Did I bet too hard with the nuts here? Advice wanted.

full tilt poker Game #2922301667: Table Churchfield - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:57:36 ET - 2007/07/12
Seat 1: overmyer10 ($36.15)
Seat 2: Mojo_Death ($44.50)
Seat 3: bighedofan15 ($18.40)
Seat 4: falconseelster ($10.60)
Seat 5: General Pyre ($9.50)
Seat 6: rickmorey ($33.20)
Seat 7: Sillymongoose13 ($14.40)
Seat 8: ItsAze ($36.65)
Seat 9: CJStriker ($64.35)
Sillymongoose13 posts the small blind of $0.10
ItsAze posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ItsAze [Kc Jc]
CJStriker calls $0.25
overmyer10 folds
Mojo_Death folds
bighedofan15 folds
falconseelster folds
General Pyre folds
rickmorey folds
Sillymongoose13 has 15 seconds left to act
Sillymongoose13 calls $0.15
ItsAze raises to $1
CJStriker has 15 seconds left to act
CJStriker calls $0.75
Sillymongoose13 calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [2c Th Qs]
Sillymongoose13 bets $0.25
ItsAze raises to $1.75
CJStriker calls $1.75
Sillymongoose13 calls $1.50
*** TURN *** [2c Th Qs] [9s]
Sillymongoose13 has 15 seconds left to act
Sillymongoose13 checks
ItsAze bets $3.75
bighedofan15 has been disconnected
CJStriker raises to $7.50
Sillymongoose13 calls $7.50
ItsAze raises to $33.90, and is all in
bighedofan15 has reconnected
CJStriker has 15 seconds left to act
CJStriker is sitting out
CJStriker has timed out
CJStriker folds
Sillymongoose13 calls $4.15, and is all in
ItsAze shows [Kc Jc]
Sillymongoose13 shows [Qc 8d]
Uncalled bet of $22.25 returned to ItsAze
*** RIVER *** [2c Th Qs 9s] [8h]
ItsAze shows a straight, King high
Sillymongoose13 shows two pair, Queens and Eights
ItsAze wins the pot ($37.10) with a straight, King high
Sillymongoose13 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $39.05 | Rake $1.95
Board: [2c Th Qs 9s 8h]
Seat 1: overmyer10 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Mojo_Death didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: bighedofan15 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: falconseelster didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: General Pyre didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: rickmorey (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Sillymongoose13 (small blind) showed [Qc 8d] and lost with two pair, Queens and Eights
Seat 8: ItsAze (big blind) showed [Kc Jc] and won ($37.10) with a straight, King high
Seat 9: CJStriker folded on the Turn


I actually got scared of CJStriker holding two spades - showing that interest in the hand -- looking back, I really don't think I should have been.

What would have been the correct play here?

No way. In the betting there, you have to protect your hand. It would appear that someone has a combo flush/str draw or made hand on the turn... or you're playing 2 donkos. I like the way you played it except for the pre-flop raise OOP with a marginal hand.

I think you bet this too hard and that you missed out on potential value.

Both opponents have come with you all the way while you're showing aggression so they want to play. Mongoose is committed so don't worry about that. Assuming he calls any bet you put in there's only another $4.15 he can throw in. So at the point you pushed you're looking at a $27.25 pot. Why overbet so badly? You're only concerned with Striker. At best he has 13 outs with AKs and less if he has a set. He has ~26% chance to hit on the river. Sell him something to call incorrectly with. The all-in is too big for me.

I think if CJStriker is calling a raise at this limit and with the action, he's highly likely to call any raise. The min raise is a weak probe IMO.

Obviously I posted this thread because I think I made a mistake, I had the absolute nuts by the turn - I think I should have just made a bet that went against the odds for him to call for his flush draw... such as 1/2 the pot. In the long run if he has spades I WANT him to call a raise from me, I just want it to be enough of a raise that in that long run I'm making the most money possible... right?

I think I would have done the exact same thing here AZE. At these limits, I bet extremely hard with the nuts, knowing that I dont have to get called as often to make more money. Ive seen players call all ins with garbage and given that he has seen so much interest in this hand, I was surprised he didnt call the shove. There was 27 dollars in the pot when you went all in, I like the play.

You had to bet hard on the turn. You have the nut hand NOW but that could change is a spade came up on the river. You make a big bet to scrae away the flush chasers.

AZE said:

Obviously I posted this thread because I think I made a mistake, I had the absolute nuts by the turn - I think I should have just made a bet that went against the odds for him to call for his flush draw... such as 1/2 the pot. In the long run if he has spades I WANT him to call a raise from me, I just want it to be enough of a raise that in that long run I'm making the most money possible... right?

Click to expand...

You're right. A small raise should do it so he'll be pot-committed to call your shove on the river. Next!

Lets see it another way... if he had two spades.. and he would have made his flush... and then made a value bet on you... would you fold?...

So i guess it was played correctly, defending your hand, and still got the allin from the other guy

best regards