Hand Analysis - and lots of it

Haven't posted many hands in the last few days so here is a run through of some interesting ones, have a look through and see what you think...


***** Hand History for Game 6108918603 *****
$1,000 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, June 30, 09:36:01 ET 2007
Table Table 126855 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 10: Rush9 ( $1,076.25 USD )
Seat 9: TiltyMonkey ( $1,402.02 USD )
Seat 4: TimeoDanaos ( $564.50 USD )
Seat 2: autofire_219 ( $1,912.75 USD )
Seat 3: danphan11 ( $1,022.50 USD )
Seat 7: Any2Cards_ ( $1,020 USD )
Seat 1: gromniukII ( $992 USD )
Seat 6: Badevirus ( $200 USD )
Seat 5: Darude28 ( $200 USD )
danphan11 posts small blind [$5 USD].
Darude28 posts big blind [$10 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to TiltyMonkey [ Ks Ah ]
Badevirus folds
Any2Cards_ folds
TiltyMonkey raises [$40 USD]
Rush9 folds
gromniukII folds
autofire_219 calls [$40 USD]
danphan11 folds
Darude28 folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2c, 7d, Kc ]
TiltyMonkey checks
autofire_219 checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qd ]
TiltyMonkey bets [$50 USD]
autofire_219 raises [$150 USD]
TiltyMonkey calls [$100 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ Jd ]
TiltyMonkey checks
autofire_219 checks
TiltyMonkey shows [ Ks, Ah ]a pair of Kings.
autofire_219 doesn't show [ Ts, Jc ]a pair of Jacks.
TiltyMonkey wins $392 USD from the main pot with a pair of Kings.

Not a typical hand by any means but I'm posting it to illustrate how checking instead of betting on the flop can be to your advantage in getting some reasonable value from hands when you hit. I hit top pair, top kicker on the flop but as I'm out of position to an aggressive player i decided to mix my play up and check. This enables me to keep the pot relatively small and not get bluffed off my hand by a raise when I think I'm ahead but not certain. Turn comes with a Q and I bet trying to look weak and am rewarded with a raise to $150. I flat call as I intend to check call the river and think that I am still way ahead and he'll fold to a raise. River comes a blank and sadly we both check.

Looking at this hand from both points of view I don't think either of us played it badly and he would have got very well rewarded if an A came on the river but overall I am happy with my play as it keeps people guessing as to what I have when I either check or bet in the future and I manage to keep the pot to a size I'm comfortable with when I have only top pair.

Changing the way you play after a pre flop raise is essential as it doesn't help to become too predictable and plays like this may help you to see more free cards when you do miss the flop and check because you are weak.


***** Hand History for Game 6109713302 *****
$1,000 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, June 30, 14:36:24 ET 2007
Table Table 126366 (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 5: da_grimreaper ( $487 USD )
Seat 6: NUTSINURMOUTH ( $1,025 USD )
Seat 7: IdiTy ( $502.50 USD )
Seat 9: Teukka82 ( $504.75 USD )
Seat 10: jarik77 ( $1,196.26 USD )
Seat 2: TiltyMonkey ( $1,039.75 USD )
Seat 8: Rush9 ( $991.62 USD )
Seat 3: karlos25 ( $1,071.90 USD )
Seat 1: postmaster6 ( $1,220 USD )
Seat 4: berry335 ( $111.63 USD )
postmaster6 posts small blind [$5 USD].
TiltyMonkey posts big blind [$10 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to TiltyMonkey [ Kd Kc ]
karlos25 folds
berry335 folds
da_grimreaper folds
NUTSINURMOUTH folds
Rush9 folds
Teukka82 raises [$35 USD]
jarik77 folds
postmaster6 raises [$65 USD]
TiltyMonkey calls [$60 USD]
Teukka82 calls [$35 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9c, 6c, Ks ]
postmaster6 bets [$180 USD]
TiltyMonkey raises [$450 USD]
Teukka82 folds
postmaster6 is all-In [$970 USD]
TiltyMonkey is all-In [$519.75 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6d ]
** Dealing River ** [ Js ]
TiltyMonkey shows [ Kd, Kc ]a full house, Kings full of Sixes.
postmaster6 shows [ As, Ad ]two pairs, Aces and Sixes.
postmaster6 wins $180.25 USD from side pot #1 with two pairs, Aces and Sixes.
TiltyMonkey wins $2,146.50 USD from the main pot with a full house, Kings full of Sixes.
>You have options at Table 126855 Table!.


Ok here is a huge pot which I feel has been played horribly by the guy with AA. First of all his raise before I act was done to isolate the one player already in with a 'call me' raise. When I call he has to be wary of the hands which I'd call a raise and reraise with preflop which puts it down to a very limited range of which KK is obviously one. The flop comes K high and I know I'm in for a big pay off as I strongly suspect the player has AA or AK and I would have been willing to fold my overpair based on my read even to a low board. His bet on the flop is a good one as it lets him know where he is, my raise basically comitts him to his whole stack if he wants to play the pot and I genuinely believe a good player folds here as it is far too likely he is behind to me given how the hand has been played. However yet another player cannot fold AA and he pushes all in which I very happily call. Massive pot for me and one where I know if it was reversed I would have lost a lot less after the flop. It may seem easy to play but I was willing to lay KK down post flop and I do believe that his play was asking for what it got!



***** Hand History for Game 6109853193 *****
$1,000 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, June 30, 15:31:19 ET 2007
Table Table 126366 (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 5: da_grimreaper ( $408.50 USD )
Seat 10: jarik77 ( $1,101.26 USD )
Seat 2: TiltyMonkey ( $1,998.50 USD )
Seat 8: Rush9 ( $1,384.62 USD )
Seat 4: berry335 ( $1,243.26 USD )
Seat 7: postmaster6 ( $1,696.75 USD )
Seat 6: r3loaded ( $998.25 USD )
Seat 1: JoeyFBaby ( $1,003 USD )
Seat 9: Starsku ( $218.45 USD )
Seat 3: cua20002000 ( $1,000 USD )
jarik77 posts small blind [$5 USD].
JoeyFBaby posts big blind [$10 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to TiltyMonkey [ 8c 8h ]
TiltyMonkey calls [$10 USD]
cua20002000 calls [$10 USD]
berry335 calls [$10 USD]
da_grimreaper folds
r3loaded folds
postmaster6 calls [$10 USD]
Rush9 folds
Starsku folds
jarik77 calls [$5 USD]
JoeyFBaby checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ As, 8s, Qc ]
jarik77 checks
JoeyFBaby checks
TiltyMonkey checks
cua20002000 bets [$50 USD]
berry335 calls [$50 USD]
postmaster6 raises [$210 USD]
jarik77 folds
JoeyFBaby folds
TiltyMonkey is all-In [$1,988.50 USD]
cua20002000 folds
berry335 folds
postmaster6 did not respond in time
postmaster6 folds
TiltyMonkey does not show cards.
TiltyMonkey wins $2,355.50 USD


I still don't know if I played this one right - I am comfortable with my play but possibly could have risked a bit more on it by calling. Anyway multiway limped pot where I hit my set, I know the raiser hasn't got QQ or AA as in his position he would definitely have raised pre flop with so many limpers - so I know my hand is currently good. With the two players in for $50 I have a big decision - if I call the two behind me almost certainly call with any draw so I'd be dodging any spade and possibly a 10. Also if the spade comes I don't know how much it would take to push me off the pot as I will have odds to call a lot of bets. Therefore I take the route of raising and decide that an all in looks far weaker (maybe a flush draw) than a smaller raise - I genuinely expected the original raiser to call as it was a hugely outsized bet and if he's got what I think (2 pair) it takes a lot of discipline to lay it down. I also see a lot of people over commit with draws and so wouldn't be surprised to see a call from the flush draw. He decides to fold (very sensible) and I take about $400 from the pot. Thing is if I call, I really have to check to him on the next card to extract maximum value and if he checks behind I my be giving two free cards.

Any comments on this hand are welcomed as I genuinely don't know If I played this the best way, especially as both of us had BIG stacks.


***** Hand History for Game 6110399952 *****
$1,000 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, June 30, 18:39:44 ET 2007
Table Table 126366 (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 4: scoobydo999 ( $397.50 USD )
Seat 7: pauli998 ( $633.75 USD )
Seat 10: jarik77 ( $1,540 USD )
Seat 1: TiltyMonkey ( $770.50 USD )
Seat 9: MyLastMoney ( $180 USD )
Seat 3: Teukka82 ( $982 USD )
Seat 6: jamess74 ( $675.50 USD )
Seat 2: M_Nomura ( $1,042 USD )
Seat 8: IGOTTHENUTS69 ( $947.03 USD )
Seat 5: LexDaSilva ( $168 USD )
jamess74 posts small blind [$5 USD].
pauli998 posts big blind [$10 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to TiltyMonkey [ 9c 9h ]
IGOTTHENUTS69 folds
MyLastMoney folds
jarik77 folds
TiltyMonkey calls [$10 USD]
M_Nomura calls [$10 USD]
Teukka82 folds
LexDaSilva raises [$38 USD]
jamess74 folds
pauli998 folds
TiltyMonkey raises [$70 USD]
M_Nomura folds
LexDaSilva calls [$42 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 3h, 3c, Ts ]
TiltyMonkey bets [$440 USD]
LexDaSilva is all-In [$88 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jd ]
** Dealing River ** [ 6d ]
TiltyMonkey shows [ 9c, 9h ]two pairs, Nines and Threes.
LexDaSilva doesn't show [ Ah, Qc ]a pair of Threes.
TiltyMonkey wins $352 USD from side pot #1 with two pairs, Nines and Threes.
TiltyMonkey wins $358 USD from the main pot with two pairs, Nines and Threes.


This one is a classic example of a play I really only make against a short stack. I have 99 and the short stack has raised pre flop - I'm pretty sure I have him beat but there is someone to act behind me, to isolate I minimum raise (knowing that if called behind I'm probably beat) only the short stack calls and flop comes 10 high. I push knowing that he's basically pot committed and get the call and take $160 or so in the hand as he fails to hit. If the raiser had a bigger stack I would never play like this as to many overcards can come and scare me - just an example of how plays should and will alter due to stack size!


***** Hand History for Game 6112223247 *****
$1,000 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, July 01, 12:52:31 ET 2007
Table Table 126855 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: danphan11 ( $1,034.50 USD )
Seat 2: rocketman78 ( $2,678.97 USD )
Seat 3: Matthieuvanm ( $324.50 USD )
Seat 7: da_grimreaper ( $112.50 USD )
Seat 10: Push_you_out ( $968.50 USD )
Seat 6: TiltyMonkey ( $1,142.25 USD )
Seat 8: AceArne ( $864.17 USD )
Seat 4: rippon77 ( $1,013 USD )
Seat 9: fabiosfinest ( $958.50 USD )
Seat 5: BPRookieITB ( $400 USD )
da_grimreaper posts small blind [$5 USD].
AceArne posts big blind [$10 USD].
BPRookieITB posts big blind [$10 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to TiltyMonkey [ Qd Qh ]
fabiosfinest calls [$10 USD]
Push_you_out folds
danphan11 folds
rocketman78 raises [$40 USD]
Matthieuvanm calls [$40 USD]
rippon77 folds
BPRookieITB calls [$30 USD]
TiltyMonkey calls [$40 USD]
da_grimreaper folds
AceArne folds
fabiosfinest calls [$30 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ah, Qs, Th ]
fabiosfinest checks
rocketman78 bets [$18 USD]
Matthieuvanm folds
BPRookieITB raises [$70 USD]
TiltyMonkey raises [$390 USD]
fabiosfinest folds
rocketman78 is all-In [$2,620.97 USD]
BPRookieITB folds
TiltyMonkey is all-In [$712.25 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2h ]
** Dealing River ** [ Js ]
TiltyMonkey shows [ Qd, Qh ]three of a kind, Queens.
rocketman78 shows [ Qc, Ac ]two pairs, Aces and Queens.
rocketman78 wins $1,536.72 USD from side pot #1 with two pairs, Aces and Queens.
TiltyMonkey wins $2,486.50 USD from the main pot with three of a kind, Queens.


This was virtually my last hand before the pub and pretty much played itself. I have QQ preflop and decide to flat call the $40 raise along with 4 others. Flop comes AQ10 with 2 hearts and I know that I am not getting away from this hand no matter what happens. Original raiser puts in a pathetic $18 which is raised to $70. I repop this to $390 as no way am I leeting any draws in cheap and if someone has AA or KJ then good luck to them - I'm unsurprised to see the preflop raiser move all in as I suspected he may do that from his flop bet and I have no choice but to call and pray I'm ahead. Turn and river fill all available draws meaning I'm dead to 2 hearts or a K but luckily he has AQ for top two pair and I win a monster.

I like the way I play this as if I'm behind I suck it up and my betting removes ( or should remove) all draws. I hate with a passion the way the guy with AQ has played this on the flop - he has bet weakly and then seen a raise and amonster reraise and has not though that folding would be a good idea. What could I have which he is beating? Stupid play - he should have bet much much stronger on the flop and then he'd have had a much greater idea of where he was. It can be hard to let go of top two pair on the flop but sometimes it should be a formality and this was one of those times - he's played his cards regardless of all the danger and deserves to have lost a sizeable pot.

Right I'm off as I have work tomorrow and I'm a few pints to the good

Steve