I managed to read these guys cards in time for me to save myself an extra river bet - an area which I'm really working hard on. However I do think I could have won this pot earlier had I altered my play. I'll give you a run through of my thinking...


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

saw flop | saw showdown

BB ($10)
UTG ($4.55)
UTG+1 ($10.50)
MP1 ($5.78)
MP2 ($10)
Hero (CO) ($3.58)
Button ($10.38)
SB ($4)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 10, A
4 folds, Hero bets $0.30, Button calls $0.30, 2 folds

Would have been happy with a blind steal here but my hands good enough for a little action so...

Flop: ($0.75) 7, A, 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.10, Hero calls $0.10

Small bet from the button I read as a probe and here looking back I would maybe have liked to put in a raise. However would this have made him fold? I figured if he called pre flop and made such a small bet he probably has either Ax or an underpair to the board. Probably nothing higher than 9s as he would likely have reraised me preflop so probably Ax or a low pair that didn't triple up.

Turn: ($0.95) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.30, Hero calls $0.30

He's bet again quite low, but there's nothing major he could be trapping with. Perhaps he's again wary of what I'm holding. He obviously has no confidence in his kicked if he does have Ax (I figure AK-AQ would have reraised preflop too so the only hands I fear are AJ and A7. A4 and A6 wouldn't have called preflop and I think he would have folded his underpair by now. Should I have raised here too? It would force out an underpair and probably an Ax with no second pair. Thoughts?

River: ($1.55) 5 (2 players)

Now I'm worried. I've allowed one of the only two realistic hands I'm facing, A9 and A8 make a straight in a bit of a backdoor fashion. I lead out with a half pot bet to see where I'm at and he tells me.

Hero bets $0.74, Button raises to $1.48, Hero folds

I laugh it off and ask if he's on A8. I fold my hand and he tells me 'good read' and he takes the pot.


Total pot: $3.03 | Rake: $0.14

Results below:
Button didn't show
Outcome: Button won $2.89

So ultimately I think I should have bet out on two occaisons instead of flat calling and slowplaying, especially as the whole reason I was using not to bet (that my hand may have been a little weak) was the exact same reason I should have been raising - to force out any draws including his kicker.