The hand may be in the eyes
By Steve Rosenbloom Chicago Tribune
October 5, 2008
One of the oft-repeated concepts contends that poker is a game of people that is played with cards and chips.
If true, then the first person you need to scout is yourself. Know your image -- what opponents think of you and your style -- then use it. British pro David "Devilfish" Ulliott owns an aggressive reputation, many times betting while holding nothing, which helps when he actually has a hand.
At the World Poker Tour Championship at Las Vegas' Bellagio in April, action folded to Ulliott in late position. With blinds at $400-$800 plus a $100 ante, Ulliott open-raised to $2,500 with K-9 offsuit.
It's always suspicious when an aggressive player raises in late position -- is it a steal attempt, or does he have something? The button was suspicious enough to call, so the two players took a flop of K-9-9, two hearts, giving Ulliott a full house. He checked, hoping to appear weak, but the button checked behind him.
The turn came the queen of hearts, just the kind of card Ulliott was looking for if his opponent held big cards or two hearts because the flush and straight potentially were completed.
"What I did was peeped at my cards, trying to make it look like I was checking to see if I had a big heart," said Ulliott, who has won WPT and World Series of Poker events. "It didn't make any difference to me because I already flopped the full house, but I was trying to make him think I was drawing and betting on a flush. I hoped he was a good enough player to notice that and think I was betting out with the ace of hearts."
Ulliott bet $3,000, less than half the pot.
"It was a bet where I was hoping he would come flying over the top of me," Ulliott said. "That's what a lot of people do. You put a little bet in there as if you're trying to stave him off. He's already called a raise and it's hard for him not to have something on this board. I at least wanted a call."
Ulliott got the call but not the chance to re-raise that he was hoping for. The river came the 6 of clubs, the kind of card where if the button believed he was good on the turn, he would believe he was good on the river. Ulliott knew it. He also knew how he was perceived by opponents, so he bet out $10,000, an amount that could easily be interpreted as a steal.
The button called again, then mucked his hand when he saw the full house.
"People will call me with anything," Ulliott said. "If I put a bet in, people will run from three tables away to call me. Everybody wants to call me. Everybody wants to beat me."
Table talk
Flying over the top: To make a big raise or re-raise.
