Party 3/6: HEFAP-inspired play to shut down a LAG

[chesspain]

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed)

Opponent is a LAG, although he tends to shut down on expensive streets in the face of aggressive. I should mention that he and I exchanged words briefly about thirty minutes before, when he was whining frequently about his losing hands.

After he coldcalled in this hand, I had a funny feeling that he was going to try to pull some floater crap on me--so I decided to play the turn as recommended by S&M, who opined that against aggressive players it can be wise to checkraise up to 50% of your good hands on the turn, in order to buy free cards in future hands out of position when you only hold whiffed overcards.


Preflop: chesspain is UTG with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="CC3333">chesspain raises</font>, <font color="666666">5 folds</font>, CO calls, <font color="666666">3 folds</font>.

Flop: (5.33 SB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">chesspain bets</font>, CO calls.

Turn: (3.66 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
chesspain checks, <font color="CC3333">CO bets</font>, <font color="CC3333">chesspain raises</font>, CO folds.

Even if I didn't maximize my winnings by this play (although I might have, if all he had was a mediocre or unmade hand that he would have folded to a turn bet), is it worth it to make a play this like for image, especially with a player under whose skin I may have already gotten?

[J.R.]

bet and 3-bet the turn. the check-raise to buy free cards later on is overrated in online games where others don't get attention. Its also less effective against bluntly aggressive players, as its designed to be used against a player who will recall this check-raise in a similar situation later on and consider checking. If this is truly lag, he is not very discriminating with his bets. And the check-raise says big hand, whereas the bet 3-bet, gets another bet out of him before saying "big hand" and may tie him in as the pot is bigger.

[Joe Tall]

I think your c/r is perfect. If you bet, often a player of this type will fold. As you have checked on a 'scare' card, this type of player will often bluff and then you can get your raise in as often he'll check the river through. Your raise may also peak his curiosity, given your history and you'll get paid off when making this line.

Peace,
Joe Tall

[Joe Tall]

bet and 3-bet the turn

Why are you so sure our opponent is going to raise? Often, they will fold to a bet on a scare card, yet, bluff-bet when checked to.

Peace,
Joe Tall

[StellarWind]

Betting and checkraising the turn are both good plays. Over an extended session I would vary them. In the one-off situations typical of online play it doesn't matter very much.

J.R. mentions 3-betting but you won't get that chance very often against a worse hand, especially given your "shutdown" read. It's not an important consideration in making your bet/checkraise decision.

[ QUOTE ]
is it worth it to make a play this like for image

[/ QUOTE ]
If image was the only consideration I would bet the turn. Whatever I may or may not achieve against this player, I have other opponents. Checkraising from the lead is a real attention-getter. I don't want the loose/passive fish to perceive me as a bully who humiliates people. They won't want to be my next victim and are likely to tighten up. Fewer terrible coldcalls and less chasing hurts profits.

I have a sometimes leak where I get fixated on one player whom I find irritating for some reason. I start playing against him instead of the table in general. This sounds like you may be prone to the same problem. Food for thought.

[sthief09]

I like check-raising. The differences are that if you bet and he has a hand, you can 3-bet. if you check-raise you only get 2 bets. but, more often, he has a hand like one pair or something, which he'll bet and which he's going to showdown with. this way, you get to charge him 2 BB to draw to his 5 outer. if there was any question that he'd check the turn drawing live, I'd be more inclined to bet. but given that he's guaranteed to bet, and he'll call a raise with anything that he'll call a bet with. also, if you get 3-bet, it becomes pretty apparent you're behind.

[Aces McGee]

[ QUOTE ]
Often, they will fold to a bet on a scare card, yet, bluff-bet when checked to.



[/ QUOTE ]

You're not mentioning the quite real possibility that they'll check the turn scare card through, though they'd call a bet.

-McGee

[Joe Tall]

You're not mentioning the quite real possibility that they'll check the turn scare card through, though they'd call a bet

Put yourself in the confrontation, the history, this opponent is going to give you the, 'oh yeah, you check, fck-you, I bet' in this situation.

Peace,
Joe Tall

[Aces McGee]

I had forgotten about the history. I agree that makes it less likely that he'll check the turn through. (Although his fold to the turn checkraise makes me think we've miscast him a little bit).

Beat LA,
McGee

[MoreWineII]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a sometimes leak where I get fixated on one player whom I find irritating for some reason. I start playing against him instead of the table in general. This sounds like you may be prone to the same problem. Food for thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd say you're far from alone in that.