Playing what your opponent thinks you have

[DSpitler]

This was an interesting hand for me because it was clear in hindsight that I could have won this pot with some ballzy play.

Live tournament
Starting stack 3000
1st level 3rd hand and I am 2 off the button.
Blinds 25/50
I have KK
MP 1 makes it 200 to go ( I know this guy to be a decent player )
I reraise to 500
BB calls ( I was not familiar with this guy at the time )
Flop comes with AxA rainbow
Check, check, I bet 500, BB folds, MP 1 calls.
Turn is a blank
Check, check
River is a blank
MP 1 bets 500, I make crying call
MP 1 shows ATo

I did not use my table image nor did I consider what my opponent might think I have. He knows that I am not reraising preflop with trash. He is a good enough player to think that I have a big pair or AK. He is also good enough to make a laydown in a tight situation.

Should I have made a bigger bet on the flop or pushed when he checked the turn? Or should I have tucked my tail between my legs and gave up on the flop?

He told me later that he thought I had AK and would have folded to a bigger bet on the flop. He knew I had KK when I check behind on the turn.

[bagheera]

You should have continued the bet on the turn.

That being said, I would have probably recognized I was beaten and being slowplayed when he called me on the flop, and checked as you did, then folded when he bet at the river.

Regardless of what he said after, I'm doubtful that his ingame mindset would have allowed for the possibility of you holding the final ace with a KQJ kicker if you continued to pay into his trips.

[Richie(UK)]

Playing what your opponent thinks you have

My opponents think about what I have?

Seriously though, I don't believe that the guy would have layed down trips. There are just too many other hands you could have had. He's just messing with you.

[BorisMcN2]