what you have but the strength of his own hand is no longer subject to change. I think this means that loose calls are less likely to be made as the wonder draw is no longer available.

Of course there are plenty of opportunities to make chips on the river, but I think the turn is more often a more profitable hunting ground.

Back on topic, I agree inducing a bet from anything other than the nuts or near nuts on the river is very tricky (as H says).

Nice flop though

CC's 100 top poker tips...no free cards. Bet even if its minimum.