If you are sitting at home reading this article, chances are you’re just like me – you love the game of poker. Whether you’re in it for the thrill of the game or you’re trying to make a living, playing online offers several distinct advantages over the “live” game. The online game is a faster game, which essentially means more and potentially larger pots and more risks per hour than a standard B&M (brick and mortar) game. When you see a larger volume of hands, chances are that during each session you play, you are bound to see something that leaves you speechless, shaking your head, mystified, or (shudder at the thought) having to re-buy. In this column, each week we will take a look at a different hand that fits the previously mentioned criteria. My involvement in the hand notwithstanding, I will try to remain as impartial as possible, and for the hands that I didn’t win, I will keep my bitterness to a minimum. (At least, this is my intent)

Poker players love to talk for some reason. Time and time again, I see player’s just yapping away, not fully aware of what they’re saying. If you’re an attentive player, you can gather lots of information about your opponents just by listening to them blab away. And if you’re a good player, you can use this information against them later on. Remember, poker is a game in which information comes at a premium. If you can gather more information that you give away, you are ahead of the field.

Keeping this in mind, here comes this week’s hand of the week. I was playing at the usual $1-$2 no-limit game at my local poker room. We were a full ten-handed game. I was in the small blind with As-8s. There were 3 callers before me and I called as did the Big Blind. The flop came with the Ad-8d-7h, giving me top 2 pair. I knew I was ahead. Acting first, I decided to check. The Big Blind checked and then a middle position player bet $15. The button called and I decided to raise to $35. The Big Blind folded and with the action to the initial bettor, he contemplated and smiled, then he called my raise. The Button player folded. With $85 in the pot, we saw the turn which was a total blank. This time I led out with a $45 bet and the initial bettor says, “I have an ace with a decent kicker, but I think you have two pair.” Then he folded. I decided to show him my hand and reveal my two pair. Someone asked him how he could fold that hand so quickly, and he said “this guy doesn’t check-raise unless he’s really strong, so I knew he had me.” He seemed very proud that he made a good read, which is totally fine and understandable.

But he also made a crucial error. He told me what his perceptions were of me. Now that I had this information, I knew I could control him for the rest of the game. I would give up small pots to him to maintain that image of me he has in his mind, but now, I knew he was ripe for the picking in a heads up situation with me. Now I just needed to wait for the right opportunity.

Finally, it happened. I was again in the Big Blind looking at As-Kd. One player limped and he raised to $15 to go. I wanted it to be a heads up situation so I thought a re-raise was in order and I made it $30 to go. He of course called. The flop came down, Qd-4s-2h. I didn’t like this flop but I knew I could outplay him if I wanted to. I checked and he fired out a $25 bet. Without hesitation, I raised o $50. He went in the tank for a minute and came back over the top for $100 straight. I looked at my chips and said out loud, “Unless you’ve got a set, you’re in pretty bad shape,” and I went all in with my remaining $250. He smiled, thought for a minute and folded, but not before showing AQ. He clearly had me beaten at that point. Just before mucking my hand, he asked, “Well, did you have Aces or Kings.” I replied, “well, I already showed you my cards once, so I’ll show you one card this time, your choice.” He pointed at my left card and I flipped it over, showing the Ace. He smirked again and said “I knew it”, thinking he made a great read. Little did he know that he beat himself that hand. But that is information, I choose not to share…

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.