There's something that's been preying on my mind since my last foray into live poker last Thursday.
When I moved tables to get away from the most annoying human ever, I found myself at a full 1/2 table. Seat 1 was a young asian guy. The rest of the table was old guys; I'd estimate the average to be around mid-60's. Two were asian, and didn't look like they spoke much English, the rest were caucasian. Two of the players had over $400 in front of them, the rest were around the $100 mark. Not a lot of chit chat, most didn't look up when I sat down as they were fixed on the hand in progress. First impressions were this was a table of guys who knew what they were doing.
Now imagine that it's you sitting at this table. You're the new player at a table of leather-asses. You don't know how they play, but you're making assumptions based on these observations; and they are making assumptions about you. You're one away from the button, and are dealt your first hand at that table, and it's a monster - AA! All players before you but one call, including blinds there's $13 in the pot.
How do you play this?
Now take it an extra level; picture yourself as the only woman at the table. With the exception of one man, all are from a different generation, from a time where a woman engaging in a predominantly male pursuit may not have been taken too seriously. They will make more assumptions, different ones.
Do you play it now? Any differently?
Me? How did I play it?
When it came around to me, I raised to $15. Button folded, so did SB. However BB called, and so did three of the 5 limpers. Jeebus! Flop was 3h Kh Ks; BB bet 40, next guy folded, next one (lets call him Bert, he looked like a Bert, he was one of the big stacks) raised to 80, next guy folds, then me. I was sorely tempted, but figured that Bert was good (I put him on a set of Kings actually), so I bailed. BB re-raised all in, Bert calls him. BB has a flush draw, Bert has pocket threes for a flopped boat. No, BB did not make his flush (like it would have mattered) but an Ace did pop up on the river that would have given me a higher boat.
I feel like I played it g00t, but I have a nagging suspicion, that maybe I should have bet more pre-flop and tried to buy the pot then. But would they have taken me seriously? Would Bert have folded his 33?
See, THIS is why I love poker - so many unknowns, so many blanks that you just can't really fill in. Keeps me thinking.
That way I don't have to think about THE FUCKING SERVER THAT CRASHED AND CAUSED THREE DAYS OF LOST TIME, THANKS TO PEOPLE PLUGGING SHIT IN WHERE IT SHOULDN'T BE PLUGGED IN!!!!
Caps intended. It's only Tuesday and it has not been a good week.
the cartoon rocked. :)
not good week = awesome friday donkfest!!!
I think it depends on how much you have in front.
With a pot that is $13 by the time it gets to you if I had about $100 then I think I may have just pushed (Or raised to something crazy like $40) If you get called great, if not then you will be the loose cannon at the table and people may become afraid to limp if you are after them.
I know how these guys play, lots of limps and then some one raises to $10 and still gets 3 or 4 callers, so knowing that a large if not stupid raise would most likely get called and you can get paid when you do it with a made hand.
On the flop I think I would have folded as well, can’t beat much with the action there so it was a good fold.
See if I was a chick at a table full of guys and crazy Asians.. I would jam all in.. because some goombah would say "I am not folding to a chick".. and you would get called and win a big pot.. otherwise you would look like an idiot who jams all in with any good face card.. Both of which have benefit.
Next time, use the boobs and bet big :)
You played it perfectly. You don't have any read on the table, but since they are mostly old, you have to figure that they are playing tight. Since you are younger, they'll think you are looser. Since you are a chick, they'll think you aren't a bluffer. So, you bet a typical-to-high preflop raise in a 1/2 NLHE game, which is correct, because it'll likely push out most players but keep a few. Unfortunately, there were more callers than expected. After the post-flop action,you were correct to fold, regardless of the fact that you would've hit your 2 outter (but you already know that).