Limit Hold 'em: Did I play this too conservatively???

Hi all….

Please remember that I am primarily a no-limit player, so my forays into the world of limit holdem are few and far between. I do recognize the need for me to expand my game, thus my venture into the limit world.

I’ve read a lot of the theory etc, and have my own ideas…..especially when it comes to playing low-stake limit holdem (affectionately known in some places as “no foldem-holdem”. So here is the hand history. Did I play this too conservatively?

You’ll note I raised it up and re-raised it pre flop indicating serious strength. I then bet out on the flop and got raised. With the flop the way it was and the way I showed strength, I immediately thought he had a set of Jacks. Once the potential flush hit, I figured it could have been a flush draw (now with a flush too). As such, I just went with the calls from then on…..willing to pay $3-5 more for chance at the pot that was there since I had the overpair.

So….did I play too conservatively? (Or did I screw it up some other way???)

All critique welcome!
TZB


PokerStars Game #4380290281: Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2006/03/22 - 21:16:40 (ET)
Table 'Predappia' Seat #10 is the button
Seat 1: bimojo ($65 in chips)
Seat 2: brody_boy ($97 in chips)
Seat 3: thecounttt ($32 in chips)
Seat 4: The Zombills ($43.75 in chips)
Seat 5: BighandLeo ($132.25 in chips)
Seat 6: cbarbe1 ($28.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Zimmer4141 ($39 in chips)
Seat 8: Rasico69 ($19 in chips)
Seat 9: drawkk ($51 in chips)
Seat 10: Charlottegal ($37.50 in chips)
bimojo: posts small blind $0.50
brody_boy: posts big blind $1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to The Zombills [As Ac]
thecounttt: folds
The Zombills: raises $1 to $2
BighandLeo: folds
cbarbe1: raises $1 to $3
Zimmer4141: folds
Rasico69: folds
drawkk: folds
Charlottegal: calls $3
bimojo: folds
brody_boy: folds
The Zombills: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
cbarbe1: calls $1
Charlottegal: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [8d 6d Js]
The Zombills: bets $1
cbarbe1: raises $1 to $2
Charlottegal: folds
The Zombills: calls $1
*** TURN *** [8d 6d Js] [Qd]
The Zombills: checks
cbarbe1: bets $2
The Zombills: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [8d 6d Js Qd] [8c]
The Zombills: checks
cbarbe1: bets $2
The Zombills: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
cbarbe1: shows [Kh Ks] (two pair, Kings and Eights)
The Zombills: shows [As Ac] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
The Zombills collected $24.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $25.50 | Rake $1
Board [8d 6d Js Qd 8c]
Seat 1: bimojo (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: brody_boy (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: thecounttt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: The Zombills showed [As Ac] and won ($24.50) with two pair, Aces and Eights
Seat 5: BighandLeo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: cbarbe1 showed [Kh Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Eights
Seat 7: Zimmer4141 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Rasico69 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: drawkk folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Charlottegal (button) folded on the Flop

Personally, I probably would have bet until betting was capped on the flop, the calls on the turn and river make sense...although, being that I was not at the table I never got a read on this type of player, if he was the type to play any two cards if they were suited, etc. You are correct to assume that there are a lot of hands that can beat you; however, there are also a number of quality hands he could have that don't beat you (top pair top kicker or over pocket pair in this case). By just calling his bets you really have no idea what he has other than something (and even that isn't a given, he could have been making stabs at the pot bluffing the flush). That's the thing with limit, you really can't look at a single bet and be able to determine what they have, you need to challenge them and look for tells (for instance, did he pause before betting or was it an instant bet?).

You give your opponents way too much credit based on very limited information. People raise the flop with all sorts of crap in limit, but you instantly decide he has the nuts? He could have virtually any jack, any draw, or QQ/KK. Of course he may have JJ, but there's absolutely no way you can ascertain that from one raise on the flop. 3 bet the flop for sure. If he just calls you bet all the way to the river. If you get capped on the flop I would probably lead the turn, and call down if raised.