bounceback

Got half my losses back from last night - dropped down to my lower buy-in level and played 2-3 tables to get something rolling. 9.42 BB/100 is a nice night.

An interesting hand, well played by villain.

Full Tilt, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
BTN: $13.79
SB: $21.47
BB: $13.33
Hero (UTG): $17.57
MP: $23.38
CO: $15.90

Pre-Flop: A A dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $0.75, 3 folds, SB calls $0.65, BB calls $0.50

I've been tight/straightforward. Playing big cards with a few blind steals. SB isn't very good. BB is tight/solid as well.

Flop: ($2.25) 8 6 K (3 Players)
SB bets $0.25, BB raises to $0.75, Hero raises to $3.75

This donk minbet is the universal message for "I've got a little piece of this or a draw, please don't raise". BB ignores the plea and raises. He has hit this flop, and likes his hand. I like mine even better.

SB folds, BB folds.

SB folds right away. When BB thinks hard, I figure he's got 99/TT/JJ, or KQ/KJ. In the end he folds.

Results: $4 Pot ($0.20 Rake)

Hero showed A A and WON $3.80 (+$2.30 NET)

During the next hand, he chats "had a king there". I said "KQ"? and he replied yeah. Very nice play by him. He knows he's ahead of the donkey minbet, then has to shift gears and realize he's behind a tight UTG raiser behind him.

Some people (including me, sometimes), consider their hold'em hands in a binary way - either "good enough to go with" or "not". This guy was able to consider two separate ranges against two separate villains and make the correct play against both.