Read-based line with A9s
 

Main villain in this hand is very loose preflop, and loves to bluff bet in position as well as betting out to the pfr OOP with as little as a gutshot draw or bottom pair. Obviously he plays any legitimate draws very aggressively.

One of his many fatal flaws from what I have seen is that he just loves to get 'fancy' and ultra-slowplay what he considers strong hands. For example, I've seen him check the flop AND the turn on the button with a flopped set then finally raise a river bet.

I suspect he may be slightly annoyed with me as I've checkraised him successfully on a few occasions prior to this hand.

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP2 calls, CO calls, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, BB checks.

Flop: (4.33 SB) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
BB checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets</font>, BB folds, Hero calls, MP2 calls.

Turn: (3.66 BB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP2 checks, CO checks.

River: (3.66 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP2 checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP2 folds, <font color="#CC3333">CO 3-bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero caps</font>, CO calls.

Final Pot: 11.66 BB

Comments appreciated on all streets. I'll expand on my reasoning and metagame considerations down the line.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

I don't really like open limping with that in EP.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

I'd prefer you use your read to checkraise the flop and drive out MP2, then worry about CO. Whatever he had, you let him see a river for just one sb.

I also don't like the open limp, it's 8 handed after all so it's really a limp from mp2. Raising was probably the better choice.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

I hate the preflop. I checkraise the flop, especially against this player. If he's steaming, that's great for you. TP9K is not something to slowplay here.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

I openlimp all day long in EP-EMP with A8-A9s and they've been profitable. The fact this was 8-handed by the time this hand came along might change it to a raise, but it probably doesn't make a great difference. People were coming and going with the villain the good constant.

As for the flop, meh. Fairly small pot, I figured I was probably well ahead, knocking out the 3rd guy isn't really my biggest concern. The turn check by villain is what's really interesting to me here though.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

Preflop is borderline for me. I hate the flop and turn, and also the river because the misplays before led up to it.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

Either bet that flop or bet that flop. You could try to checkraise CO, but I don't see what good that does on such a drawless board. You missed several bets here trying to get fancy on CO. Plus the pot is mutliway.

PF depends on table conditions.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

Looks like a great spot to check/raise the flop and then lead the rest of the way. Call a raise on the turn unimproved and then 3-bet an ace or a nine.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

If he has something like 7-10 then you hopefully you learned your lesson.

Preflop: I don't know could be good could be bad, I am not an expert at that type of thing.

Flop: Bet, or c/r do something show some aggression.

Turn: Going for a c/r at that point right? Well since you probably should have bet out the flop you should have bet out here.

River: Caping seems like spewing against a guy who likes to ultra slow play sets and stuff.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

[ QUOTE ]

If he has something like 7-10 then you hopefully you learned your lesson.

Preflop: I don't know could be good could be bad, I am not an expert at that type of thing.

Flop: Bet, or c/r do something show some aggression.

Turn: Going for a c/r at that point right? Well since you probably should have bet out the flop you should have bet out here.

River: Caping seems like spewing against a guy who likes to ultra slow play sets and stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

When he checks the turn, there is no way he has a OESD/gutshot/flush/other semi-legitimate draw. He always bets draws, OOP or IP. Therefore 57 or T7 are out of the question. He is also far more likely than not to bet here with nothing whatsoever, so his turn check is strange.

Given that, my river decision is between calling the 3-bet or capping. I do believe this might've been a slightly marginal cap.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

If you can't bet this flop, why limp with A9s?

I like preflop on a fairly loose table.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you can't bet this flop, why limp with A9s?

I like preflop on a fairly loose table.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know with a substantial degree of certainty that a bet is going in this flop because villain will bet here with absolutely any hand when checked to in position, unless he has a strong made hand in which case he may check. Given this, the remaining option is to checkraise or call.

Re: Read-based line with A9s
 

this guy always bets gutshots on the turn? i wanna play with him!!!

Further thoughts
 

My thoughts as I was playing this hand:

Preflop, pretty standard for me. Might've raised though since this was less than 10 players at the time.

Flop, while the betout would be standard enough, I was very confident a bet was going in this flop anyway because villain will bet (or call if bet to) in position with anything, except he'll possibly check a strong made hand that likely beats me. I thus thought checking has both deceptive and informational purposes, without giving up on bets gained.

Turn, going for the checkraise because villain continuation bets anything here. Picked up the flush draw so facing a 3-bet from anybody is not a tragedy. But he checked it through. Alarm bells went off because this is unusual. If he has a strong hand, he checks the flop as well. It was the combination of him betting the flop AND checking the turn that confused me. He would certainly bet any draw or any weak made hand, or anything else for that matter, on this turn. Believe it or not, at that point my river plan is to check/call UI and look him up.

River, I think I have the best hand with top 2 despite villain's turn check. He always bets here no matter what he has - he doesn't know the meaning of taking free showdowns - so I went for the c/r again. His 3-bet was not entirely unexpected but I kept my foot on the gas while thinking it might be marginal.

Results
 

Villain had A2o for turned two-pair. Which makes sense now given my reads on him, combined with his flop bet and turn check. Thus by serendipity or shrewdness, I ended up getting in the routine flop bet, putting no money when I was behind on turn, and maximizing profit on the river.