When it comes to being credible with your betting in poker, it must be understood what your table image is when you make a move.
For example, if you have been playing loose and showing suited connectors at showdown then a tight player won't believe your top pair is a set with an all in re-raise on the flop. Of course if you have that tight image then your set will look like a bluff or top pair. If you have one table image, you can make people believe your or not believe you. But you have to realize which one it is! I didn't look at him before making the play. That cost me a huge chip lead and I was in the top 100 at the time. Big mistake.
I reraised pocket aces all in with top pair Queens and he obliged me calling. Then I looked at his stats and I realized he reraised me in position. Then I looked at my stats and thought - exactly what was I representing? What other kind of hand could he have? It has to make sense.
Now later on he raised me probably with Ace-medium and I made it look like I had a flush draw. Then when a fourth club hit on the river I made a desperation bet but weak looking like I was begging for a call and he folder overcards. I had a King. At least when I went all in last time I had top pair. So it was a credible play because I studied his hands: I realized he was a conservative player as per my book. I realized that I could make that play because I understood his patterns. A fast call on the flop followed by two more flush cards and blocker bet / value bet on the river. It screamed nuts. He is patient player and the pot wasn't much so he did what his pattern predicted he would do.
