AUTEX
04-25-2005, 06:16 PM
I play Party 2/4, so most of you are familiar w/ the types of games/opponents that are prominent.
Lately I've been having trouble playing mediocre hands out of position.
Usually the situation I'm referring to comes up in unraised pots when i limp w/ small cards from the SB, or when I get a free play in the BB.
An example would be flopping middle pair w/ something like 4 7 on a 2 7 8 flop. I think there's a good chance I have the best hand a lot of the time against a small number of opponents who are probably on overcards.
The line I've been taking most of the time has me leading out on the flop and usually getting a caller, but then being unsure of the correct play on the turn when a face card or ace falls.
If I check the turn when a scare card falls most opponents will see it as a sign of weakness and autobet, leaving me w/ a difficult decision how to play the hand from there on out.
If I bet out again on the turn, and an opponent once again calls, I'm unsure whether I'm ahead at this point or not. I'm then left w/ the same difficult river decision of checking/betting since my opponent could easily have been drawing, calling down w/ bottom pair/ace high or have hit his face card on the turn.
Another line I've sometimes took is going for a check-raise on the flop, but that leaves me in the same sort of predicament of having to probably bet out the turn if a face card or ace falls, and only having second or third pair.
I suppose I could check-call the flop and see what comes up on the turn, but I hate playing passively, as it usually leads to tough decisions later on in the hand.
I realize its usually a pretty situational/opponent-dependent decision, but if anyone can help me get an insight into a strategy you've found to be the most successful I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.
Lately I've been having trouble playing mediocre hands out of position.
Usually the situation I'm referring to comes up in unraised pots when i limp w/ small cards from the SB, or when I get a free play in the BB.
An example would be flopping middle pair w/ something like 4 7 on a 2 7 8 flop. I think there's a good chance I have the best hand a lot of the time against a small number of opponents who are probably on overcards.
The line I've been taking most of the time has me leading out on the flop and usually getting a caller, but then being unsure of the correct play on the turn when a face card or ace falls.
If I check the turn when a scare card falls most opponents will see it as a sign of weakness and autobet, leaving me w/ a difficult decision how to play the hand from there on out.
If I bet out again on the turn, and an opponent once again calls, I'm unsure whether I'm ahead at this point or not. I'm then left w/ the same difficult river decision of checking/betting since my opponent could easily have been drawing, calling down w/ bottom pair/ace high or have hit his face card on the turn.
Another line I've sometimes took is going for a check-raise on the flop, but that leaves me in the same sort of predicament of having to probably bet out the turn if a face card or ace falls, and only having second or third pair.
I suppose I could check-call the flop and see what comes up on the turn, but I hate playing passively, as it usually leads to tough decisions later on in the hand.
I realize its usually a pretty situational/opponent-dependent decision, but if anyone can help me get an insight into a strategy you've found to be the most successful I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.