Hand for discussion

[ffcowboy76]

After looking over the hand I was leaning toward A's, but had a strange feeling about some form of a weak flush draw. Looking at the odds of the hand might lead to some insight about the call the other player made. He can open raise from late with a wide range of hands. That is a very standard play in rush cash game to open raise with any hand you want to play. The hero's action preflop can be three things, flat, 3 bet, or fold. T's are not that strong so on a readless game I think flatting is the best play but an argument can be made for 3 betting. I think it is really close between 3 betting and flatting and obviously folding is out. On the flop there is 3.25 in the pot before any rake is taken.

On the flop your opponent makes a larger than normal continuation bet after a check by the hero. You are looking to c-bet around 1/2 to 2/3 the pot. His bet puts $6.25 in the pot before any rake. The hero decides to establish some display of strength by check raising the opponent and seeing what he does. This is a perfectly normal and acceptable play, but the sizing is WAY small. You raise to $7.15 with puts $13.35 in the pot and making him call $4.15 to see the turn. He was getting a touch over 3 to 1 on his money. If he figures you for a non suited hand he knows that if his flush hits he stacks you hard. There for his call on the flop isn't that bad when you consider both the odds and the implied odds.

On the turn you and your opponent do not improve, but a semi scary card hit. Looking at the action I don't see AA as being in the hand, but do see AK-Ax suited being there as well as AKo and AQo. I don't expect to see K's or Q's at showdown as I would expect a 4 bet on the flop to protect against the flush draws. With that decided I think we need to bet about 2/3 the pot to almost pot. This will reduce his odds and make his call a mistake. After his flop call there was $17.50 in the pot before rake. By betting $5 he is getting over 4 to 1 to make the call on the turn. This is again justified by both the pot and implied odds offered by our hero.

When the third diamond comes on the river I think the ONLY action is to check/call. The general hand range we have him on is something suited or AK, AQ. The only two hands you beat are AK and AQ. I think if we are going to shove we do it first not via check raise. The ONLY hands that call you are hands that will beat you. You have established strength on multiple streets and then show weakness when the flush comes in. Your opponent then can deduce that you do not have the flush and that his weak flush is good. He bets and then you give him EXACTLY what he wanted in the implied odds and you stack off.

Very crappy outcome for a good hand, but hopefully you see that you did yourself in by allowing him the odds to call and fish for the flush. I've learned through experience that if you THINK the flush might be out there, then bet it where they are making the mistake by calling and fishing. You make most of your money when your opponent makes a mistake and lose most of your money when you make the mistake.