Another area I am struggling with is the timing of the play below. I wanted to appear as if I was stealing on the river. Is this a case where only better hands/split pots call? Should I just have value bet? Is it totally read dependent? Would betting the turn set up the river push better? I don't think I am repping AA here....

PokerRoom No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($24.60)
SB ($5.35)
BB ($28.55)
UTG ($20.90)
UTG+1 ($39.05)
UTG+2 ($26.25)
MP1 ($25.65)
MP2 ($15.25)
Hero ($30.85)
CO ($43.35)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with T, Q.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, CO calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2) Q, 9, Q (7 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 bets $1, Hero raises to $3, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls $2.

Turn: ($8) 9 (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($8) A (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $27.6 (All-In), MP1 folds.

Final Pot: $35.60

So how does this differ from this play? My guess is that he actually had a hand to call with, firstly, and that the board appeared nonthreatening.

Texas Hold'em $0.25-$0.25 NL (Real Money), hand #654,172,932
Table Merida, 27 Jun 2006 11:37 PM ET



Seat 1: MeltedPixel ($37.35 in chips)
Seat 2: Giftpilz ($9.35 in chips)
Seat 3: knightpistol ($9.50 in chips)
Seat 4: thedr70 ($14.45 in chips)
Seat 5: yearight27 ($18.50 in chips)
Seat 6: pokerhen ($32.05 in chips)
Seat 7: NoUse013 ($6.75 in chips)
Seat 8: VidaliaCID ($20.05 in chips)
Seat 9: c-man92 ($36.20 in chips)
Seat 10: dollabilla1 ($19.20 in chips)



ANTES/BLINDS
thedr70 posts blind ($0.15), yearight27 posts blind ($0.25).

PRE-FLOP
pokerhen folds, NoUse013 folds, VidaliaCID folds, c-man92 bets $1, dollabilla1 folds, MeltedPixel folds, Giftpilz calls $1, knightpistol folds, thedr70 calls $0.85, yearight27 calls $0.75.

FLOP [board cards 9D,4H,5S ]
thedr70 checks, yearight27 checks, c-man92 checks, Giftpilz checks.

TURN [board cards 9D,4H,5S,3D ]
thedr70 bets $0.50, yearight27 folds, c-man92 calls $0.50, Giftpilz calls $0.50.

RIVER [board cards 9D,4H,5S,3D,3C ]
thedr70 bets $1, c-man92 bets $34.70 and is all-in, Giftpilz folds, thedr70 calls $11.95 and is all-in.

SHOWDOWN
c-man92 shows [ 5C,5D ]
thedr70 shows [ JD,JC ]
c-man92 wins $21.75, c-man92 wins $30.90.



SUMMARY
Dealer: knightpistol
Pot: $53.15, (including rake: $0.50)
MeltedPixel, loses $0
Giftpilz, loses $1.50
knightpistol, loses $0
thedr70, loses $14.45
yearight27, loses $1
pokerhen, loses $0
NoUse013, loses $0
VidaliaCID, loses $0
c-man92, bets $36.20, collects $52.65, net $16.45
dollabilla1, loses $0