07-25-2006
Gregg “Bunky” Williams
Here was a situation that came up last night and I thought it would be an intriguing lesson for the “green” NL players out there. For people who have been playing serious NL, this mistake is a cardinal sin.
Playing 4 tables on mansion last night and this table in particular was a 100NL. Opponent in the hand seemed solid enough for this limit, didn’t get out of line and always seemed to show down good hands when he won. Didn’t float at all with weak holdings and seemed to play relatively tight for the circumstances. That being said, he played rather well.
The game is 7 handed and I’m sitting on a stack of 95. (I cover the table) and opponent (with $60.00) is on my left in the CO. 1 EP limper and I raise the pot to $4.50 with 88, opponent smooth calls the raise rest of the table folds including the limper and we take a flop.
Flop: Ks 2h 2s
I lead out for a bet of $8.00 into a pot of $11.50 and my opponent quickly calls. (Well, I really don’t like this call one bit. I’ve bet to represent AK and he is coming along. So, either I’m thinking he has a good King (not AK) and doesn’t believe I have AK (which he’s right) or he has a draw to a flush here. He doesn’t have a two and he doesn’t float weak hands waiting to try and take me off my hand. He may very well also have a pocket pair below Kings but not necessarily above eights. In my eyes, I’m really not sure where he’s at when he smooth calls, it could literally be 10 hands or more as I have been firing continuation bets left and right so my continuation bets don’t necessarily mean much but this time when I got called it puts me in a situation that is difficult at best. Now its time to go into pot control mode.
Turn 7s
Okay, the flush just got there and if I wasn’t beat already, I may very well surely be beat now. Seems like a check would be prudent as betting and folding to a raise just seems silly, and maybe, just maybe he’ll check behind.
I check, he checks behind. (whew)
River 8h
Well, that sure was the yahtzee card. Now its a question of if he was trapping me or not. or how much will he call with a big king. My turn check screamed weakness and maybe if I bet a decent amount, it will seem like a bluff as it looks weak of him to check the turn. I decide a bet of $20.00 seems about right to get a call. He raises all in. Not much decision with the third nut hand and I really can’t see KK or 22 being in play here and if they are, hats off. I call.
He shows A9s for his stack and proceeds to complain about his rotten luck. (not the horrible play to check the turn to allow me to get a free shot at my 4 outer) So it goes like this I put my money in PF with the best hand, on the flop with the best hand, no money on the turn when I had the worst hand and all the rest of the money in on the river when I had the best hand. All in all played expertly from start to finish (but you can be the judge of that).
Lesson of the day is its easy to blame the “poker gods” for bad luck but when its bad play that costs you a stack, don’t blame something else. Take responsibility for your own actions and realize that you just screwed up and don’t make the same mistake again.
And realize that the free card you give may be the one that breaks you if you’re not careful.
The stack you save may be your own 
-Gregg “Bunky” Williams
