Texas Hold'em Hand Play-By-Play Example - Calling on the River
Calling the final bet on the river with a dangerous board is a tough decision, requiring you to consider
what you know about the player, analyzing his play up to that point, and then considering the pot odds.
In the below Play-By-Play, I was faced with this decision. You should watch the hand played out in the
PartyPoker Replayer, but I'm going to describe the entire hand here and give you my thoughts along the way.
The game is short-handed, there are only four of us, and I am seated at the small blind. I am dealt TT. My three opponents
limp in, I raise to $2.50, and have two callers. The board comes 5 9 7 rainbow, I am confident I have
the best hand. However, I also know that there are many overcards and my pair of Tens could easily be cracked.
I make a pot-sized bet at $8, assuming I would win the hand right here. I fold out one opponent, and the other
just calls. From previous play, I know this opponent tends to be loose and aggressive (maniac style). I
do not believe he has top pair (he would've raised me all-in or something like that),
but more likely he has two overs or a straight draw.
The turn card comes, and it's another 7, with two spades on the board.
5 9 7 7
This is an interesting card,
I don't think he has a 7, and I'm willing to find out. I bet another $8, which is substantially less than the
current pot ($24), but still a decent sized bet. Again, I'm hoping for a fold. I believe my TT's are still
good, and maybe the added fear of a pair on board will help with a fold. Again, my opponent calls. No re-raise, and
I only have about $12 left. If he had a strong hand, I think he would have raised me here and put me all in.
With only $12 left, I'd probably be forced to call. But he didn't. So, I believe he has a weak hand
or is still chasing his hand.
The river brings a K of hearts.
5 9 7 7 K
I don't like the looks of this card, maybe this is what my opponent has been waiting
for. I check, and he bet's all-in, I can call for $12. Obviously, I didn't want him to bet
on that King, but now I have to consider my options.
The first thing I review is what I know about this player. My opinion of this player is maniac. I think
he plays too many cards, and plays too aggressively. Along with that, he makes too many calls.
I've also noticed him auto-bet when the hand is checked to him. Is this what he's doing to me?
Next consideration - what cards could he have been holding? If he had two high overcards, he would have raised
pre-flop, and he didn't. Instead, he probably made a poor call on his normal junk cards.
There is no straight, there is no backdoor flush, he may be holding K junk or he may be holding a 9... or
he may be bluffing at his missed straight...
Final consideration - how big is the pot and how big is the bet I must call? After he goes all-in, I have
a $12 call to win a pot of $55.
All things considered, I figure that I am an 80% favorite to win this hand right here. The bet is only about 20%
of the pot, so clearly, I have to make this call.
Sounds like a rational conclusion, check out below:
***** Hand History for Game XXXX *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Fri Feb 06 22:25:44 EST 2004
Table Card Room Table 1984 (Real Money) -- Seat 7 is the button
Total number of players : 4
Seat 2: Player2 ( $7.80)
Seat 3: Player3 ( $48.05)
Seat 7: Player7 ( $10.50)
Seat 9: FlopTurnRiver ( $31.05)
FlopTurnRiver posts small blind (0.25)
Player2 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to FlopTurnRiver [ Tc, Ts ]
Player3 calls (0.50)
Player7 calls (0.50)
FlopTurnRiver raises (2.25) to 2.50
Player2 folds.
Player3 calls (2)
Player7 calls (2)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 5s, 9c, 7h ]
FlopTurnRiver bets (8)
Player3 calls (8)
Player7 folds.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 7s ]
FlopTurnRiver bets (8)
Player3 calls (8)
** Dealing River ** : [ Kh ]
FlopTurnRiver checks.
Player3 bets (15)
FlopTurnRiver calls (12.55)
FlopTurnRiver calls all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $63.10 with FlopTurnRiver
** Summary **
Main Pot: $63.10 | Side Pot 1: $2.45 | Rake: $2
Board: [ 5s 9c 7h 7s Kh ]
Player2 balance $7.30, lost $0.50 (folded)
Player3 balance $17, bet $33.50, collected $2.45, lost -$31.05 [ 3s 8s ] [ a pair of sevens -- Kh,9c,8s,7h,7s ]
Player7 balance $8, lost $2.50 (folded)
FlopTurnRiver balance $63.10, bet $31.05, collected $63.10, net +$32.05 [ Tc Ts ] [ two pairs, tens Player1 sevens -- Kh,Tc,Ts,7h,7s ]
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