A bad move that turned out well, for once

We had our monthly home game at Snuffy's on Saturday (Remember, Mr. Long was busy in Vegas getting propositioned by a hooker.) and it was a very frustrating session for me. For the first 3 hours or so I never made a hand and when I made a move someone would raise me. I only went to the end in Stud/8 once (scooped that hand at least), only got to the end in Razz once (lost when my 8 was beat by a near-perfect 6-4) and I never stood pat or took a final draw in 2-7 Triple Draw or Badugi. Did I say it was frustrating? So, being down $141, the following hand came up (I had $59 left.)

The game was "Capped No Limit Hold 'Em" (the cap is $50 with $1-$1 blinds). In the "BB" I was dealt 6♠ 9♠. The UTG limped and the UTG+1 made it $3. Two callers, including Fasso in the SB, came along. So I said to myself "I'm stuck a bunch and getting the right price" so I called. The UTG limper folded. With $13 in the pot the flop came Q♠ 4♠ 2♥, and the rags may have been different but it's not important here. Fasso checked and so did I since the guy who raised is notorious for c-betting and I wanted to get in a check-raise. Like clockwork the UTG bet $8. One person folded and then Fasso RAISED to $20. What?!? Now, usually Fasso isn't a check-raise kinda guy. He hates it when people do it to him so he usually doesn't do it. Because of this fact I put him on a queen or MAYBE a small set. I felt if I just called the initial raiser might have the right odds to call as well, and I wanted him out in case he had top pair or another flush draw, plus Fasso could just have a pair as well. So I capped it! The raiser folded (he later said he had a queen) and left just me and Fasso, who thought long and hard about it. Then he said it was a no-brainer (which was funny in itself) and finally called. He turned over A♠ K♠. D'OH!!!!!!

How could I put him on that hand, and at the same time, how could I NOT put him on that hand? What a shocker! First, he didn't reraise preflop, which was odd when he had a limper, a raiser, a caller and one person left to act behind him. So I didn't think he had THAT big of a hand. But then again, he did EXACTLY what I planned on doing after the flop, a check-raise with a flush draw. So how could I not think he had a higher flush draw than me? I think it was the oddity of his check-raise because he NEVER does it. So to me it looked like he was thinking the same thing I was about the initial raiser, that he c-bets after every one of his preflop raises. So I felt Fasso was thinking his QJ was good. If he had a hand like that, I felt like I might be able to move him off his hand because he was being a nit and protecting his profit for the final 2 hours. Plus, since I was in the blinds with him I could have ANYTHING there, such as 2-4 or 2-2 or 4-4 or even Q-4.

Anyway, I said "nice call" and turned over my crappy 6-9. I had six outs and the most beautiful 9♣ came on the turn. Then the board paired and I took down a $121 pot. I actually let out a yell when I saw the 9 because I was so frustrated with my play and cards that I really didn't want to go broke and go home. I later apologized to Fasso, and he was very gracious and said it didn't bother him. The best part of the hand was that I got the queen to fold, because if he does something crazy there like call with just top pair he takes the whole thing!

OK, let the thrashing begin. I played this terribly right?

-- Chris

Comments

[NickG]

Not terrible, just a bit tilty for my taste.

[NickG]

And how have I never seen the "promo" video, with the Native American audio, cards for those with cataracts, and steady shoulder cam?! That was classic!

[Dave]

Chris I've been in this situation time and again in the homegame. You run bad and you bleed off chips. Finally you try and make your move, you catch part of a flop and you think that "it's my turn". Only it isn't, but you just can't get away.

From reading it, it seemed as though you were 100% focused on the UTG player, almost ignoring Fasso's presence. Perhaps the same could be said for how Mike played the hand. Nonetheless, alarm bells should go off when a devout non-check-raiser makes that move. That screamed either set or flush draw.

[stripedcomic]

Well. Fasso played it exactly like you wanted to. It should have told you that he had a flush draw as well there. Given your holdings, it's not unlikely to think that he had you two ways to sunday (don't know what that means, but it sounds good... real good).

Deric

[The Nit]

Another capped game hand. Stop playing capped games or at least decrease the blinds.

I'm not a big fan of the preflop call with 69s because if you hit your hand, the max you can get paid off is another 25-1 against one player. If there is no cap, I think it's reasonable even though you are out of position.

There are 2 problems with shoving over Fasso's check raise.

1. Fasso is fairly committed to the hand because of the cap. He only needs to call another 27 to hit the cap and the pot will be offering almost 3-1 when you shove. It's unlikely he's raising with total air and even if he is, you are still behind with 9 high. Fasso should have snap called getting those odds.

2. The initial raiser/c-bettor is still in the hand. He may have actually woken up with something worth playing. He isn't committed to the pot but if he has overpair, set or top pair with a real good kicker, he's probably coming along too. You are almost dead if he calls and either he or Fasso has a flush draw.

Shoving costs you 47 to win a pot of a little under 120 (assuming only Fasso involved). You aren't even getting 2-1 with a hand that is rarely better than 2-1.

It's a bad shove but understandable since you were running poorly.

[Renee]

Not the worst play! I laughed hearing about the yell you let out when you got a 9 on the flip. Keep up the practicing, you'll improve!

[D]

yeah, very very terrible play. just fold.

[Chiberta]

Yup. Youre right, a pretty bad play: Very very clear fold to Mr. Mike 'never check-raises' Fasso, when he pot commits himself with a 20 dollar check-raise. I know you thought he wanted to protect his profit and thus might fold, but is he going to check-raise with a weak hand if that is his mind set? - but congrats on the suckout :-)

[mn156]

Shoving over a pot-committed, infrequent check raiser with a marginal draw is not the best way to make up your loses for a session (unless of course you have confirmation that Full Tilt support has flipped your BOOMswitch on).

[Paboo]

Wow... Preflop is just find. I like your planned check raise on the flop as well.

But when Fasso pulls this move before you get a chance, you just have to fold. Really surprised you didn't think he may have had a flush draw as well. If you had, I think you would of insta-folded.

Glad to hear finally hear a Chris bas beat story where you were on the good end instead of the bad end.

Paboo

[Chi-Guy]

I could feel the tilt oozing out of the blog on that hand.

Brian

[Justin]

Shoot. I think I got hit with some of that tilt flying out my montior, too. I better run now.