Heads-up vs. a very loose player

[SinCityGuy]

I played at the Mirage last night, and there was a waiting list for the 20/40 when I got there, so I jumped into a very good 10/20 game (so good that I decided to stay when the 20/40 opened up).

My opponent in this particular hand was a very loose player. Not really an overaggressive maniac, but he wasn’t passive either (he hardly ever raised, but he would always bet if checked to). I had seen him in about 2/3 of the pots, and he had been showing down absolute garbage (when called). He did take down a nice pot with his UTG raise of A3offsuit when he flopped two pair, but for the most part he was just running over people with his bluffs.

In this particular hand, he limped UTG and it was folded to me in the CO. I raised with 7/images/graemlins/club.gif 7/images/graemlins/diamond.gif and everyone else folded. He called, so it was heads-up to the flop.

Flop: J/images/graemlins/club.gif 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif

He bet, I raised, he called.

Turn: A/images/graemlins/club.gif He checked, I bet, he called.

River: 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif

He checked, I checked.

How was my play?

[Vehn]

ok?

[Steve Giufre]

Thats a tough one. I don't hate it but I would probably check the turn. Even though a free card can hurt you here, given his description, he will probaby bet just about anything into you on the river if you check behind on the turn. Also, if he has been bringing in most all his hands including an ace in with a raise, I like the bet more. My question is, would he three bet a jack on the flop for sure, or is it possible he would just call with it? You can't beat much in this spot, although I get the feeling you escaped. Good check on the river.

[Nightwish]

I like it. I might actually bet this on the river. I would never do it against a normal opponent since there's not much I can beat, but he sounds like the kind of guy who would play any two cards and bet any pair. If so, he's equally likely to have a J, a 5, or a 3. And I'm not even considering the probability that he's bluffing. He'll probably call with anything, including a 3, so I might actually bet this river. It seems like you'll be ahead more often than behind.

[andyfox]

I think a turn bet is mandatory here. This guy could have anything; I don't want to give him a free card to my vulnerable 7s and the ace might even scare him into folding either a hand that has me beat or a hand that might beat me on the river.

I think I'd probably bet the river here too. There's a chance he's going to call with a 5 or even worse, and, although I'm not usually a fan of meta-game considerations in particular situations, there's going to be, with this guy, lots of benefit from this river bet later on too.

Do you prop at the Bike, Steve?

[Steve Giufre]

Hi Andy,

I just started at the bike about two weeks ago. I like the casino and the people are great, but so far I'm not convinced it's better for me than playing on my own. Lately I've been playing at the Commerce a bit, it would be nice to meet up with you and play some 40, PM me if you get a chance and let me know when you usually play.

[SinCityGuy]

He had K5o (no, that's not a typo, it wasn't suited) for flopped middle pair, and my hand was good. Andy, I missed out on a river bet.