Hi PaulF, when he went AI with Q2 he was far from having to make that move. Blinds were 300/600, and we were both still folding back and forward reguarly on them so without getting involved in hands our stacks were remaining constant, and he still had 4500 chips left.
The thing that pleased me most though was that I played to an actual plan once heads up, rather do as I would normally which is to just wait for a big pocket hand and then go all in hoping to get the action and win. This time I tried to 'groom' him into thinking I was a very weak player, one who was easy to bully out of pots with just a mere minumum bet. I wopuld only go to the flop if very cheap unless I had an Ace with at least a 10 kicker, and was reguarly folding decent picture cards.
He seemed to pick up on this and was putting in small bets after the flop (if I was still in the hand) knowing I would fold. But I then turned it around, whilst still only going into cheap flops I would wait until he put his 'bully bet' in then just come over the top all in, even with mediocre hands and he would fold everytime. Used this to claw back a few thousand chips and then finally started playing the bigger hands with more confidence (but not going all in) and won a couple more pots to make me chip leader, at which point I went back to playing very tight, and just playing strong hands.
Occasionally I would go AI pre flop if I hit rockets or kings and he never called but I wanted to start showing some variation. And then eventually he went AI on the Q2.
On the previous game though I played one poor hand that got me knocked out, but would be interested to see if the more experienced players here feel my opponent had the right to even call me. I had AJ. 7 of us left at table, blinds about 15/30 level. I bet 200 pre flop. Everyone bar one player folds. He raises to 400 and I call to see the flop. J,9,9. So I hit my jack and a 2nd flopped pair. No flush draw and I think to myself I'm big leader and an AI should see him fold and the only beat I could see was if he chased the straight.
I go all in, he calls - J,9 suited. He flopped the full house! Was his J9 strong enough to be reraising pre flop?
On my part I am guessing I should have played my AJ stronger pre flop to try and force out the limpers?
As for the 4,2. I have to admit I don't think I would risk any chips to see the flop. If I was BB and it checked round to me then great, but I would fold out against any pre flop bets!
