Harrahs New Orleans Poker Bully
 

I was down in New Orleans for work and had a chance to play some poker at Harrahs. I sat at the $2/$5 NL table. The first thing I noticed was a guy with a stack of about $3000. There were a couple others with more than $500 but the rest had less. I soon noticed why he had a large stack.

Every bet pre-flop from him was raise to $75. When he was called, most players checked to him and he bet (every time) $300. Checking to him was a mistake but they kept doing it. He was picking up blinds pre-flop most of the time and the rest of the time he was picking up $75 plus the blinds.

He busted two players while I watching with crap hands but his huge stack was making him almost unbeatable.

I folded most of the time until I got AK. He raised his typical $75 and I re-raised all-in. Good move? I figure it's the only move I had. He folded.

A few hands later I got QJ suited. He raised to $75 and was called by two other players. My hand isn't good enough to move all-in knowing I might be called by the large stack or one of the other two. I called. The flop was Qxx. The large stack moved all in of course and the other two folded. What's my move here?

I have top pair and my kicker is decent. I think he is trying to buy the pot like every other hand but his usual bet was $300, not all-in. Is he trying to disguise his hand?

I thought for a minute and realized I wouldn't get many more spots like this so I called. He flips AQ. Fuuuuuuuuck.

Luckily, I hit a jack on the river and doubled up plus $150 :D:D:D

I packed up and left the next and headed to drink some Blue Voodoo!

I think the best way to play guys like this is to trap them. Just smooth call his raises preflop and then check raise him all in on the flop when you hit. Also, fold hands like QJ preflop. Tighten way up so you know you have the best hand.

As played though, yeah, you have to go with the QJ when you flop TP given your read on the guy. I mean, if you don't go with that, are you only playing 2 pair or better against him? IF that's the case, DEFINITELY fold it preflop.

This is a tough spot, and I generally agree w/ TP here, but.........

If the max buyin is $200, and he is opening to $75, we are basically stop and go, right? I mean, if we call off ~40% of our stack pf, are we folding and reloading every time we dont hit? Or are we just putting the other $125 in no matter what? And if thats the case, why not just push pf?

Idk, honestly I would move tables, even if I had to wait. That is an extreme situation.

Time and money
 

Did you have position on him?

If so, I agree that it is an unusual situation, but it should be a profitable one. There's not going to be much if any post-flop play here, but ...
everything you get JJ or better, you shove. At a minimum you make $75. Better yet, he calls, and you double up.

Yes, you'll get sucked out on occasionally. And yes, you might decide you have better things to do with your time then fold 100+ hands in a row. But overall, it should be +EV, if boring as hell.