Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

[Figaroo2]

A close call on the turn

poker stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 8 Players

SB: $26.83 (107.3 bb)
BB: $26.45 (105.8 bb)
UTG+2: $26.70 (106.8 bb)
MP1: $26.52 (106.1 bb) VPIP: 10, PFR: 7, 3B: 4, AF: 2.8, hands: 326
MP2: $27.11 (108.4 bb)
MP3: $10.21 (40.8 bb)
Hero (CO): $32.21 (128.8 bb)
BTN: $33.83 (135.3 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with J

Q

UTG+2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.75, MP2 folds, MP3 calls $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, 3 folds

Flop: ($2.60) 8

3

K

(3 players)
MP1 checks, MP3 checks, Hero bets $1.24, MP1 raises to $3.75, MP3 folds, Hero calls $2.51 . ok this is an easy call with our equity.

Turn: ($10.10) J

(2 players)
MP1 bets $5.50
Hero ?

Simple maths here getting 3-1 and our equity seems about right against AA AK KK I made it around 25% at the table as the J gives us extra outs and the equity calc shows 28% but the flush draw is very obvious and I doubt we are getting the rest of his stack unless he has a set of kings and then we have to hope the board doesn't pair as well.
Maybe I should have taken the free turn card as well?
So what do you do here?

 

[John A]

Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 8 Players

SB: $26.83 (107.3 bb)
BB: $26.45 (105.8 bb)
UTG+2: $26.70 (106.8 bb)
MP1: $26.52 (106.1 bb) VPIP: 10, PFR: 7, 3B: 4, AF: 2.8, Hands: 326
MP2: $27.11 (108.4 bb)
MP3: $10.21 (40.8 bb)
Hero (CO): $32.21 (128.8 bb)
BTN: $33.83 (135.3 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with J

Q

UTG+2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.75, MP2 folds, MP3 calls $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, 3 folds

Flop: ($2.60) 8

3

K

(3 players)
MP1 checks, MP3 checks, Hero bets $1.24, MP1 raises to $3.75, MP3 folds, Hero calls $2.51 . ok this is an easy call with our equity.

Turn: ($10.10) J

(2 players)
MP1 bets $5.50
Hero ?

Simple maths here getting 3-1 and our equity seems about right against AA AK KK I made it around 25% at the table as the J gives us extra outs and the equity calc shows 28% but the flush draw is very obvious and I doubt we are getting the rest of his stack unless he has a set of kings and then we have to hope the board doesn't pair as well.
Maybe I should have taken the free turn card as well?
So what do you do here?

Flop bet and call are fine. It's a little strange he'd check that board w/ anything (even air), so he def has a big hand. Yeah, your non-nut flush draw implied odds are not great, but it helps that he's tight and likely has a big hand here. And you're right, a 3rd J or a Q won't help a lot of the time, but I think he can and will do this with AA/AK often enough. On the surface you're getting direct odds, but the implied odds estimation is always the trick. Against a tight, non-spewy opponent, it's pretty close. I think a call is ok, but depending on your estimation of this opponent, it may be slightly -EV. If you're really unsure, a fold is ok.

Even if we do the math on the combos and the odds you're getting, it's still going to come down to the implied odds estimation. I don't think you have big issues w/ reverse implied odds here, but you do have a non-clean diamond out. On the whole I'd lean towards fold, but again, I don't think a call is horrible either.

 

[Figaroo2]

awkward spot in the blinds.

Pacific, $0.15/$0.30 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

Hero (SB): $45.37 (151.2 bb)
BB: $30 (100 bb)
UTG+1: $31.26 (104.2 bb)
UTG+2: $42.09 (140.3 bb)
MP1: $59.45 (198.2 bb) heap big whale
MP2: $35.13 (117.1 bb) VPIP: 13, PFR: 10, 3B: 5, AF: 3.2, Hands: 1405
MP3: $48.04 (160.1 bb)
CO: $35.08 (116.9 bb)
BTN: $13.33 (44.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q

Q

UTG+1 posts BB OOP, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls $0.30, MP2 raises to $1.80, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.65, 3 folds
This guy is pretty tight, I didn't fancy raising here, hes 5 bet shoving about 5% of the time, folding is an option against this particular villain but doesn't feel right so I call and see if the whale wants to come along, he normally does.

Flop: ($4.65) 8

5

9

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

Turn: ($4.65) J

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $3.48, looks like he's trying to buy it here, Hero calls $3.48

River: ($11.61) 7

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $6.15, Hero calls $6.15

His flop check and the amount of AK here makes me call in this spot. I glanced at his river agg which was 44% pretty high.

Results: $23.91 pot ($1.19 rake)
Final Board: 8

5

9

J

7

Hero showed Q

Q

and won $22.72 ($11.29 net)
MP2 showed K

Q

and lost (-$11.43 net)

 

[John A]

Pacific, $0.15/$0.30 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

Hero (SB): $45.37 (151.2 bb)
BB: $30 (100 bb)
UTG+1: $31.26 (104.2 bb)
UTG+2: $42.09 (140.3 bb)
MP1: $59.45 (198.2 bb) heap big whale
MP2: $35.13 (117.1 bb) VPIP: 13, PFR: 10, 3B: 5, AF: 3.2, Hands: 1405
MP3: $48.04 (160.1 bb)
CO: $35.08 (116.9 bb)
BTN: $13.33 (44.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q

Q

UTG+1 posts BB OOP, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls $0.30, MP2 raises to $1.80, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.65, 3 folds
This guy is pretty tight, I didn't fancy raising here, hes 5 bet shoving about 5% of the time, folding is an option against this particular villain but doesn't feel right so I call and see if the whale wants to come along, he normally does.

Flop: ($4.65) 8

5

9

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks

Turn: ($4.65) J

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $3.48, looks like he's trying to buy it here, Hero calls $3.48

River: ($11.61) 7

(2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $6.15, Hero calls $6.15

His flop check and the amount of AK here makes me call in this spot. I glanced at his river agg which was 44% pretty high.

Results: $23.91 pot ($1.19 rake)
Final Board: 8

5

9

J

7

Hero showed Q

Q

and won $22.72 ($11.29 net)
MP2 showed K

Q

and lost (-$11.43 net)

Even though he's tight, he's going to ISO those limpers a bit wider than normal. I don't mind a 3-bet, just for the sake of not having to play the hand OOP against potentially several people, and also flipping our hand more face up. But I understand the call to try and keep the whale in. A lot of times though, those whales are the ones that stay in and you push the reg out, so keep that in mind also.

As played, looks fine. Standard turn call. On the river I'd either bet super small, to induce a raise or c/c. He seems like he's aggressive enough to bluff, and you don't have the nuts so I lean towards c/c. So, NH overall.

 

[Figaroo2]

tighter higher

Couldn't beat 5nl last month but did ok at 50 lol
Any comments on stats?
Looks like if I cut my cold calling right down that's helping.

 

[rhombus]

aint been playing much as had PC probs

on the 10nl apart form the gap vpip/pfr could be closer and maybe 3bet alittle more

No idea re CC% not sure what they should be. I use the same report as you (LeakBuster Stakes) and CC% isn't on my list.

Think I need to either remove some of the stats on the report or at least get to know the optimal ranges for them.

 

[rhombus]

played a few hands yesterday although Zoom HUD wasn't working

Think I picked a bad player to bluff, although on reflection a bad play

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $11.02 (110.2 bb)
Hero (BB): $10.34 (103.4 bb)
UTG: $12.50 (125 bb)
MP: $8.58 (85.8 bb)
CO: $13.58 (135.8 bb)
BTN: $15.75 (157.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6

J

UTG folds, MP raises to $0.25, 2 folds, SB calls $0.20, Hero calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.75) 7

8

3

(3 players)
SB bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, MP calls $0.50

Turn: ($2.25) A

(3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50, MP calls $1.50, SB folds

River: ($5.25) 7

(2 players)
Hero bets $3.10, MP calls $3.10

Results: $11.45 pot ($0.52 rake)
Final Board: 7

8

3

A

7

Hero showed 6

J

and lost (-$5.35 net)
MP showed 4

A

and won $10.93 ($5.58 net)

 

[TimovieMan]

I probably bet 6.5-7 on the flop, and fold to the raise. Since you have the Qc, AcQc, a realistic cold calling button hand for someone who is 11/5 is out. So you'd be left with KcJc and AcJc. Doubtful he's doing it enough of the time with AJo or KJo. Naked flushes like 8c9c would call here most of the time in position and take advantage of the good pot odds instead of trying to push two people out of the pot. So I think it's a good fold if you made it, as I can't see you being better than a 40/60 dog here at 5nl.

I called and folded when the flush completed on the turn and MP sprung to life.


I had a similar hand yesterday. This time I folded.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (UTG): 158.7 BB
UTG+1: 100 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
MP: 105.3 BB (VPIP: 11.29, PFR: 9.68, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 62)
MP+1: 102.4 BB (VPIP: 15.50, PFR: 13.95, 3Bet Preflop: 2.50, Hands: 129)
MP+2: 129.9 BB (VPIP: 25.86, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 20.00, Hands: 116)
CO: 189 BB (VPIP: 13.11, PFR: 8.20, 3Bet Preflop: 4.35, Hands: 62)
BTN: 79 BB (VPIP: 70.73, PFR: 2.44, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 43)
SB: 43 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 42)
BB: 100 BB (VPIP: 16.00, PFR: 6.00, 3Bet Preflop: 6.67, Hands: 50)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K:diamond: K:heart:

Hero raises to 3 BB, fold, fold, MP+1 calls 3 BB, fold, fold, BTN calls 3 BB, fold, BB calls 2 BB

Flop: (12.5 BB, 4 players) 3:club: 2:club: 8:spade:
BB checks, Hero bets 8 BB, MP+1 calls 8 BB, fold, BB raises to 30 BB, fold, fold

BB wins 34.9 BB

Thought process: BTN (aka the table fish) was no longer in the hand and BB, who hadn't been overly aggressive (AF on F/T/R of 27/33/50) still squeezed 3-way despite me basically repping an overpair. I just figured the bottom of his range was going to be Ac8c here which was actually ahead in equity. I'm not sure he's doing this with overpairs (99-JJ). More likely it was a set or a monster draw, imo.
I didn't want to basically pay most of my stack (because that's what it would probably would come down to) to find out.

Your thoughts, John?

 

[rhombus]

not the best start to the month )

 

[TimovieMan]

PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 58.7 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
BB: 146.1 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG: 103.6 BB (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 16)
UTG+1: 101 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: 34.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
CO: 163.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
Hero (BTN): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6:heart: 6:spade:

fold, fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 2.5 BB, SB calls 2 BB, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (10 BB, 4 players) T:club: 9:club: J:heart:
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks

Turn: (10 BB, 4 players) K:diamond:
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks

River: (10 BB, 4 players) 6:club:
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks behind or makes a thin value bet? Does worse call?




PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 73 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
CO: 40 BB
BTN: 38.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: 44.3 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 15.87, 3Bet Preflop: 8.33, Hands: 63)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB, CO posts penalty blind 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.5 BB) Hero has 4:club: A:spade:

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 1.5 BB, Hero calls 1 BB

Flop: (7 BB, 3 players) A:diamond: 4:heart: K:diamond:
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets 2 BB, SB calls 2 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, UTG calls 8 BB, SB calls 8 BB

Turn: (37 BB, 3 players) Q:club:
SB checks, Hero bets 18 BB, UTG calls 18 BB, fold

River: (73 BB, 2 players) T:heart:
Hero bet/folds, check/folds or check/calls??? I'm guessing bet/fold is probably best, but how much to bet in a spot like this?

 

[or3o1990]

PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 58.7 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
BB: 146.1 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG: 103.6 BB (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 16)
UTG+1: 101 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: 34.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
CO: 163.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
Hero (BTN): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6♥ 6♠

fold, fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 2.5 BB, SB calls 2 BB, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (10 BB, 4 players) T♣ 9♣ J♥
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks

Turn: (10 BB, 4 players) K♦
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks

River: (10 BB, 4 players) 6♣
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks behind or makes a thin value bet? Does worse call?




PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 73 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
CO: 40 BB
BTN: 38.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: 44.3 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 15.87, 3Bet Preflop: 8.33, Hands: 63)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB, CO posts penalty blind 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.5 BB) Hero has 4♣ A♠

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 1.5 BB, Hero calls 1 BB

Flop: (7 BB, 3 players) A♦ 4♥ K♦
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets 2 BB, SB calls 2 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, UTG calls 8 BB, SB calls 8 BB

Turn: (37 BB, 3 players) Q♣
SB checks, Hero bets 18 BB, UTG calls 18 BB, fold

River: (73 BB, 2 players) T♥
Hero bet/folds, check/folds or check/calls??? I'm guessing bet/fold is probably best, but how much to bet in a spot like this?

I think I'd check the set. Sadly I think I wanna check/fold our two pair.


I couldn't pull the AK we all were talking about during the sweat session because it was a BOL hand and it didn't make it into the database . But we were wondering about a spot where I raised AK utg and was 3bet by what we were assuming to be QQ+,AK. I kind of just wanted to gii..

I'm curious though.. We have 39% equity vs that range. How much money has to be in the middle for this to be break even to GII? Also, how far must we expand on villain's range to make it break even?

 

[John A]

Couldn't beat 5nl last month but did ok at 50 lol
Any comments on stats?
Looks like if I cut my cold calling right down that's helping.

Continue to cut down the CC%, and increase the 3-bet%... same stuff.

 

[John A]

aint been playing much as had PC probs

on the 10nl apart form the gap vpip/pfr could be closer and maybe 3bet alittle more

No idea re CC% not sure what they should be. I use the same report as you (LeakBuster Stakes) and CC% isn't on my list.

Think I need to either remove some of the stats on the report or at least get to know the optimal ranges for them.

It's in the Leak Buster position report in HM2. But you can of course also see these w/ the ranges in steps 2/3 of leak buster.

 

[John A]

played a few hands yesterday although Zoom HUD wasn't working

Think I picked a bad player to bluff, although on reflection a bad play

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: $11.02 (110.2 bb)
Hero (BB): $10.34 (103.4 bb)
UTG: $12.50 (125 bb)
MP: $8.58 (85.8 bb)
CO: $13.58 (135.8 bb)
BTN: $15.75 (157.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6

J

UTG folds, MP raises to $0.25, 2 folds, SB calls $0.20, Hero calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.75) 7

8

3

(3 players)
SB bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, MP calls $0.50

Turn: ($2.25) A

(3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50, MP calls $1.50, SB folds

River: ($5.25) 7

(2 players)
Hero bets $3.10, MP calls $3.10

Results: $11.45 pot ($0.52 rake)
Final Board: 7

8

3

A

7

Hero showed 6

J

and lost (-$5.35 net)
MP showed 4

A

and won $10.93 ($5.58 net)

You're not playing limit holdem. The worse thing about calling in this hand is you're going to be in a sandwhiched position on the flop and possibly later streets also. It's the most unprofitable position to be in playing NL. You're better off being SB or MP here. So don't worry about the odds you're getting pre-flop, focus on the long term profitability of playing this in this position. Now, if you knew one of these guys was a whale or really bad, you can make an argument for calling, but you didn't know that.

I'd pretty much never bluff this river either. Your hand looks very clearly like a busted draw of some sort. Just calling the flop, betting on the A turn and betting river. I might have even called you with K high here honestly. Your bluffs need to be consistent with a story that makes sense. What were you repping here in your mind? 7x? 5 whippings with a wet noodle Rhom... not loving this hand.

 

[rhombus]

You're not playing limit holdem. The worse thing about calling in this hand is you're going to be in a sandwhiched position on the flop and possibly later streets also. It's the most unprofitable position to be in playing NL. You're better off being SB or MP here. So don't worry about the odds you're getting pre-flop, focus on the long term profitability of playing this in this position. Now, if you knew one of these guys was a whale or really bad, you can make an argument for calling, but you didn't know that.

I'd pretty much never bluff this river either. Your hand looks very clearly like a busted draw of some sort. Just calling the flop, betting on the A turn and betting river. I might have even called you with K high here honestly. Your bluffs need to be consistent with a story that makes sense. What were you repping here in your mind? 7x? 5 whippings with a wet noodle Rhom... not loving this hand.

LOL.

When I'm the aggressor and a card which seems to hit my hand like an Ace on the turn, when donked into isn't that supposed to represent strength i.e. flopped set and 2 pair and trying to get value if I have AK AQ etc

I was just trying to turn it around lol

 

[Figaroo2]

Rhom the mistake is pre flop J6 suited is proper garbage here, fold mostly, squeeze occasionally, call never. We picked you up for calling with suited junk in the blinds before when you thought you had good odds.

 

[John A]

LOL.

When I'm the aggressor and a card which seems to hit my hand like an Ace on the turn, when donked into isn't that supposed to represent strength i.e. flopped set and 2 pair and trying to get value if I have AK AQ etc

I was just trying to turn it around lol

You didn't donk into anyone though, you just bet when checked to. Ok, another 5 whippings...

 

[John A]

PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 7 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 58.7 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
BB: 146.1 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
UTG: 103.6 BB (VPIP: 37.50, PFR: 25.00, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 16)
UTG+1: 101 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
MP: 34.5 BB (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
CO: 163.6 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
Hero (BTN): 100 BB

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has 6♥ 6♠

fold, fold, MP raises to 2.5 BB, fold, Hero calls 2.5 BB, SB calls 2 BB, BB calls 1.5 BB

Flop: (10 BB, 4 players) T♣ 9♣ J♥
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks

Turn: (10 BB, 4 players) K♦
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks

River: (10 BB, 4 players) 6♣
SB checks, BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks behind or makes a thin value bet? Does worse call?

Ya, I think as last to act at these stakes you could make a small VB, and try to get a begrudged call from 2 pair. Betting like 3.

PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

Hero (BB): 100 BB
UTG: 73 BB (VPIP: 100.00, PFR: 100.00, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
CO: 40 BB
BTN: 38.5 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
SB: 44.3 BB (VPIP: 19.05, PFR: 15.87, 3Bet Preflop: 8.33, Hands: 63)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB, CO posts penalty blind 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.5 BB) Hero has 4♣ A♠

UTG raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, SB calls 1.5 BB, Hero calls 1 BB

Flop: (7 BB, 3 players) A♦ 4♥ K♦
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets 2 BB, SB calls 2 BB, Hero raises to 10 BB, UTG calls 8 BB, SB calls 8 BB

Turn: (37 BB, 3 players) Q♣
SB checks, Hero bets 18 BB, UTG calls 18 BB, fold

River: (73 BB, 2 players) T♥
Hero bet/folds, check/folds or check/calls??? I'm guessing bet/fold is probably best, but how much to bet in a spot like this?

I think I just lead at that flop honestly. If UTG doesn't have an A, you're not making much any ways, and it disguises your hand better. On the river, I'm c/fing. If he bets there, doubtful he's turning 2 pair into a bluff often enough and even if he does it's a better 2 pair, so it doesn't matter.

 

[John A]

I think I'd check the set. Sadly I think I wanna check/fold our two pair.


I couldn't pull the AK we all were talking about during the sweat session because it was a BOL hand and it didn't make it into the database . But we were wondering about a spot where I raised AK utg and was 3bet by what we were assuming to be QQ+,AK. I kind of just wanted to gii..

I'm curious though.. We have 39% equity vs that range. How much money has to be in the middle for this to be break even to GII? Also, how far must we expand on villain's range to make it break even?

That's a good poker question to understand for yourself. Were you able to break it down? I assume you don't want us to just give you the answer.

In the hand though, why were you assuming only QQ+/AK? Tight player who 3-bet your from another early position I assume?

 

[ALFACA]

Thanks for the opportunity John

 

[TimovieMan]

Ya, I think as last to act at these stakes you could make a small VB, and try to get a begrudged call from 2 pair. Betting like 3.

I chickened out and checked behind. They had A5s, 44 and 33 and I would've won even without improving.

I think I just lead at that flop honestly. If UTG doesn't have an A, you're not making much any ways, and it disguises your hand better. On the river, I'm c/fing. If he bets there, doubtful he's turning 2 pair into a bluff often enough and even if he does it's a better 2 pair, so it doesn't matter.

I need to up my donking percentages. I automatically go for a check-raise in too many instances.

I planned on check/folding the river but he bet like 6bb only, so I called. He had KJo. Nice flop and turn calls by him.

 

[TimovieMan]

In the hand though, why were you assuming only QQ+/AK? Tight player who 3-bet your from another early position I assume?

We opened UTG and UTG+2 3-bet us.

There was a HUD problem on that table so we didn't have any stats on opponent. Bruce and I were in agreement about not getting it in, but Dave wasn't, which made for an interesting discussion.

 

[rhombus]

You didn't donk into anyone though, you just bet when checked to. Ok, another 5 whippings...

meant the MP who was the initial Preflop Raiser

 

[TimovieMan]

AK unimproved:

PokerStars - $0.10 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 60.6 BB (VPIP: 13.33, PFR: 13.33, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
UTG+1: 106.1 BB (VPIP: 14.46, PFR: 7.83, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 166)
MP: 71.5 BB (VPIP: 25.00, PFR: 6.25, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 16)
MP+1: 40.3 BB (VPIP: 38.89, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
MP+2: 102.9 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 16.67, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
Hero (CO): 100 BB
BTN: 84.7 BB (VPIP: 33.33, PFR: 5.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 18)
SB: 100 BB (VPIP: 10.71, PFR: 7.14, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 28)
BB: 100.5 BB (VPIP: 22.22, PFR: 11.11, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 9)

SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has K:club: A:diamond:

fold, fold, fold, fold, MP+2 raises to 3 BB, Hero raises to 9 BB, fold, fold, fold, MP+2 calls 6 BB

Flop: (19.5 BB, 2 players) 8:heart: 8:diamond: 5:diamond:
MP+2 checks, Hero bets 10 BB, MP+2 calls 10 BB

Turn: (39.5 BB, 2 players) 8:spade:
MP+2 checks, Hero checks

River: (39.5 BB, 2 players) 9:club:
MP+2 bets 36 BB, fold

MP+2 wins 37.7 BB


His river bet size looks bluffy, especially since I played this exactly like two unimproved overcards, but on the other hand, that 9 hits a flop calling range hard (then again, he's probably calling nearly his entire range on that flop), which begs the question: any other way to play this?
Not c-bet the flop? Double-barrel? Bluff-catch the river?

 

[John A]

I chickened out and checked behind. They had A5s, 44 and 33 and I would've won even without improving.

You had the nuts on the flop.

I need to up my donking percentages. I automatically go for a check-raise in too many instances.

I planned on check/folding the river but he bet like 6bb only, so I called. He had KJo. Nice flop and turn calls by him.

I like betting into pfr on certain boards, especially MW - draw heavy boards, or boards where if no one has anything, you're not making much any ways. It tends to confuse opponents and disguise your range a little more. But it needs to be very specific scenarios, that hand being one I would have.

6bb's... strange... but yeah, KJ was a little optimistic of him. But it's 10nl and you'll get people drawing to hands w/ no to little implied odds a lot.