The Hand
The hand I selected this week is from a $2/5 NL game I was in at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Michigan, while there for the Heartland Poker Tour.

This was an average game. I had been in the game for about an hour, had bought in for $300 and had about $400 when I picked up A/Jh in early position. I put out a fairly standard raise and made it $20 to go. All folded to the button who re-raised to $50 straight.

SB, BB and UTG folded and it was up to me. (I also need to mention that this guy had done this several times and after everyone folded, he got great pleasure out of showing a 2/3 or 4/6 and so on.)

Anyway, I was not sure that I wanted to get involved, but would really like to see the flop. It was time to act. What would you do?

Winner: Mike, Galena Ohio
I would call his raise to see the flop, AJ is not all that strong a hand (i.e. AA, AK, AQ, or a small pair will dominate it) but you only have to think about one other player in the pot. The button might be bluffing again but they may be trying to mix things up by previously showing a bluff an then coming back strong. It will only cost you another $30 to see the flop.

Robin’s Response:
I did decide to just call and see the flop, which was not bad, Jd/6h/10h. I bet out $70 into a $101 pot and he called. Turn was a 9h and I was lovin’ it. I bet out $150 and he immediately pushed all-in which would cost me the rest of my chips.

I could not get away from this hand, I had the nut flush… almost. Could he possibly have the straight flush?? Nah. I called and he turned over the 7h/8h. He was clowning around again with a pre-flop raise and got REAL lucky. He pulled off a straight flush… oh well!