Quote:
Originally Posted by darrick
By making it seem like I didn't have that much, I kept Villain #1 from playing his flopped set fast - allowing me to catch up. Do you really think he would have just called on the flop if he thought I had QQ or AJ?
Yes I think that is a distinct possibility. In any case, my point is that by raising TT preflop when you are first to act, you give yourself options that you simply don't have when you open limp. Plus, if you are obviously raising a wider range than Villain wouldn't know that you have anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darrick
No draws? You mean, besides T9, right?
Speaking non-objectively, how would he know or assume that I have a 2-outer on the flop? And if he did know, why would he think he can get more out of me on the turn? Let's assume, for a moment, that he knows I have TT and my playing style. If I don't improve, I'm 85% of the time going to check it down or fold. Sure, 15% of the time I might bluff if there's a scare card, but then again - he doesn't know what I have. I might have T9 too.
VS
What else are you going to have on this flop other than a weak pair? You probably would have raised JJ preflop, and you can't have 22. J8 is unlikely, and many players loose passive enough to be limping with T9o wouldn't be betting it on the flop. So maybe you have T9s or 88, but most likely it is a pocket pair or something like Jx, 8x that is betting to "see where he is at." If he just calls, maybe you improve to two pair or trips on the turn and bet again. Maybe you figure that a call from Villain #1 means you are ahead and bet again on the turn. Since there is a 0 chance that you would continue if raised, some possibility that you would bet again if he calls, and little chance that you will improve to a better hand, there is no incentive for him to raise you.