Hand against Toto Leonidas

[Defendant]

So, 3 days ago I went to the local casino to play some poker. Unfortunately the night was pretty slow, so all they had going was a 4-8 limit no foldem table, and a 2-5, 200$ buyin NL table. I got into the NL game after about 1 hour, and held my own, no major moves or anything. Two hours into the game, the seat to my left opens up, and a guy that looked real familiar sat down. Turns out, much to my dislike since hes sitting to the left of me, its Toto Leonidas (2003 US Poker Champion) on his way to Tunica, stopping by and wanting to mix it up some.
Of course, he sticks to his hyperaggressive game and just runs over the table left and right. After about 45 minutes of that, I am looking at a stack of about 225$ on the button, and its folded to me.

PREFLOP

I see As3s and try to make a play with a standard raise, raising it to 15. Right behind me, Toto makes it 30, BB folds. I thought he could be restealing here, but didnt want to chance a big bet preflop and opted to see a flop.

FLOP

3d8h6d
Toto opens for 50

What do you guys do here?

Ill post the rest of the hand, but for now, discuss

Defendant

[lightfungus]

Stick my head between my legs and kiss it goodbye (my ass that is). Did you watch this guy play? He is, for our sake, random in his plays and honestly I dont know what I would do here. He was psycho in that tournament he won yet brilliant. I would look at how many times he was raising, after all he cant always have an amazing hand right? Sooo, if he has shown anything sometimes I judge how many times he has it and how many not. 50 is over half the pot... Who knows, what image were you showing? Maybe you could play him by how you think he would be playing you.

[Defendant]

As far as table image goes, I had been sending mixed signals (intentionally and unintentionally), but mainly tight aggro. I had overbet a few pots earlier trying to get a call (representing a buy), but had also done the same trying for a fold against weaker players.

[Windbreaker]

Don't know where you were sitting relative to the blinds, but opening for 15 with A3s isn't exactly the type of hand I want to stick my money in preflop. I would have much preferred to limp to see a flop or fold it to the reraise...cause unless you flop two 3's or a pair + flush draw or better, not much can help you.

Having said that...raising doesn't really accomplishes much after the flop, since he's a type of player to reraise with anything. I would just fold it and play the next hand....there's too many hands he can have right now that's ahead...and too many dangerous turn cards to hurt you.

[lightfungus]

Agreed.

[Defendant]

I posted I was on the button.

So, heres the rest of the hand.

I was seriously considering just folding it, staring him down. I came to the conclusion he was restealing.
























And pushed all in.

After a LONG time of thought he called...and flipped over A9, he had put me on a total steal and called with ace high.

In retrospect, I think I played the hand correctly, but overconfident. By calling his reraise I put the pressure on my read and trusted myself to be able to outplay him after the flop. I know this isnt textbook poker, but I believe it to be a powerful play in the situation.

Turns out I did outplay him and doubled up.

Defendant

[Aequitas58]

Great story. He's a good player... must have felt good.

[Defendant]

Hehe if y ou cant tell, Im still a bit giddy about it :P

[lightfungus]

Nice. If I decided I was gonna stick around thats exactly what I would have done, because I wouldnt trust myself after a call. His big bully self would have broken me down. Balls to the wall!

[Talking Poker]

Very cool story. Way to go.