Thoughts on how I played this hand? 77 from UTG+1

Rather than stop at the end I am just going to walk you through the whole hand, and see what you think about how I played it, how I could have done better, etc.

This is in a $100 tournament, which gets players 10k in chips and includes a $25 bounty chip. Levels are 30 minutes, so not super rushed, but fast enough that you need to make some moves once the antes kick in if you haven't started playing hands yet.

This hand takes place in level 4 (100/200/25). Hero sitting on a stack of 8500.

Villain in this hand (big blind position) is a very nondescript middle-aged guy who has played fairly conservatively but really seems to open up his range when in position. Seems to play very ABC textbook so far. Villain has a stack of about 12k chips.

Hero (UTG+1) gets 77 and raises pre-flop to 525. Action folds around to villain in big blind who makes the call. Pot: 1400

Flop: QT7

Villain checks, hero bets 800, villain calls. Pot: 3000

Turn: K

Villain checks, hero checks.

River: 4

Villain leads out for 1200, hero calls, villain shows KK for bigger set on turn.

Obviously I am not getting him out of the way pre-flop... but after the flop, was 800 too small into 1400 (obviously it was)... but if I bet 1400, he might still call. All in might still call. Is there anything I can do on a hand like this other than accept I can't win every set I flop? Showing cards when heads up, while legal in cash games at this casino, is not legal during tournaments (fairly standard)... so short of showing him I just flopped a set or talking about my cards, is there even anything I can do in this situation, knowing I want him in the hand 80% or more of the time?

 

I think I barrel the turn here. Somehow you lost the least possible. But you're beating a lot of things he's calling the turn with. And you definitely don't want him to fold to your flop bet!

 

I think you could have bet more on the flop, it's a wet board. I don't get the turn check unless you're psychic. I agree with tringlomane, you lost the least possible.

 

Agreed with the others. A bit more on the flop and definitely bet the turn. You were fortunate as you should have lost closer to half our stack here. Luckily your slight misplay ended up benefiting you. How'd you end up doing the rest of the way?

 

I would of busted out here. I would have bet the turn and/or raised the river. He disguised his hand well and you hand a cooler.

Well played to have only lost the minimum.

 

I really don't see how this was well played though. It's how I would expect someone with Monsters Under the Bed Syndrome to play.

Putting a guy on a better set or a straight given the action is really tough, imo. But I suck at no-limit holdem, fwiw.

 

I agree with tringlomane - "it's how I would expect someone with Monsters Under the Bed Syndrome to play". It was misplayed and accidentally benefited me.

Even given the turn check play, had the straight draw on the turn and flush draw on the river not completed, I would have been firing / raising / all-in on the river if need be.

 

Took down the win in this tournament (took place a year or two ago now). After this hand took place, the guy with the KK sort of went on tilt for not having gotten more out of me, pretty sure I was in his head (or at least this hand) because he didn't last much longer. And I started catching some big hands - boats, flushes, I think there was a quads hand in there too... anyone can win when the cards are coming

 

I think that is pretty amazing you didn't go broke here unless you had a sick read that he wouldn't 3! with KK and tried to trap you.

I think a few times I have laid down sets to OMC's but not very often.

NH

 

Sometimes your subconscious takes over on a hand and makes you do weird things. Like check a set on the turn on a fairly dry board.

Any chance that you subconsciously picked up on something from the V on the turn? Did you check the turn with a plan, or was that a "gut feel" decision? Sometimes those gut feels are worth following.

 

I was only slowing down because the turn brought a straight draw and then the river brought the flush draw... definitely pulled my foot off the gear. Dont think I had any psychic powers in play but who knows

 

I didn't see any previous commentary on a possible flush. Are you saying the flop was 2-to a suit and the river got it there?

 

Yeah, sorry I forgot to put the suits out there. Flop had two diamonds... river had a third diamond.

 

Ok. Big difference. Only calling the river makes sense then. However, checking behind on the turn with a flush draw out there is really passive.

 

Passive is unlike me.... I was out of it or I had some kind of super-read on the guy. Probably the former

 

Cool.....keep the poker hands coming. The discussion is interesting.

 

Did you ever consider folding pre-flop?

 

I don't think I am going to fold any pocket pair pre-flop unless we're at the bubble and my pair is really low... I might consider limping instead of opening for a raise... but would rather play that hand against 1 or 0 opponents, instead of 2-3 that would come along if I limped in.

 

I think you played it fine. A-J or more likely J-9 could have well been within his calling range. Actually he was setting a bear trap for you by just smooth calling your 2.5 times BB raise with K-K. You did a good job of not losing anymore chips than you did.

 

I'm wondering much like sscccoach what happens if he 3 bets it pre and you call, hit the flop like that, I'm guessing you both get it in and he gets there.....game over for you.
I actually like the pre-flop play for 2 reasons, 1- it helps balance your opening range and 2- it gives you a chance to steal a pot vs 1-2 opponents (should you miss) vs trying to set mine with more villains. The flop bet and call seems standard and I would find it difficult put him on the KK here with how passive he has played the hand, on the turn I would be suspicious of the check as the K gets a lot of draws there and we still have little info on where our villain stands, I see no problem with playing this hand slower especially in a tournament with this kind of buy in and unknown opponents. I'm looking to find the best spots possible and if the field is week I'm sure there will be more. As all have said it kinda worked out for ya making the crying call and only losing the minimum chips......all in all we can always find a way to dissect things afterward but in the moment I'm sure it made sense.