levels

This hand is against a pretty aggressive and thinking villain. We're effectively 224bb deep.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (2 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($223.80)
Hero (SB) ($337.10)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, Q

Button raises to $3, Hero raises to $11, Button calls $8

Flop: ($22) 4, 6, 9 (2 players)

Hero bets $14, Button calls $14

Turn: ($50) 10 (2 players)

Hero bets $36, Button calls $36

River: ($122) 3 (2 players)

Hero bets $42, Button raises to $162.80 (All-In), Hero calls $120.80

Total pot: $447.60 | Rake: $0.50

Results:

Button had 4, Q (one pair, fours).

Hero had Q, Q (one pair, Queens).

Outcome: Hero won $447.10


The pf, flop, and turn are all pretty standard. On the river I put out a blocker and villain ships in over it. A couple things led me to call:

- his hand range: he's got the nuts (straight with 78 or a set) or air, so his range is very polarized. He likely raises his two-pair hands on the turn so we can rule those out. It's also unlikely that he made two-pair on the river. So his raise represents a very narrow range - which makes it more likely that he's bluffing.
- his level: this guy was definitely good enough to recognize a blocking bet and to raise over it trying to get me to fold. This obviously leads me to call, even though we're putting ourselves into a catch-22 of sorts in a lot of spots with this type of thinking. However, against super aggressive villains it's usually okay.