Laydown or Crying Call?

***** Hand History for Game 1334662908 *****
$25 NL Hold'em - Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 2: Sitira ( $21.55 )
Seat 3: bradeli ( $23.65 )
Seat 4: Mattpetrov ( $7.95 )
Seat 5: HOUSE69 ( $23.05 )
Seat 6: DUULS ( $41.5 )
Seat 7: Shaftwell ( $63.23 )
Seat 8: notrustme2 ( $19.4 )
Seat 9: Chicago_Kid ( $24.5 )
Seat 10: diggity202 ( $20.22 )
Seat 1: klotzy15 ( $18.75 )
DUULS posts small blind [$0.25].
Shaftwell posts big blind [$0.5].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Chicago_Kid [ Kd Kc ]
notrustme2 folds.
Chicago_Kid raises [$2].
diggity202 folds.
klotzy15 folds.
Sitira folds.
bradeli calls [$2].
Mattpetrov folds.
HOUSE69 folds.
DUULS folds.
Shaftwell folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8s, Ac, 2d ]
Chicago_Kid checks.
bradeli bets [$2].
Chicago_Kid raises [$4].
bradeli calls [$2].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]
Chicago_Kid bets [$5].
bradeli calls [$5].
** Dealing River ** [ Th ]
Chicago_Kid checks.
bradeli bets [$3].

What do you do from here? NOTE: This is my 5th hand at this table, so I have no real read on this guy.

IMO

Your opponent did not honor your check raise, so they are either ignorant or confident that you did not hit the A. At this point, without much time at the table, I am putting them on AA or maybe A8. Also, they called your raise from late position, so I am not thinking that they are limping in with a weak hand.

It is tough, but this early at a table, I would look to lay it down. Give your self some time to build information and attack when you have a read on the player.

That is my take, for what it is worth.

Haha, why did you become an elephant on the turn?
With that pot size, I think it´s a crying call. The pot is $24.75 if I counted right and $3 is less than a seventh of that. One time out of seven I believe that it could be someone trying to scare you out with nothing or maybe 8X, but I´m not sure. I definitely wouldn´t even BE ABLE to fold in that situation, with that pot commitment. There are a lot of hands that beat you, but if only one of seven don´t, you should call. Additionnally, calling could give you the read you miss - if you call and win the hand, you know he´s a potential bluffer/total maniac and as an extra bonus, he may go on tilt giving you even more money.

Though, I think the play before the river wasn´t very good. After him calling your check-raise on the flop, you should be very cautious. He apparently isn´t scared and with that A on the board, it would be hard putting him on something else than AX. I think that big bet on the turn is a mistake, trying to scare someone out who apparently ain´t scared. I´ve done the mistake several times, and for me it´s not a trick that´s paying off. I suppose I have to work on my player readings, and only do it on weak players. But for no, I let it be.

bradeli flat calling gives you no information. He could be drawing, he could have a pretty strong but uncertain hand (like an Ace with a medium kicker), he could be slowplaying something like AA. You are out of position, you bet for information and want a raise or a fold and then he just calls. That sucks.

Look for a reason to get out of the hand when you see that A on the board.

Raise more on the flop. Lead out strong on the turn.

Your betting pattern gives you no information about his hand other than it's atleast a pair.

With how you played it, you've got to call the river. It's just too small to fold. With no reads, you can easily make this call.

-'rilla

Thanks guys, tough fold but I did so. I'm fighting a crying call leak that is draining me on the river (at least it feels like a leak).

'Rilla, good advice on the weak raise.

After some more time with the guy, he plays everything, ~85%!, but he seems to have good post-flop play, and is hitting everything today. He's mopped me up on crap a couple times.

Chicago_Kid: AQ?
Chicago_Kid folds.
bradeli does not show cards.
bradeli wins $24.65

I think it's a bad fold. If nothing else, call for information. You're winning here enough to atleast break even and with the added value of the information you gain, you're golden. Definatly a call.

-'rilla

Thanks...next time, I guess.