hand reading.

[osmosis21]

Hi Terry. What tips would you give to help in hand reading? Specifically your opponents (a loose aggressive?).
I feel like Ive been getting into too many spots lately where they are showing the nuts, but Im sure they would play many other hands the exact same way.

For example I have KK and raise on the button and they three bet in the sb and I cap. The flop is T77. He bets I raise and the turn is a J. I raise and he check raises. Now he could be showing Jx, Tx QK, 7x , 98 + a few other hands that totally would make sense on this board and preflop (say hes a 48/32). What do you do to make reads (about if you are ahead or behind and want to three bet) as well as hand reading in general.

[Willem]

[osmosis21]

I actually just made up that hand example to help clarify what I was looking for...

So you are saying you never cap from the button? (but lets start another thread on that)

[TerryBorer]

This question was about hand reading. Here are some tips:
Take your time on the hand Most people play too quickly and mis-read as a result.
Start with the predictable players first They are, by definition, easier and will help train you. I'm pretty hard to read (I'm loose and my play looks pretty random) so you may drive yourself crazy trying.
Watch the number of players on the flop If it is more than 2, someone has the hand they are representing. So play in a straightforward manner - your cards are still more important than theirs.
Use your stats Wildly aggressive players have a wide range and so could have anything, and so you'll need to call down, particularly against players that can routinely bluff every street. Passive players probably hanve what they say they do. Respect their raises. (e.g. if you cap preflop in the example, 3-bet the flop and then get check-raised on the turn by a predictable, passive player then you can fold). I've seen many good players call down too often against weak opponents. Even a broad characterization can be helpful.
Watch for specific tendencies
Trust your reads If your read says to fold then fold. If you think he is on a missed draw then raise the river. Don't worry about being wrong but do make long-term adjustments. I always laugh when someone pays me off with very little and then says "I knew you had it".
Use hand ranges You'll never know exactly what cards someone has, but if they've raised from early position you have a pretty good estimate. This can help rapidly reduce the possible hands.
Use tells if live Some players derive an advantage from this. Again, start with the weak players that are much more likely to give off tells. Don't waste your energy trying to track the pro.

In regards to the hand you posted:
I try to get my money in while I still have the best hand. My experience is that the loose money goes in on preflop on the flop.

So usually cap the flop and also sometimes cap with medium hands like 33 and 98s for balance, particularly against a loose player from whom you can resteal.

Next, I pretty much never lay down an overpair heads-up. I'm trying to win the most when ahead with trying to save money when behind a secondary goal. This cost function means I raise more than most with those hands.

If I get check-raised on the turn (by an aggressive, loose player) I'll call down since I can't fold. I'm too likely to be behind to re-raise. KQ, AJ, AT, QQ and J9 are all possibilities that I beat and a king could come on the river. I'll bet if checked to on the river though (and get owned if he check-raises).