Poke the bully....

I typically dislike sifting through an entire post of nothing but a hand history so here we go...

Every now and then it's a good idea to "Poke the bully" at your table

1) it typically gives you a good read on the strength of your opponents hand.
2) a properly placed raise/re-raise will often let "chasers" know they will have to pay a hefty sum to chase their draw.
3) it can turn a possible big loss into a small one
4) it often entices a big play back at you, and when holding a good hand, that's what we all want
5) it's fun for the entire family

Dealt to ME [Ah Ks]
seat 8: folds
seat 9: folds
seat 1: folds
seat 2: calls 1
seat 3: folds
seat 4: folds
seat 5: folds
ME: raises 1 to 2
seat 7: folds
seat 2: calls 1
*** FLOP *** [8c 4d Kc]
ME: checks
seat 2: checks
*** TURN ***[8c 4d Kc] [Ad]
ME: checks
seat 2: bets 1
ME: calls 1
*** RIVER *** [8c 4d Kc Ad] [Kd]
ME: bets 2 poke the bully bet
seat 2: raises 12 to 14
ME: raises 4.15 to 18.15 and is all-in
seat 2: calls 4.15
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ME: shows [Ah Ks] (a full house, Kings full of Aces)
seat 2: mucks hand

******

seat 4: posts small blind 0.50
ME: posts big blind 1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ME [Tc Kd]
seat 7: calls 1
seat 8: folds
seat 9: folds
seat 1: calls 1
seat 3: calls 1
seat 4: folds
ME: checks
*** FLOP *** [8h Td 4h]
ME: bets 3 poke the bully bet
seat 7: folds
seat 1: calls 3
seat 3: folds
*** TURN *** [8h Td 4h] [Qh]
ME: bets 3
seat 1: raises 3 to 6
ME: calls 3
*** RIVER *** [8h Td 4h Qh] [7c]
ME: checks
seat 1: bets 7.20 and is all-in
ME: calls 7.20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
seat 1: shows [Ad 2d] (high card Ace)
ME: shows [Tc Kd] (a pair of Tens)
ME collected 35.15 from pot

*******

seat 9: posts small blind 0.50
seat 1: posts big blind 1
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to ME [Kh Kd]
seat 2: raises 1 to 2
seat 3: raises 3 to 5
seat 4: folds
seat 5: folds
ME: calls 5
seat 7: folds
seat 8: folds
seat 9: folds
seat 1: folds
seat 2: calls 3
*** FLOP *** [8s Qs Td]
seat 2: checks
seat 3: bets 9
ME: raises 9 to 18 poke the bully raise
seat 2: folds
seat 3: calls 9
*** TURN *** [8s Qs Td] [7c]
seat 3: checks
ME: checks
*** RIVER *** [8s Qs Td 7c] [6s]
seat 3: bets 30
ME: raises 4.90 to 34.90 and is all-in
seat 3: calls 4.90
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ME: shows [Kh Kd] (a pair of Kings)
seat 3: mucks hand
ME collected 119.30 from pot

save me a seat at the final table