Playing as the Villain

Playing as the Villain

I had this post all written up about how as long as you make somewhat reasonable plays there always seems to be somebody ready to pay you off. I went through a few hands explaining what I was thinking at each street, and how I couldn’t believe how my opponent played. But, I think that post probably would have been boring. We’ve all played against people who have no clue what they are doing. So instead, let’s play guess what the villain was thinking. Maybe I’m missing something, but I think he played following two hands pretty poorly. What do you think?


This is the very first hand I play. I’m not real sure about what kind of table it is, so maybe ultra aggressive betting has been working. We’ll see.

Texas Hold'em $1-$2 Limit (real money), hand #xxx


Seat 1: Player1 ($55.50 in chips)
Seat 2: Player2 ($43 in chips)
Seat 4: Player3 ($82 in chips)
Seat 5: Evil Villain [8s,4s] ($65.75 in chips)
Seat 6: Player4 ($79 in chips)
Seat 7: Player5 ($68.25 in chips)
Seat 8: Player6 ($70.75 in chips)
Seat 9: Your Hero [X,X] ($100 in chips)
Seat 10: Player7 ($31.75 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
Player6 posts blind ($0.50), Your Hero posts blind ($1).

--What I’d be thinking in his spot: Fold.
--What I think the villain was thinking: OOhhh Soooooted. A raising hand! The only thing I can think is that the table has been pretty tight, and he feels that by raising he might be able to steal the blinds.

PRE-FLOP
Player7 folds, Player1 folds, Player2 folds, Player3 folds, Evil Villain bets $2, Player4 folds, Player5 folds, Player6 folds, Your Hero calls $1.

--What I’d be thinking: Either Hero has a reasonable hand, or he is just defending his blind.
--What I think the villain was thinking: der.


FLOP [board cards 8H,KS,AH ]

--What I’d be thinking: Fold. Maybe bet if he checks. I have bottom pair/no kicker. While the hero could have been defending his blind with anything, is it worth risking more chips to find out?

Your Hero bets $1, Evil Villain bets $2, Your Hero calls $1.

--What I’d be thinking. Ok, Hero probably has something, but not AK, AA or KK, unless he’s trying to slowplay them. Maybe he has a weak ace, and he’s worried about his kicker or a king and he’s worried about the ace.

TURN [board cards 8H,KS,AH,KD ]

--What I’d be thinking: I wonder how he likes that king? If he has an ace he has to worry about Kx. If he has a king he still might be worried about getting out kicked.
--What I think the Villain was thinking: Not really sure.

Your Hero bets $2, Evil Villain bets $4, Your Hero calls $2.

--What I would be thinking if I were Villain: Ok, the second king didn’t scare him enough to make him check or fold. Maybe he has a king or ace.

RIVER [board cards 8H,KS,AH,KD,KH ]

--What I would be thinking: Nothing really changes except that there is one less King that he could have had. Of course if he does have it I’m screwed. I would probably check/call here. Maybe he has queen high and is hoping that he has me out kicked. I don’t know. I certainly wouldn’t bet here.
-What I think the Villain is thinking: Full house. I win.

Your Hero checks, Evil Villain bets $2, Your Hero calls $2.

--What I would be thinking: I wouldn’t have bet. I think there’s a good chance of a check raise here, and if so then I’m in trouble. I would have checked behind and hoped he didn’t have an ace or king. If he called this far I don’t think he’s going to fold now.


---So what do you think I had? Was there anything about the Villain’s play that you agree with? Am I right to be amazed when the villain turned over 84s? Once you see what I have, do you think I played it well?

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SHOWDOWN
Evil Villain shows [ 8S,4S ]
Your Hero shows [ QS,AD ]
Your Hero wins $19.50.

SUMMARY
Dealer: Player5
Pot: $20.50, (including rake: $1)
Evil Villain, loses $10
Player6, loses $0.50
Your Hero, bets $10, collects $19.50, net $9.50


--Now, I don’t know if I played that hand right as the hero. I set myself up for a big loss if he has AK or AA, which he was representing. I probably either should have raised on one of the streets to get a better idea where I was or check/called rather than bet/called.





--- A few hands later… Same player as the villain.


Texas Hold'em $1-$2 Limit (real money), hand #xxx

Seat 1: Player1 ($67 in chips)
Seat 2: Player2 ($34 in chips)
Seat 3: Player8 ($17 in chips)
Seat 4: Player3 ($80 in chips)
Seat 5: Evil Villain [ KC,9H ] ($55.25 in chips)
Seat 6: Player4 ($71 in chips)
Seat 7: Player5 ($68.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Player6 ($83 in chips)
Seat 9: Your Hero [X,X] ($108 in chips)
Seat 10: Player7 ($28.25 in chips)

ANTES/BLINDS
Player3 posts blind ($0.50), Evil Villain posts blind ($1).

--What I would be thinking if I were the Villain: Check. Maybe call one raise to defend the blind.
--What I think he’s thinking: Ooohhhh Paint. Raise it up!

PRE-FLOP
Player4 folds, Player5 calls $1, Player6 folds, Your Hero bets $2, Player7 folds, Player1 folds, Player2 folds, Player8 calls $2, Player3 calls $1.50, Evil Villain bets $2, Player5 calls $2, Your Hero bets $2, Player8 folds, Player3 folds, Evil Villain calls $1, Player5 calls $1.

--What I would be thinking: Ok. I might have called there, but there is no way I am raising. With that many people in the hand some has to have me beat. I can’t feel good about my hand. When it gets capped I’d be looking for the next excuse to get out.
--What I think he was thinking: Please no aces on the flop?


FLOP [board cards 6C,5H,KD ]

--Ok, I made top pair, average kicker. I would probably bet just to try to get an idea of where I was. There are still way too many people in this hand for me to be too happy about my hand.
--What I think he’s thinking: Jackpot!!

Evil Villain checks, Player5 checks, Your Hero bets $1, Evil Villain bets $2, Player5 folds, Your Hero bets $2, Evil Villain calls $1.

--What I’d be thinking: Ok, Hero has at least a K with a good kicker, or else he thinks I’m bluffing. I’m going to slow down.
--What I think he’s thinking: Maybe he has something. Or he thinks I’m bluffing thanks to my play of 84s last time.

TURN [board cards 6C,5H,KD,4D ]

--What I’d be thinking: Crap. That opens up a straight possibility and a flush draw. No free cards for you. ( I realize that based on the play so far there is little chance that he has just made a straight, but straight and flush draws always scare me.)
--What I think he was thinking: Still have top pair. I have to be ahead.

Evil Villain bets $2, Your Hero bets $4, Evil Villain bets $4, Your Hero bets $4, Evil Villain calls $2.

--What I’d be thinking: I’m in trouble. I’m representing a pair of kings at the very least, and that isn’t slowing Hero down. The only Kx hands I can beat are K8,K7,K3,K2. Chances are if he has king I’m still behind. He may also have a high pocket pair and be trying to push me off a draw, but I don’t think so.
--What I think he was thinking: Still have top pair. I have to be ahead. What are the chances he has a king? Or two pair. Or a straight?

RIVER [board cards 6C,5H,KD,4D,3S ]

--What I’d be thinking: Now the only Kx I can beat is K8. I’m not a fan of that last card.
--What I think he was thinking: Either the same as me, or time for a check raise.

Evil Villain checks, Your Hero checks.

--So, what did I have that time? What do you think of the villains play on this hand? I think this is a good example of why preflop hand selection is so important. He made top pair, but still can’t be too comfortable that he has the best hand on any street.

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SHOWDOWN
Evil Villain shows [ KC,9H ]
Your Hero shows [ AD,AH ]
Your Hero wins $36.50.

SUMMARY
Dealer: Player8
Pot: $38, (including rake: $1.50)
Player8, loses $2
Player3, loses $2
Evil Villain, loses $15
Player5, loses $4
Your Hero, bets $15, collects $36.50, net $21.50


Yeah, I had aces. I don’t know what I could have done besides typing “I have Aces” in the chat to let him know that. I checked on the river because I was afraid he had flopped two pair or trips, or he had backed into a straight, and I didn’t want to risk throwing more chips at it.

The one thing about his play is that if I didn’t have good cards in both of these situations, he probably could have gotten me to fold. Maybe he wins enough hands without going to showdown by playing this way that he can afford to be on the wrong end of the occasional monster pot. He left the table shortly after this hand, so I didn’t get to see much else that he played.