Out of Line? I Don't Think So

Aladdin $1-2 NL Holdem
8 hours
+ $100

I'm not thrilled with the session I played today, not only because I feel like I should have won more, but also because a raise I made at the end of the session apparently antagonized another local player, a regular who plays for a living.

I limped in early position with As4s. A player moved all-in for $15. Steve called, the pro called, and two other players called. Then it got back to me. I didn't think the all-in player had a very strong hand. If I could get the hand heads-up by raising I would have a +EV situation even if I was beat because of all the dead money in the pot. This is not a play I usually make but it's important to vary your play and take advantage of a tight image when you can. I will limp with AA and KK maybe a third of the time I get them in early position. So anyway, when the action got back to me I raised to $100. Steve thought for a long time, looked liked he wanted to crush the table with his bare hands, and mucked (he later said he had pocket tens and was sure I was making a move--but I have to say it seems like he's sure about a lot of things after the fact). Everybody else folded, too. The all-in player had A5 offsuit and we split the pot.

The pro had mucked pocket nines and would have made quads with a $190 jackpot. He picked up his remaining chips and left the game. Patrick went over to talk to him, and when he got back to the table reported back that the pro was pissed off at me.

I think it's mostly temporary frustration of his mucking a jackpot hand as well as his running bad lately. But it seems like with some locals--and I can't say for sure if this is where he's coming from--they expect you to uphold a Local Players Truce, so that you only go to war with the out-of-towners. If they are invested in the pot you are not supposed to make big bets without a monster hand. I don't believe in this. I understand that if I am playing unpredictably it makes life harder for people, but there's nothing I can do about that if I want to play strong poker. Because I want to play actual Poker, not Peddle-the-Nuts Against the Tourists.