Idiots and Poker Coaches

Idiots and Poker Coaches.


So, I got called an idiot after winning a pot the other day.  It wasn’t the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but in this case I think I actually played the hand pretty well.  Let me know what you think.


FullTiltPoker - $1/$2 - Limit Hold'em -
Seat 1: Player 1 ($55)
Seat 2: VILLIAN ($45)
Seat 3: Player 3 ($20.75)
Seat 4: HERO ($107)
Seat 5: Player 5 ($71.25)
Seat 6: Player 6 ($29.50)
Seat 7: Player 7 ($36.75)
Seat 8: Player 8 ($16.75)
Seat 9: Player 9 ($39)
Player 8 posts the small blind of $0.50
Player 9 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to HERO [Jd Js]
Player 1 folds
VILLIAN raises to $2
Player 3 folds
HERO raises to $3
Player 5 folds
Player 6 folds
Player 7 folds
Player 8 folds
Player 9 folds
VILLIAN calls $1
-----------------------

Ok, so far so good, I reraise to try to isolate the original raiser and it works well.


*** FLOP *** [5d 6h As]
VILLIAN checks

Not the flop I was hoping for.  There was a pretty good chance that I would see an overcard, but I could have done without the ace because I have to think he has one.  The check confused me though.  Maybe he doesn’t. I’ll bet and see.

HERO bets $1
VILLIAN raises to $2
HERO raises to $3
VILLIAN calls $1

I reraised because I wanted to see how much he really liked his hand.  He could have raised me hoping to catch me in a bluff, and if he has a weak ace then I want him on the defensive.  Plus by reraising I might get him to check on the turn giving my two more cards for two small bets.

*** TURN *** [5d 6h As] [Jh]
VILLIAN checks
HERO bets $2
VILLIAN calls $2

Jackpot!  Nothing like hitting one of your two remaining outs.  He did in fact check which makes me see think my raise on the flop worked.  Only problem is that maybe it worked too well, because I now I wish he would have lead out.  I was tempted to check behind and hope to get him to bet on the river, but I wasn’t sure I could get him to bet then, so I did, and fortunately he called.


*** RIVER *** [5d 6h As Jh] [Tc]
VILLIAN bets $2
HERO raises to $4
VILLIAN calls $2

Straight possibility, but I still think I’m good.   I’m more worried about him having wired aces than a KQ.  When he doesn’t reraise I know I’ve won.


*** SHOW DOWN ***
HERO shows [Jd Js] (three of a kind, Jacks)
VILLIAN mucks  
HERO wins the pot ($24.50) with three of a kind, Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $25.50 | Rake $1
Board: [5d 6h As Jh Tc]
Seat 1: Player 1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VILLIAN mucked [Ah Kc] - a pair of Aces
Seat 3: Player 3 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: HERO showed [Jd Js] and won ($24.50) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 5: Player 5 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Player 6 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: PLAYER 7 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Player 8 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Player 9 (big blind) folded before the Flop

So he had Big Slick and flopped top pair top kicker.  And he then felt the need to insult me for beating him.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I was ahead on ¾ of the streets.  Maybe my bet and raise on the flop was questionable, but if I don’t do that, then I’m on  the defensive for the rest of the hand, I have no idea where I stand, and I can’t possibly call another bet unless I hit one of my two outs.  By being aggressive, I can get him to fold if he doesn’t have a hand, and if not, it at least tells me that I need to get out.

Anyway, he was quite tiltable, as he kept getting beat by crap hands and he kept bitching about it.  He would call anyone that beat him with less than a premium hand a maniac, and then repeatedly claim that you can’t beat maniacs.  

Now, there are a couple of things that amused me about this situation and these online poker coach type players in general.  First of all, if you think that you can’t beat maniacs then doesn’t that have to mean one of two things?  Either you aren’t good enough to be playing at that level, or, playing like a maniac is the best strategy.  If it’s unbeatable then why don’t you use it thus becoming unbeatable yourself?    

And secondly, if you were such a great player, why would you ever want to make your opponents better?  WTF?  Bad beats are frustrating and all, but if you are smart you would do everything in your power to get people to play their garbage hands.  It just gives you that much more of an advantage.  Why would you want your opponent’s only playing hands that are as good as or better than yours?  Sure, every once in a while they’re going to crack your aces with absolute crap, but trust me, they more than make up for it by constantly playing at a disadvantage.  And yes, maybe it’s tough to read a maniac because he could have anything from 53o to AA and he’ll be raising regardless.  That’s why you tighten up and wait until you have a monster hand and punish him.  

Why berate a player for beating you with a horrible play?  Compliment him on a well played hand and encourage him to do it again.  Make him think he’s clever and then take his chips from him as he continues to play from behind.  At the very least, be considerate to the rest of us and don’t scare away the fish.