I tried to make a clear, concise, shockingly strong statement because, speaking as a noob myself, TPTK or an overpair looks like the nuts, and if you play it like that you'll get burned. The point was to make someone think "you know, there might be a reason to fear someone who bets into me when the board looks unthreatening."

Here's one from last night where I was playing exhausted because I couldn't sleep, and forgot what I said above (missed the flush card on the previous hand too -- bad night).


PokerStars Pot-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

saw flop|saw showdown

Button ($32.70)
Hero ($37.10)
BB ($39.65)
UTG ($14.80)
UTG+1 ($26.70)
MP1 ($4.45)
MP2 ($18.05)
MP3 ($52.75)
CO ($28.40)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, K. CO posts a blind of $0.35.
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 3 folds, CO (poster) checks, Button calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.85, BB calls $1.60, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $1.60, CO folds, Button calls $1.60.

Flop: ($8) J, 6, 7 (4 players)
Hero bets $6, BB calls $6, UTG+1 folds, Button folds.

Turn: ($20) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $11, BB raises to $22, Hero calls $11.

River: ($64) Q (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $9.8 (All-In), Hero calls $7.25 (All-In).

Final Pot: $81.05

Results in white below:
Hero has Kc Ks (one pair, kings).
BB has Js Jd (three of a kind, jacks).
Outcome: BB wins $81.05.

It happens. KK, AA, TPTK are (from a noob's perspective, again) hands that tend to win small pots or lose big ones. Sure you've got hands like this one below where you can label someone a donk and take their chips, but that's the read you're trusting, rather than the strength of your hand. Kind of like good players calling an all-in bet with medium pair on a solid read and being right.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

saw flop|saw showdown

SB ($11)
BB ($6.60)
UTG ($10)
UTG+1 ($8.65)
MP1 ($3.80)
MP2 ($11.20)
MP3 ($6.35)
CO ($2.55)
Hero ($10.90)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, A.
UTG calls $0.10, UTG+1 calls $0.10, MP1 calls $0.10, MP2 calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.5, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.40, UTG+1 calls $0.40, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $0.40.

Flop: ($2.25) 8, K, 9 (4 players)
UTG bets $1, UTG+1 calls $1, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $4, UTG raises to $9.5, UTG+1 folds, Hero calls $5.50.

Turn: ($22.25) 2 (2 players)

River: ($22.25) 8 (2 players)

Final Pot: $22.25

Results in white below:
UTG has Ad Kh (two pair, kings and eights).
Hero has Ac Ah (two pair, aces and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $22.25.

Note that I was new to the table and my read wasn't that solid. From the log:

dzeanah said, "wish I had a read on you"
dzeanah said, "just make a set?"
dzeanah said, "Or overvaluing AK?"
dzeanah: calls $5.50