So far this month I am exactly $328 ahead in the “Pro Poker Challenge”. Played 1hr 20 minutes this morning and won a further $48. Was actually $100 ahead but had a couple of beats involving premium pairs. Yesterdays session saw me lose a 200bb pot with AA versus KK. Actually I am not really sure if I didnt make a mistake here. I was six tabling NL50 and it is raised to $2.25 after a limper, player to my right re-raises to $7.50 and I am in the small blind with AA.
Usually you can narrow down ranges in these games fairly well in raised pots and this is a serious arguement against limping with much of your range. I think that his range is TT+, AKs, AK and possibly AQs. Its a tight game with a low see the flop percentage. Actually I may be over doing it as most players would not 3-bet with TT, AK and AQs and merely do it with JJ+and possibly AKs.
I make an above pot 4-bet from the small blind to $30 and everyone folds to the three bettor who calls. Pot is now about $64 so I am trying to get him to commit with the hand that I think he has, namely KK,QQ as he would probably lay down JJ and AKs now as he is a tight reg.
Flop comes K-J-6 and my heart sinks as this flop hits a big part of his range that he would call a four bet with. He might have called with JJ as well and because I have aces then they are unlikely to have AA. In my mind he either has one of three hands, top set, middle set or QQ. Despite this I just stuck my remaining $20 in as first to speak…..they insta call and show KK……what a surprise. Left me thinking……could I have laid this down with only $20 left in a $64 pot? I dont think that I can even though I correctly figured his hand.
I see enough bad plays in these games to make a laydown here, plays that are so bad that it sometimes beggars belief. I even see players get all in with absolute crud both pre and on the flop so even though I was proved right here, there is no guarantee that I could continue being right in these situations. In reflection I dont think that it is good play to checkfold here as there is too much uncertainty. I should have checked and then called as this gives him a chance to bluff off his QQ or some hand that I m not taking him for.
Trying to ascertain ranges is a rather inexact science so there is enough ambiguity to merit getting the rest of my money in. I am somewhat of a perfectionist this year. As of yesterday morning I had played 2800 hands which is more now obviously.
Played a couple of heads up sessions late last night at 5-10 NLHE and won just over $400 so a good day overall. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you soon.
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The Dean is sponsored by Cake Poker and can also be contacted at Carl@Pokerquest.f9.co.uk for coaching, mentor schemes and all other poker and gambling related matters.
