Introduction

Welcome to the new page where I reveal how to play winning no limit holdem. I have been playing no limit holdem for several years now and average approximately $20 per hour profit.

High pair on flop

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Full Tilt Poker Game #6741870790: Table Comchec (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 9:27:18 ET - 2008/06/08
Seat 1: acesfullmikeAA ($260.20)
Seat 2: jhaze42 ($182)
Seat 3: pnolan1 ($78)
Seat 4: opponent ($150.45)
Seat 5: Hero ($200)
Seat 6: nausop ($64)
pnolan1 posts the small blind of $1
mago73 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2

Holecards:
Dealt to Hero []
Hero raises to $7
nausop folds
acesfullmikeAA folds
jhaze42 folds
pnolan1 folds
opponent calls $5

Standard 3.5bb raise under the gun

Flop: (Pot: $15)
[]
opponent checks

The opponent is fairly loose aggressive and has 40% vpip over a small number of hands. I feel I probably have the best hand here and should bet out. Even if I am called I am likely to have 6 outs.

Hero bets $7
opponent raises to $14

The min raise here isn't what I was hoping for, but this opponent could potentially make this play with any two cards, so probably doesn't have a queen. However, just calling here and then checking the turn would be inviting him to make another bet and I would then need to fold. Calling is very bad here. I could fold, but a better play is to represent the queen with a reraise.

Hero raises to $25
opponent calls $11
Turn: (Pot: $72)
[]
opponent checks

The bad news is the raise bluff didn't work, but the good news is I hit on the turn. If he had a queen, he would have probably, but not necessarily, reraised on the flop. If he had nothing, he would have probably folded. So most likely he has a pocket pair. You would expect him to have reraised preflop with AA or KK so I am confident I have the best hand here. Bet for value or check behind? A check behind is good here because a big bet would likely force him to fold anything except a queen. A bet here is extra scary for my opponent because of the threat, or leverage, of another bet on the river. Checking here is know as the de-leverage play. On the river I can make extra money by calling if he tries a bluff, or by making a bet on the river which he is much more likely to call. I don't need to be particularly worried about him drawing out on me because he probably only has 2 outs.

Hero checks

River: (Pot: $72)
[]
opponent checks
Hero bets $15
opponent calls $15

Showdown:
Hero shows [Ah Ks] two pair, Kings and Queens
opponent (big blind) mucked [] - two pair Queens and Fives

River was pretty much a blank and after he checked it was clear I had the best hand. The opponent had to call a small bet there incase I was bluffing, but would be unlikely to call more than half the pot. The best bet size would have probably been about $25.