Villain seemed to be loose-agressive, I put him on a 5 or a 6. Thought that the turn would be a good chance at a semi-bluff. Was wondering if I bet too much or too little, or the right amount?

** Game ID 777761364 starting - 2006-05-01 18:35:18

** Arkley [Hold 'em] (0.05|0.10 No Limit - Cash Game) Real Money


- lsdh sitting in seat 4 with $13.39 [Dealer]

- Hero sitting in seat 5 with $10.50

- Pett345 sitting in seat 6 with $7.70


Hero posted the small blind - $0.05

Pett345 posted the big blind - $0.10


** Dealing card to Hero : 4 of Diamonds, 10 of Diamonds

lsdh called - $0.10

Hero called - $0.10

Pett345 checked

** Dealing the flop: 6 of Spades, 5 of Clubs, 7 of Diamonds

Hero checked

Pett345 bet - $0.20

lsdh folded

Hero called - $0.20

** Dealing the turn: Ace of Diamonds

Hero checked

Pett345 bet - $0.40

Hero raised - $1.60

Pett345 called - $1.60

** Dealing the river: Queen of Diamonds

Hero bet - $2.70

Pett345 went all-in - $5.90

Hero called - $5.90

Results in white below:

Pett345 shows: 5 of Diamonds, 2 of Diamonds

Hero wins $15.40 from the main pot

He's got a pair with a flush draw on the turn . . . . and he's getting the right price to call the river - needs 2.3:1 - (if he's even that sophisticated). He's got to think you're on the A and that he's got 14 clean outs (two 5's, three 2's, 9 diamonds).

I don't see how you're going to get him off of this hand if he's LAG anyways . . . . so you're raising with the worst hand without any folding equity. Yuck.

Remember: You can't semi-bluff players that don't fold. I'd just call here and slam him on the river when you hit, fold when you don't.

BTW - I hate your chasing on the flop. You've got an OESD to the idiot straight . . . . only the 3 is a real out here (not the 8), maybe you could count your T as an out . . . . but we're talking a 7 outer. Against a LAG, you can find a better spot to get your $ in.

Semi-bluffing a maniac is dangerous because your emotions get involved making it hard to fold, but I see what you trying to do and I'll play along.

I disagree with folding PF. 3 handed, the SB and button are strong as you could really switch it up and follow up an aggressive button hand with an aggressive SB hand and slow down from there for an orbit.

That being said, in a lot of cases I might raise to $0.25 or $0.30 PF, and bet $0.40-$0.50 on this flop.

Of course, this all depends on the atmosphere surrounding the table. If the table is aggressive, be a bit more weak-tight and wait to catch a monster. Personally, I'd leave if that's the case.

If this hand is consistent with the atmosphere of the table it's passive-aggressive and PF aggression in this case will lead to a lot of calls PF and fold to underbets when you lead on the flop.

Every table is different, but your read on Villian better justifies a CR on the flop if you want to sneak up on him which is what you were planning. The turn CR sets you up for disaster because too many turn cards carry little to no intimidation. You were a bit lucky to get a good turn to slow him down. He would've raised PF with an Ace, but he probably thought the same of you which is why he called with ease.

What I do like about the CR on the turn is that you set this up you to win the pot on any river that didn't pair the flop cards, but your waiting game is a big gamble with a maniac.

Make your move on a maniac as cheap as possible and your best shot is a lead on the flop. The pot sucks, but you can use it to your psychological advantage no matter what his response.