I don't get out-played at the table often, which is one of the things that makes this hand so shocking. I'm looking for any and all suggestions on whether I played the hand correctly, and if I was justified in the way I played it. This isn't a case of "what should I do?" where I had to make a tough decision... it is more of an "I got out-played, and I want to know if I could have played it better" kind of situation. Therefore, the results are there because they are essential to understanding the hand.


PokerStars NL Hold'em Cash Table ($.50/$1.00)


Player info:

Villain is such a huge donkey, it's almost ridiculous. He never makes a big bet unless he's bluffing, and it is very obvious when he is. He will call a pre-flop raise with ANYTHING... and I mean ANYTHING, which is what makes him so dangerous. I saw him call a pre-flop raise with 7/3 of clubs once. But, since the rest of the table is too pre-occupied with their own cards to understand the opposite rule of tells, he is walking all over them.

I was also playing aggressive, like usual, so my table image was semi-tight / aggressive.

Cheetaking is the button ($65.50)
Villain is SB ($103.50)

Hole Cards: A:club: 3:club:

6 players fold

Cheetaking calls ($1) (Standard strategy is to limp in with low suited aces)
Villain calls ($.50)
BB checks

Pot size: $3


THE FLOP:
2:club: 5:club: 7:diamond:

Bingo! I've just hit a great flop... I now have the nut flush draw, a straight draw, and an ace that might be live. I like those odds.

Villain bets $3

BB folds

I have seen Villain make this bet on almost every single flop without a face card in it, and I'm not buying it. Plus, I am drawing to 15 outs. No way I'm folding to this donkey. He's probably bluffing, and is going to check the turn like he always does after representing the flop.

Cheetaking calls ($3)

Pot size: $9.00


THE TURN:
2:club: 5:club: 7:diamond: (Q:heart:)

Villain checks

Aha! I know that a bet/check from this maniac is an instant sign that he was bluffing on the flop. Still, the queen is a scare card for me, so I decide to check also and see the river for free to try and hit one of my many outs.


THE RIVER:
2:club: 5:club: 7:diamond: Q:heart: (J:spade:)

Villain bets $10.00

My first instinct is obviously to fold my busted draw... but wait. Why would Villain make such a large bet? If he had the queen or the jack, he would never have made such a huge bet. I smelled something fishy, and was almost positive that he was bluffing again. I decided to put this donkey to the test, and re-raised.

Cheetaking raises to $25

Villain stalled for a few seconds, and then authoritatevely 3-bet over top of my bet.

Villain re-raises to $45

At this point, I knew I was wrong and confidently folded my busted ace-high flush draw. I guessed that my read was wrong. But, unfortunately, my read was right. I had been punk'd.

Villain reveals K:club: 4:club: (high card king)

So, any thoughts? All opinions are welcome.

You gave him an opportunity to play back at you. In my opinion if you were truly confident in your read that he had absolutely nothing, then you should have just called. You could have moved in as well and put the pressure on him because you know he can only call your all in with a good hand. Although I like the aggressiveness to raise on your part, I think calling was the best move because then you wouldn't have allowed yourself to get outplayed.

Sounds to me like he's not the donkey you thought he was.

Personally, if you were going to reraise on the river whether you hit or not I think I would've bet the turn once he checked. I don't know what the standard play is usually, I haven't read as many books as others, but I would've definitely bet the turn. I've played against guys like this and they always bet the flop, I'll call if I get a piece of it and if they check on the turn I'll throw out a nice size bet. Then if I miss the river I can still throw out another bet and hope that he fold which is what guys like that usually do. I understand wanting to get a free card on the river to see if you hit, but by you checking he probably thinks you were chasing the flush when you just called and checked on the flop and river and it showed weakness. But that's just my opinion, like I said I don't know all the standard rules and plays to make, those are just my thoughts and opinions.

If you think his flop bet was a total bluff you have to bet this turn. Checking this turn basically allowed him to throw in a river bet. Either way good play by him. For you to check on the turn then reraise on the river when a pretty meaningless J hits I think i'd be pretty sure you were bluffing as well. But good play by him.

In his eyes he bets the turn with a draw. You call on an extremely draw heavy board. Turn brings blank and he checks and you check. River he bluffs at it and suddenly you raise. But why would you be checking that turn on a draw heavy board. if you actually had something?