Texas Hold'em Hand Play-By-Play Example - Weak Bet Trap
Playing against a very aggressive player can be very difficult. You feel like you are
getting bullied around and you may be folding the better hand to your opponent's large bets.
In this situation, I try to play extra tight and trap my aggressive opponent.
I don't mind him winning small pots from me, because
I'm looking to win just one hand from him, and take down his entire stack. He can beat me 9 out
of 10 times, but that 10th hand, I'm looking to bust him out.
In the below hand, I'm dealt Big Slick. The aggressive player, Player8, is seated to my left.
I want him to be in this hand, especially if I hit, I raise the bet to $1.75. He and one other calls.
I hit the King on the flop, and I figure I have the best hand here. I do consider check-raising
this player, since I know he plays aggressively. However, to give him a free card and have him
out draw me would be completely devastating. Instead, I bet my hand with a bet a little less
than pot size, enticing him to re-raise me, while not letting him see another card for cheap.
My aggressive opponent just calls, and the other player folds.
The turn brings an Ace, I now have top two pair, and am very confident that I have my opponent
beat.
So, now, I have the same decision to make. Do I lure him into a check-raise with the risk of giving
him a free card? No way! A check-raise would give away my hand and I wouldn't be able to get him
to commit. Instead, I make a bet, but a bet that SCREAMS WEAKNESS. I bet LESS than my flop bet! The
pot is almost at $17, my last bet was $5.50, and this time, I bet $5. I prefer making a weak
bet to fool my opponent rather than just check. Some players are very keen to a weak bet,
and some players think that a weak bet is more demonstrative of a weak hand than just checking. And with
more money in the pot, it becomes that much more enticing to our aggressive opponent.
Imagine yourself heads-up with one other opponent. The flop comes Q 9 3, rainbow. You are
holding pocket Jacks. Your opponent makes around a pot size bet and you call. Let's say the turn brings
another Q. Your opponent checks now. Doesn't that appear fishy (check-raise)? Now, imagine that your
opponent bets again, but makes a small, weak bet, doesn't that seem like he may be holding second high pair
or something weak, and is afraid of the Queens?
Well, my little ploy worked against this player. He out bet me on several hands, but all I needed was one.
Check it out:
***** Hand History for Game XXXX *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (PL) - Wed May 05 00:44:35 EDT 2004
Table Fun Factory (Real Money) -- Seat 8 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: Player1 ( $10)
Seat 2: Player2 ( $23)
Seat 3: Player3 ( $133.65)
Seat 4: Player4 ( $26.80)
Seat 5: Player5 ( $39.90)
Seat 6: FlopTurnRiver ( $37.20)
Seat 7: Player7 ( $26.80)
Seat 8: Player8 ( $52.70)
Seat 9: Player9 ( $8.95)
Player9 posts small blind (0.25)
Player1 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to FlopTurnRiver [ As, Kh ]
Player3 folds.
Player4 folds.
Player5 folds.
FlopTurnRiver raises (1.75) to 1.75
Player7 folds.
Player8 calls (1.75)
Player9 calls (1.50)
Player1 folds.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9d, 3c, Ks ]
Player9 checks.
FlopTurnRiver bets (5.50)
Player8 calls (5.50)
Player9 folds.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ad ]
FlopTurnRiver bets (5)
Player8 raises (30.95) to 30.95
FlopTurnRiver calls (24.95)
FlopTurnRiver is all-In.
** Dealing River ** : [ Jc ]
Creating Main Pot with $73.65 with FlopTurnRiver
** Summary **
Main Pot: $73.65 | Side Pot 1: $1 | Rake: $3
Board: [ 9d 3c Ks Ad Jc ]
Player1 balance $9.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
Player2 balance $23, sits out
Player3 balance $133.65, didn't bet (folded)
Player4 balance $26.80, didn't bet (folded)
Player5 balance $39.90, didn't bet (folded)
FlopTurnRiver balance $73.65, bet $37.20, collected $73.65, net +$36.45 [ As Kh ] [ two pairs, aces and kings -- As,Ad,Kh,Ks,Jc ]
Player7 balance $26.80, didn't bet (folded)
Player8 balance $15.50, bet $38.20, collected $1, lost -$37.20 [ Kc Jd ] [ two pairs, kings and jacks -- Ad,Kc,Ks,Jd,Jc ]
Player9 balance $7.20, lost $1.75 (folded)
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