Texas Calculatem and Poker Office Blog

I hit the big 26 yesterday. Was trying to avoid it but the J and E dragged me out to a nice Thai restaurant in Balham. Not sure that there was much to celebrate. I'm 26 and am still working so it isn't as if I've achieved my life ambition yet.

Later on, of course, it was off to Laddies for some NL. Rosie_m was there, and kindly shared some of her aggressive playing style with me. She claims to not use any odds, but likes to prey on the weakness that she senses in other players. I decided to try out a few steals just to see what would happen.

Rosie's theories also led me to consider a possible aggression strategy....

Raise 4BB pre-flop on 20% of hands (providing there's no raiser). Bet the pot on the flop no matter what lands. Continue to play normally.

Would such a strategy work? Rosie said it could, and I'm tempted to invest $100 into this idea.

A few hands later, there I am with TT on the small blind. Rosie_m raised 4BB from early. There were around 3 or 4 callers. I was shitting bricks. But Phil Helmuth's "Play Poker Like the Pros" was demanding a re-raise. So what could I do but re-raise it to 8BB. Scary stuff. The flop came Jd8d5c I think. So there was an overcard, flush and straight draws. However, I had to bet out to show strength. I was a little weak and only bet half the pot, but that was already quite large compared to the usual bet size, and all but one opponent folded. The villain had re-raised me again but was all in. And I was getting over 8/1 to call. So what could I do? The guy had A3o. Bottom pair. Back door flush draw. So I almost doubled up my buy in. Back of the net.

Later on I'm in mid position and limp to the flop with 33. I hit a set on the flop, but there was also a flush draw showing. I bet twice the pot and took it down. The profit from this move was about 4BB. But I'd already committed 1BB before the flop and was 8/1 to hit my set on the flop. I'm therefore a little confused as to whether or not this was +EV play. I could have bet smaller to induce more callers, but even a pot sized bet would have (considering implied odds) given a flush draw a profitable call. I'll await some alternative opinions from all you loyal readers.

P.S. Please support J's Save Nacho Campaign.