Beware the Minimum Bet (cash)

LAYDOWN/STRATEGY

This lesson can also be called, "Why KQ is Weak in Early Position." Normally, I don't bet KQ under the gun like this. However, I was trying to change things up because you don't want to fall into patterns that attentive players will figure out. So I raised up front and then the button re-raised me with a minimum bet.

I always suspect a huge hand when there are other players in the pot and a player raises the minimum amount. It's obvious that he's trying to build the pot without scaring people off. Sure, sometimes you'll get some guy who will raise the minimum amount just because he doesn't know what he's really doing, but if you're keeping tabs on people, you'll know if they're pretty good. I had been watching Player 7 for awhile and noticed that he was a very tight, solid player so a minimum bet just meant one thing for me - a big hand.

I was very close to folding since I was out of position, had another player in the pot and was re-raised the minimum amount by a tight player. But I was stubborn and hoped I could get lucky if I flopped big. Unfortunately, I hit the worst possible card. Player 9 and I called the flop bet to see the turn.

I had a feeling I was in trouble, and when Player 7 raised the minimum amount again on the turn, I called hoping to get lucky and hit another pair. I knew I was beat, but stubbornly called for the bad beat. The river bet was a pretty easy fold since I was fairly sure I was beat and had the opportunity to see my opponents' cards since Player 9 was already all-in.