Tweaking My Game

[tj00]

I am low limit online muli-tabler. While this is profitable, I think may inhibit growth in my poker game. Lately I have been trying to add new lines of play into my arsenal. Here are two hands where I deviated from my standard play.

Scenario 1: The turn raise to protect a vulnerable hand.
Typically I would play the flop strong here.

Party 2/4 - Opponents in both hands are fairly typical party 2/4 players.


In EP3 with K [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], CO posts a BB

EP1 & EP2 Limp, I Raise, MP Calls 2, CO Calls, BB Calls

Flop Q [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], J [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

BB Bets, EP1 & EP2 Call, I Call, MP & CO Call

Turn J [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

BB Checks, EP1 Checks, EP2 Bets, I Raise, Only EP2 Calls

River 4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

EP2 Bets, I Call - Who raises here?


Scenario 2 - More aggression with position
Typically I would just call preflop and on the flop.


On the button with K [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

MP2 Open Limps, MP3 Limps, CO Limps, I Raise, BB Calls, Rest Call

Flop 9 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

BB & MP2 Check, MP3 Bets, CO Calls, I Raise, BB Calls 2, MP2 Folds, MP3 Calls

Turn 3 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Checked to me, I Check

River 2 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

BB Bets, MP3 Calls, CO Folds, I Raise, Both Call


Disclaimer - I am not using the results from these hands to prove I know anything about poker [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].


Comments appreciated.

[Yeknom58]

Hand 1. I would have raised this flop once you got all those callers trapped for a second bet, get it while the getting is good. On the turn if the BB bets again you're really not protecting your hand because only the CO and MP will have to call 2 cold. Granted you can really pump up the the pot by waiting till the turn but I don't think I could have resisted all those callers on the flop.

[Sleepy Weasel]

In hand 1, I believe you would want the flop bettor on your immediate right to make the turn raise to thin the field. With the BB being the flop bettor, the most likely turn scenario is that you've got a bet and 2 calls in front of you, so you're putting the 2BB bet to less than half the field. I'd just raise the flop in this hand.

EP2's bet on the end confuses me after he called your turn raise, and a seeming blank hits on the river. Maybe I'm weak, but I wouldn't think of raising here with him betting into you after you showed strength on the turn.

[PraetorianAZ]

Hand 1: This would be a good play against 1-2 opponents, but you'll probably be behind on the turn with all those callers. Raise to make them pay for their draw and try to protect your hand.

Hand 2: A 2-flush on board and your position says call. (but the draw to the nuts + back-door flush draw makes this close)

[tj00]

Hand 1

Opponent had Q9 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

Hand 2

Opponents had T3o, JT [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]