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Title: Disrupting a Hand: Analyzing the Process of Disrupting a Hand
Disrupting a hand's flow refers to when you take actions contrary to what your opponent expects. This often prompts your opponent to reconsider the strength of their hand. While disrupting a hand's flow can serve various purposes, the ultimate goal is to confuse your opponent. So, if you believe confusing your opponent requires a particular setting, then go ahead and disrupt the flow of a hand.
Normal Hand Flow:
Forgetting about specific game scenarios, let's consider a typical hand. Let's say players A, B, and C sit down in sequence. During the flop, players A and B check, player C bets, and players A and B call. During the turn, players A and B check again, player C bets again, and this time there may be one or two calls. On the river, player A and B, or one of them, check again, and player C either shows their cards or bets one last time.
Disrupting a Hand's Flow:
Using disruption can effectively impact the entire process described above. If you're player A, when player C bets again on the turn after betting on the flop, you counter with a raise after checking. By doing so, you disrupt the flow of the hand, and your plan also affects players B and C. However, a word of caution: use this tool carefully. If you use it too often, it will lose its effectiveness. Save it for the most opportune moments to truly confound and intimidate your opponents.
Example 1:
This example occurred last season and proved quite effective. Before the flop, a sharp but careless player called the raise of the third player. This third player was conservative and typically raised before the flop when holding strong cards. Furthermore, they tended to play their hand in a traditional manner. I, sitting in the big blind, called with 7-8 suited, and the careless player called between us. The flop came Q-5-6. I checked, the careless player checked, and the third player bet (as expected). I called, and the careless player also called (more or less as anticipated). When an 8 came on the turn, I immediately bet (an unexpected move).
I completely disrupted the flow of this hand. The careless player hesitated and then folded. The third player checked his cards and quickly called (implying he would also call on the river). When a 2 came on the river, I checked. He seemed puzzled and checked as well. I revealed my pair of 8s, but he won the pot with AQ.
While I lost the pot, I saved my money by disrupting the flow of this hand, as I would have been forced to call two bets with my hand on the turn and river. By betting first on the turn, I confused him, thus protecting my river bet. If I had made a straight, I'm sure I would have bet, and he would have called. Disrupting the flow of this hand on the turn was a show of strength, demonstrating my ability to win the hand and get a free showdown opportunity, as well as potentially winning additional bets when I made a straight. In the end, I didn't pay extra bets for the river.
Observing from My Opponents' Perspectives:
Let's first consider the careless player's perspective.
The careless player was truly in a dilemma when I bet on the turn. He knew one of us likely had a pair of queens or better. Moreover, if he called with a weak hand or a draw, the third player might raise later, forcing him to fold unless he had a strong hand.
I was glad he folded. If I had a hand like J-6 suited with the careless player before the turn, I would have been relieved he folded. If the third player had AK, I didn't want to risk losing the pot to the careless player if a J or 6 came on the river. Eliminating him from the hand increased my chances of winning with my hand.
If I weren't in front of the third player, my outs were 4, 7, 8, or 9. If the careless player had any of these cards, it would diminish my hand's prospects. For example, if he had a 9, a 7 on the river would give him a straight and me two pairs. Although I could beat AQ, I would lose to the careless player. When I was ahead, I preferred to be prepared for any eventualities. I wanted him to fold in case a J or 6 came on the river. Disrupting the flow of this hand on the turn achieved my goal (he folded).
Now let's consider the third player's perspective.
He raised with AQ before the flop, with two callers in his position, which seemed fine. The flop came Q-5-6, which was perfect. After two checks, he comfortably bet and got two callers. He had this hand well set up. He would bet on the turn and river and win a good pot. This conclusion was evident. Now he was somewhat... content with his hand and lowered his guard.
When an 8 came on the turn, from his perspective, it didn't pose a threat. But suddenly, I bet. The third player simply hadn't factored me into his calculations. Now he was very confused about whether his AQ could win this hand. Perhaps I made a set? Perhaps I made a straight? Perhaps I made two pairs? Was I playing my pair of kings with a slow play strategy? I disrupted the flow of this hand, and he was completely lost. Now he was only thinking about how I might beat him. So he called on the turn and intended to call on the river as well. When an inconsequential card came on the river, I checked to him. It looked like I was using the strategy of betting after checking, so he checked after me.
Example 2:
This strategy is also effective when you're in an early position and want to get a free card. It can also serve as a prelude to bluffing. When I was in the small blind with Qd-Jd, a player in middle position raised, two players in late positions reluctantly called, and I called too. The flop came Kd-9s-3d. I had a draw to an inside straight or flush, but Q or J didn't give me a chance to win this hand.
Now I checked to the player who raised, who typically bets. There were several calls behind him, and then I used the strategy of betting after checking, causing my opponents to suspect and not estimate my hand but rather a strong hand. They wouldn't think I was waiting for a draw because using the strategy of betting after checking in an early position with a draw doesn't seem like a normal play.
If the turn gave me a straight or flush, they wouldn't think I made it and would be more inclined to give me more money. This disruption of the normal flow of the game successfully confused my opponents about my ordinary hand. When I actually made a straight or flush, my hand had good concealment because of my actions on the flop. This allowed me to win a bigger pot.
In other cases, if the turn didn't improve my hand, and I checked again, this would make my opponents reluctant to bet against me because I bet after checking on the flop. In more cases, if a 4 or 5 came, they might check |
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Post time 7-4-2024 06:21:00