Flopped trips vs. a possible flush -- how much credit to give? [Archive]

MisterKing

07-03-2004, 07:51 PM

This hand came directly following a horrible suck-out, and I may have been steaming a little. That said, I'm not sure how I could have reasonably played this one differently. No reads on the main opponent, as this was their first orbit around the table.

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (6 max, 5 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 5/images/graemlins/club.gif, 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG (Unknown Opponent) calls, MP folds, Hero calls, SB completes, BB raises, UTG (Unknown Opponent) calls, Hero calls, SB calls.

I called PF on the button with only one aim: flop trips/OESD or run for the hills. When the blinds raised it, I saw enough calls out there to justify doing so myself as well.

Flop: (8 SB) 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif, K/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Unknown Opponent raises, Hero 3-bets, SB folds, BB folds, Unknown Opponent calls.

Good news: I got exactly what I asked for and flopped trips. Bad news: look at those ugly spades. My re-raise was intended to isolate the raiser and gain information... mission accomplished. At this point I figure he either has a nice pocket pair, a monster spades draw, or something like AK with no spades. In other words, I read his raise to be just as likely intended to knock spade hands out as I do to be a made flush or big flush draw. He calls my 3-bet, rather than raising it, which solidifies my confidence in the former.

Turn: (7.50 BB) A/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 players)
Unknown Opponent checks, Hero bets, Unknown Opponent calls.

Check/call from the opponent says to me he doesn't have a made flush, and may have KQ, KJ, or something like that. I doubt he has KK or AA, as he would have raised either PF. I have his reasonable holdings (Kx,big flush draws, and longshot straight draws) beat, so I bet it. When he flat called, I fet great about my hand.

River: (9.50 BB) 4/images/graemlins/diamond.gif (2 players)
Unknown Opponent bets, Hero calls.

Ok, so let me get this straight... he checked when the turn bricked, but now bets into me when the river comes rags? Does he have a 3 to make the wheel? Did he flop a flush and soft pedal it? What on earth is going on here? With all these mixed signals, I can't figure him out and just call down with my trips. I'm interested to see if you guys think this was the right play.

Final Pot: 11.50 BB
Main Pot: 11.50 BB, between Hero and Unknown Opponent. > Pot won by Unknown Opponent (11.50 BB).

Results in white below: 
Unknown Opponent shows 7s 8s (flush, king high).
Hero shows 5c 5h (three of a kind, fives).
Outcome: Unknown Opponent wins 11.50 BB.

Guido

07-04-2004, 03:54 AM

I would raise or fold this preflop a lot of the time. You said you called for trips/OESD. The odds of hitting trips or better are 7.5:1 so you want at least 4 but preferably 5 opponents. You won't get them so I would raise to win it with my pair and get the blinds out. The call after the BB raises is easy because you are probably getting 7:1.

In your hand analysis you forget the preflop actions. Your unknown opponent didn't raise preflop so AK and a high pocket pair are not very likely. I put him on a king with a weaker kicker like a ten or jack or on a monster spade draw like you said.

On the turn I would presume I still have the best hand so I would bet out too.

I would probably play the river the same. I would be glad that he didn't let me pay much more.

So apart from the preflop action I would play the same. I sometimes raise the river but that is player dependant.

Guido