Do I have a valid point? **LONG POST WARNING**

This situation requires you to know a little bit of background. This stems from an argument a fellow player and I had and just wondering if you can clear things up on whos right and whos wrong.

The History----

Okay we have a crew of about 35 players who play maybe 3-4 times a week. We have cash games where have anywhere from 8-16 players a night and tournies anywhere from 16-30 players a night. Everyone knows everyone and what there about. We are all ages from 17-25. We play 2 types of cash games. .25/.50 NL where we all buy in for usually $20 to start. Theres no min buy in and no max. Then we also play $1/$2 NL 60 min/ no max. Avg buy-in is $100 This game attracts only the ones who are willing to risk the bigger money which is usually at the most 11-13 people.

I play the .25/.50 game like an absolute maniac with zero regard for the money. I win more often then I lose and I am probably in just as many hands as I fold. $1/$2 I tighten up and play slightly looser then ABC poker.

Now the play in question comes during the middle of an absolute crazy 9-handed game. We have already seen multiple straddles and re-straddles up to $2 and the highest going to $8. My opponent during this hand is an absolute donkey. Sometimes plays without looking and alwasy goes for bluffs. He knows whats going on but never does well which he attributes to being unlucky. He is garbage and I know it. He has called my all ins with 2d 3d and sucked out on my AA I think theres something programmed in my mind to try to beat him and piss him off every hand we play.

He raises UTG to $3 (The normal raise) at this point in the night. He has a big stack of about $80 which I am waiting for him to blow. I always try to get under his skin and needle him with my play vs him and my talk. I am in the SB and after all fold I pick up As 8s. I decide to see a flop and hope for a bunch of 8's or some spades. Flop is not what I was looking for but I can't complain... Kd Ad 7h. I check to the raiser. Raiser bets $4 (which I think he would do with any hand here). I decide to flat call because I am not quite sure where I am I know I am either miles ahead or miles behind. I want to see a turn. (BTW I have $50 exactly in front of me). Turn is an absolute brick 2c. Board now reads Kd Ad 7h 2c. I consider a bet but check. He fires out $11. This is a large bet for him and I am convinced he is trying to push me off my hand. My read tells me he is drawing most likely at the diamonds or has QQ.

Ultimatley I decide he has a diamond draw and if he wont fold to my $9 behind. So at this point I have an absolute brain fart and decide I have the best hand and he is drawing but I am going to flat call and if a diamond doesn't peel he will bluff and I will call and if a diamond does peel off I will fold. So I flat call. (after review I see my line of thought but I dont think I will be doing this again). River is another brick. Beautiful I have the best hand. I check. He now does the totally unexpected and concedes defeat. He checks I say "Ace". He says "Good.....(deep breath)...kicker?" I flip the A8 and he explodes.

He begins to rant at me about how awful I played the hand which I told him "Yes I did." But then he flips it to my play in general and not just that hand. He tells me I suck and suck and suck. I should have folded pre because he was UTG. So I tell him "I dont give a fck what position I'm in I'm calling you with A8 spades. Cuz I know you raise with garbage." He says that I can't call cuz Im out of position and hes UTG but he raised UTG with the 97 of diamonds. So then play switches to how I just suck and somehow we get to the topic that I don't want to play good because I can't motivate myself to grind it out at a $20 buy in for 5 hours and would rather enjoy myself. Then I mention $1/$2 I usually never lose because I am motivated to play for the big money. He says that it doesnt matter (he is to cheap to play $1/$2 but shows up for the games anyway).

Thank you for reading...if you were crazy enough to.

Questions please answer!

1. What do you think of the play? HOW bad was it? It was bad. But how bad?
2. Do you see my point on why I played the hand that way?
3. Do you see my point at why I play the 2 games different?

implied tilt odds 4tw

meh with reads
no, you should've stacked him
yes if they are diff you should play them differently

Obviously ignore his chatter after the hand, it can all be summed up in a few words: He's got some maturing to do.

1. What do you think of the play? HOW bad was it? It was bad. But how bad?
If you put him on a diamond draw, you should be raising him every street. Don't let the foo get some cards for free. I don't mind the preflop call because it sounds like the type of player who you need a good hand postflop to be playing against.

2. Do you see my point on why I played the hand that way?
Nope. You're read was either he had a monster or was on a draw. RAISE.
3. Do you see my point at why I play the 2 games different?
Yes. I always play looser the lower the stakes.

Against a player like that TP is way enough to call any bets. I raise the turn but like the river check.