Thanks + Question

[-J.]

First, I just want to thank the people here who recently encouraged me to start playing for real money. I finally took the advice, deposited some money, and have been enjoying a much better experience so far. I'm not winning a lot, not yet, but I think I've done alright for being new.

Second, I want to ask a question about a hand. I felt like this hand was the critical turning point in the last game I played and was the cause of my placing 2nd instead of 1st. Please look it over and let me know if you think I made the right play.

Note: The villain had been playing conservatively every since we went heads-up.

Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: Me (9255 in chips)
Seat 4: Villain (4245 in chips)
Me: posts the ante 25
Villain: posts the ante 25
Villain: posts small blind 200
Me: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Me [3s 8h]
Villain: calls 200
Me: checks
*** FLOP *** [5c Jh 8s]
Me: checks
Villain: checks
*** TURN *** [5c Jh 8s] [6d]
Me: checks
Villain: bets 400
Me: calls 400
*** RIVER *** [5c Jh 8s 6d] [Js]
Me: bets 1200
Villain: raises 1600 to 2800
Me: raises 1600 to 4400
Villain: calls 620 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (980) returned to Me
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Me: shows [3s 8h] (two pair, Jacks and Eights)
Villain: shows [Td Jd] (three of a kind, Jacks)
Villain collected 8490 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8490 | Rake 0
Board [5c Jh 8s 6d Js]
Seat 2: Me (big blind) showed [3s 8h] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Eights
Seat 4: Villain (button) (small blind) showed [Td Jd] and won (8490) with three of a kind, Jacks

My 1200 bet was not a bluff. I genuinely thought my two pair was the best hand and I had been regularly betting 1200 to steel blinds/pots and this guy was folding every time. In this particular instance I suspected that he was holding an Ace and would call thinking I had nothing but Jacks w/ lesser kicker. When he raised my 1200 bet without actually going all-in I read that as possible doubt and bad play or maybe even a mistake. I was also aware of the fact that this could finally be his moment to take advantage of my aggression. I felt the re-reaise to put him all-in was necessary because of the read I had, the hand I had, the slow betting from him up to that point, and the opportunity to nab 1st if I was right.

Was my re-raise to put him all-in correct in your opinions? Set me straight!

[crack]

First off, you should probably bet the flop. If he has some random K or Q and that hits on the turn then you have just cost yourself. Bet with your second pair and see where you're at. When you have second pair which is as small as the 8 then you are always going to be vulnerable to overcards.

This is the real mistake IMO though.

"My 1200 bet was not a bluff. I genuinely thought my two pair was the best hand and I had been regularly betting 1200 to steel blinds/pots and this guy was folding every time"

He was folding every time, then when he does raise, you don't believe him. You said he was playing conservative. This tells me when he does raise, there is a good chance my hand is no good here. Would I have still called the river? Well I am not too sure. Possibly not.

[Ciso_B]

I don't think I'd lead river here, I'd prefer to check and decide,cos you want to get to showdown with this hand. The way the hand has played,he could have slowplayed top pair and also its conceivable you just let the straight get there. I also agree you should bet flop here, you need to protect your hand. I'm not saying anything huge , but ya know 200/250 or so would have done the job.

What I will say is , if villain is a thinking player, he might see this as an oppurtunity to bluff just cos your line is like "Wtf?" , neglect to bet flop which u surely would do with Jx, then dont raise turn , and now you donk lead river. I'm giving you a weak hand like 7x here. Since he's probably not a thinking player though, (such low stakes ?), I think you can safely rule that out. I think your error is betting the river, and for most part, betting so much , its really thin since you dont even have K8 or A8 aswell. Check and decide imo.

Oh shit lol, just read the bottom of it with results, and also seen that he has 10j, ummm yeh, i kinda hate the re re raise by you. I don't like your line in this hand.

[-J.]

Thanks guys! I appreciate your time and I agree with what you said. I should have checked on the river.