The PokerMentor says:> Very smooth. You played it like a pro! Now let's break it down…

Listen up and I'll tell you what I'd do, John, you started with good POSITION and a good DRAWING HAND and
played it beautifully. A small raise preflop. After Scott checked the flop, you put a bet out there hoping to take it
down right there. Now the turn comes and Scott finds something he likes. Or did he?
Let's look at it from Scott's point of view. He was in the big blind. That's a very important point. Never in this
hand should you forget that he was "partially forced" to play the hand. Meaning he had money in the pot
already and had motivation to defend it. He doesn't re-raise preflop, so we can assume he doesn’t have a
huge hand. He checks the flop hoping to see another free card. You flop nothing, but decide to bet it. He just
calls your bet so he probably didn't hit anything.
Remember his playing style. You should have already checked him out before now. Never make a move
without having an idea of the TABLE IMAGE of the player you're up against. It makes all the difference.
Scott is a decent, aggressive player so he likes to bet, then why is he checking to you? Either he has nothing
at all or he is setting you up. If he was setting you up, though, he probably would have check-raised you on the
flop. The turn comes a King and now Scott bets out. He could have been hoping for another club or a card that
would fill a medium straight. That would allow him to bet out and put some real pressure on you, with only an
UP AND DOWN STRAIGHT DRAW and just one card to go, you would have to fold.
So he is representing a pair of Kings, but do we believe him? Noooo! He can't keep calling your bets with just
a King. He could have a weak nine, but he would have put a bet out there on the flop, sniffing out a seven.
Could he be slow playing a seven? Probably not, since he didn't check-raise on the flop. Go back to his
playing style. He was probably going to bet on the turn no matter what hit. His bet was too little to cause any
real fear though. It's called a "weak lead". Aggressive players are most known for them, especially in the early
positions. You must be able to smell them out. Even if Scott does have a King, he must respect the idea that
you could have a 7.
So you should put a medium sized bet out there. Not only to protect yourself in case he calls/raises, but also
to make it look like you want him to call.

POSITION: The concept of "Position" is crucial in Hold 'em. Good position is usually equivalent to "late"
position, which means the person who has the last opportunity to bet is in the best position. Why? Because if
everyone has checked to you, you have a good chance to throw out a bet and steal the pot, but also, if anyone
bets before you, you are in a great position to raise (if you have a good hand), fold if you have a bad hand or
just sandbag (call) if you have a great hand and try to catch them on the next round when they bet again.
Betting last offers you dozens of strategies that are not available in the early positions.

DRAWING HAND: This is a hand that is probably a loser right now, but has a very good chance to improve with
some additional community cards. J,10 is a classic drawing hand. Before the flop it is probably a big dog, but
if that hand flops a straight, then it will be the nut straight. For example A,K,Q gives you the best straight. As
well as Q,9,8 or 7,8,9 or 9,Q,K. They all give you the best straight.

TABLE IMAGE: Your table image refers to how you are perceived at the table by the other players. This image
is a weapon they will use against you, if you are seen as easy prey. A strong table image is a weapon that you
can use against the other players. Aggression, slow-playing, chip tricks, how you dress, your inherent
knowledge of the game, your soberness, and many other factors contribute to your overall table image.
Conservative or tight players are not necessarily considered to have a weak table image. Especially the very
good ones, but their table image should be a warning to you that if they are in the pot, they probably have a
great hand. Although, once a good tight player enters the pot, they will usually play it aggressively and
aggression is usually perceived as strength. Why is it better to be strong than to be looked at as easy
money? For the same reason that you want to be seen as a shark rather than a minnow. This game is about
bloodying the waters with the carcasses of knocked out players. Every dead minnow advances the agenda of
every surviving player. When you show weakness, you show your minnow side and the sharks will begin to
circle you, looking for their chance to attack. You want them to look elsewhere. Be a shark, not shark bait.

UP AND DOWN STRAIGHT DRAW: You know when you flop a straight draw, right? (For instance, you have a 6
and 8, the flop comes 7, 9, 2, now a 5 or 10 makes you a straight. If only one card would make you a straight,
it is called a "gut shot straight draw".) Well, an up and down straight draw still gives you two cards that will
give you a straight, but it is harder to see it. Imagine you have a 5, 6 and the flop comes 2,4,8. Now a 3 or 7
makes you a straight. It is not nearly as obvious to your opponents, but it is still a very good position for you.

When you see a
word in all caps it
means it is a very
important concept
that is explained
fully at the end of the
advice. For
example, look down
below to see TABLE
IMAGE explained.