$200 NLHE Full Ring: Was slow playing the optimal strategy?

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Dumbluck626

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I was playing out of the small blind with about $600 in my stack. I looked down at 8c 10c. Villain 1 (stack size $250) in middle position is just about as loose aggressive as you can get without being Mr. All-In (pre flop). He raised it to $6 after one or two people limped in. Villain 2 (stack size $350) called on the button. I decided that I would call to defend my blind and see if I can play some post flop poker. The flop came 7h 9c Jd! Because of how dry the board was, my position, super lag to act behind me, and flopping the nuts, I decided to check. As expected Villian 1 fired a $25 bet (slightly over pot sized). Surprisingly, Villian 2 decided to call. I figured I could easily get a second barrel to fire from Villian 1 based on past experience. Therefore, I decided calling was the best move (with these players). The turn brought a Qh. If I was playing against normal players, I may have bet out here to extract value and make people pay to draw out with a runner runner flush. This was not against normal players though. So I stuck with my strategy, I checked to the raiser. Villian 1 bet out with $75. Villian 2 calls. Now, I want to avoid tough decisions and force my opponents to make them. I shove all in. Villian 1 folds (no surprise at all).

To preface this, I had put Villain 2 in this exact situation about half an hour before. He folded that time so he didn't get to see if I was bluffing or not. I know he was curious then and I know he's really curious now. Back to the action.

Villain 2 sits silently, studying me for two minutes. before jokingly asking me, how much do you have there? The whole table got a few chuckles.

Then he asks, "Did you make the straight on the flop?"
I responded, "Yeah, I made the straight on the flop."
*30 more seconds of silence*
V2: Can I see a card?
Me: You'll have to pay for that.
Villian 2: No, that's to much *gesturing toward my stack*
Me: No, just pay me $10 and I'll show you one.
*V2 thinks for a little bit then slides $10 over to me*
The dealer must have completely missed the conversation because he burned a card and nearly dealt the river.
Because I'm genuinely an honest person I was blurting out as fast as I could, "No, no, no, no, no, wait! He wasn't calling I'm just about to show him a card." Thankfully, the dealer was kind enough to wait. (I realized much later that this act of kindness may have strongly helped in disguising my hand strength).
I took the $10 and told him to pick a card. He picked the 10c. Then V2 gestured as if he was going to flip over the other card as well. I'm certain I had a look of fear in my eyes because I didn't know what would happen from there. Would V2 be able to fold and I lose out on a nice score? Would V2 be forced to call? Could they force me to fold my hand if he did something to make my cards dead? I'm certain that V2 mistook my fear as weakness. V2 pondered another minute or so then said to himself, "He let me choose. Why did he let me choose? Because both cards were tired of tens? Yes! Because he has pocket tens! Do you have pocket tens?" he asked.
Me: I've given you enough information, you'll have to figure it out on your own."
V2: Called pre flop raise, check called, check above? It has to be pocket tens. I call!

Because it's a cash game neither of us turned over our hands. The river comes 9d. Fortunately, he turned over AQ. I took down the pot and he left the table.

What do you think? Were there better options given player types, position, etc?
 
Aces2w1n

Aces2w1n

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You got stacks in and got paid off in a way ive never done... so getting paid is never wrong lol.
 
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RakeMyLife

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I think the flop check-call is a little risky, but worth the reward in this case (given that u felt comfortable playing against these opponents). Q was the worst turn card for you, but don't see anything wrong with how u played it.

As for the table talk, I'm inclined to stay dead silent and dead still when making any kind of big bet, but that's certainly up to u and your table personality. Just be careful to keep it consistent and/or are well aware of the information you're giving. Nice hand.
 
Beanfacekilla

Beanfacekilla

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I don't care about results.


Fold pre, or 3b. 3b is probably bad idea. People call everything.

Fold pre. Your position is terrible. We won't flop the nuts often.

These are the kinds of mistakes people make all the time. Playing OOP with bad hands.



I wonder how you would have navigated post if the flop comes something like 10-6-3r, and the board doesn't change, and your opponent barrels 3 times? Say Turn is a 2, river is 7.


Or if flop comes 7-9-2r? How would you play that one? Would you just C/C OTF? C/R?


Point I'm trying to make is you will flop A weak hand alot, or nothing, and you will be in shitty spots.



Hope I'm not a "negative Nancy". Just wanted to say what I wanted to say. Hope it helps somehow.
 
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RakeMyLife

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If I saw u consistently folding ur SB to a microraise, I am raising ur blind every time.
 
Beanfacekilla

Beanfacekilla

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If I saw u consistently folding ur SB to a microraise, I am raising ur blind every time.


Good luck with that. There are 8 other people on the table besides you and I.
 
Q

QA77

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This hand was played brilliantly. I don't think you could have done anything differently especially with the speech play. People have to realize that this isn't 200NL online. Its live and its the lowest stakes. People overplaying AQ is exactly why you call with a hand like 108. Well played and I believe the dealer not hearing helped you out a ton. Lol
 
Jhon Lozano

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You played it optimally, sometimes we made simple mistakes but not in this case
 
Figaroo2

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Nicely written but fold pre flop as per Bean's advice. Calling with suited garbage in the blinds usually leads to 2nd pair hands and difficult spots.
Giving away half of your hand for $10 when you stand to win hundreds doesn't make any sense to me. He went on pocket 10s but that was pretty dense when halfway to a straight has been shown.
He's looking for a reason to call so trigger that some other way.
 
TheNutz4You

TheNutz4You

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I don't mind the play at all as played. personally would have 3bet and folded to a reraise in that position.
 
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