$12-$24 hand.

[Fianchetto]

$12-$24 B&M, fairly loose game.

5 limpers to me on the button and knowing that the blinds will come along I limp too with 9 /images/graemlins/spade.gif 5 /images/graemlins/spade.gif.

Is this too loose? 96s seems clearly playable. The other thing is that this game is played as a 4/8 chip structure with $3 chips. The blinds are $12, $6, and $3 on the button. So preflop I only have to put in 3 chips to complete, i.e. I was getting 9-1 on the button. At that price with position, how low can I go here?

8 players (4BB)

Flop: A /images/graemlins/club.gif J /images/graemlins/spade.gif 9 /images/graemlins/club.gif

Blinds check, EP bets, 1 MP caller, I call getting about 10-1 with probably 4 clean outs, BB calls.

4 players (6BB)

Turn: 5 /images/graemlins/club.gif

BB check, EP checks, MP now bets, I raise, BB folds, EP folds, MP calls.

My thinking here is that even though MP now leads when the flush draw got there, I might have the best hand, and if I do it is very vulnerable. I can't see a fold here, and a raise seems better than calling. I face the other two players with 2 bets cold, hopefully knocking out raggedy clubs or one pair hands that have a lot of ways to beat me if I'm ahead. I can then check the river unimproved, and if MP has me beat I spent the the same 2BB to get to showdown as calling him down.

2 players (10BB)

River: 2 /images/graemlins/heart.gif

Check, Check

Comments on all streets appreciated. Thanks.

[onegymrat]

Hi Fianchetto,

Interesting blind structure. Is that common up north? It must promote lots of action.

I don't like the call preflop, odds or no odds. Your hand has some value, but it is very troublesome when you get a piece of the flop and have to play on. It has some flush value and a large gap in connecting. Flops like yours will have you continuing, and burning chips. I would, however, play suited connectors in this position in a relatively loose-passive game.

Once you saw the turn, the raise is debatable. Sure, you could have the best hand, but a made high flush would reraise you, making you see the river for four BBs. It is certainly possible with two others to close the action after you. You may knock out one-card flush draws, but the big ones (K /images/graemlins/club.gif or Q /images/graemlins/club.gif) will call anyway. Calling down is better for the price of two big bets. In your case, though, the river was checked down and it turned out okay. Hope you won!

[Fianchetto]

A few of the casinos up here have a blind on the button as well, and yes, it does promote some great loose action.

In fact, the session in which I played this hand was a real beauty. Couple super calling stations mixed in with a loose aggressive maniac. The game would go through cycles from passive to flat out nutty, with more than a few pots getting capped preflop 5 or 6 ways. I thought I played pretty well that day, but unfortunately the cards didn't go my way, couple flopped sets didn't hold up. Great game though.

[onegymrat]

With the unique blind structure, I take it there are no chops ever? I've got to get a taste of that the next time I'm up north.

I just reread your post and my response. I take back what I said about the turn raise. I am wrong. The raise is good because there's enough one-flush possibilities to drive out. You will get the nut-flush draws to ride along, of course, but that's poker. The question is, if you are reraised on the turn by a better hand and bet into on the flop, can you still fold?

[Fianchetto]

Yeah, chops are pretty rare, and during that session I don't remember any.

If MP raises me back on the turn I can be certain I'm up against a better hand and would need to fill up to win.

I know I could safely fold the river in this case, but would I in the heat of battle? I probably would, this opponent was not especially tricky.

[Fianchetto]

MP rolls over T /images/graemlins/club.gif 2 /images/graemlins/club.gif for the turned flush, and I quickly muck.