JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

Hero has been playing fairly LAG opening lots of pots PF. I have been caught in several bluffs in medium sized pots. This is the first time that I have check/raised after opening PF.

Villian has been playing fairly solid, but has shown that he is capable of making a few moves. I think that it is very unlikely that he is calling with a draw.

Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $4 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter

Hero ($641.25)
CO ($525.95)
Button <font color="#A500AF">(Villian)</font> ($488.70)
SB ($989.79)
BB ($187)
UTG ($457.41)

Preflop: Hero is MP with J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $2.
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $14</font>, CO calls $14, Button <font color="#A500AF(Villian)[/color"> calls $14, SB (poster) calls $12, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>.

Flop: ($60) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, Hero checks, CO checks, <font color="#CC3333">Villian bets $40</font>, SB folds, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $150</font>, CO folds, Villian calls $110.

Turn: ($360) T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero... ? Villian has about $350 left.

Is pushing the only play?

Thoughts on flop also welcome.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

Oh, also, before anybody says "Raise more PF" please note that this is PL.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

push it

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

looks like 88 stacked you

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

pot

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

Before I get too many more responses just saying "push"....

What do people think that his range is here for calling my flop c/r?

Villian is fairly solid, and good, and he knows he has no room to make a play on the turn.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

You are in a pickle. Since you've been playing LAG I would imagine his range for calling the C/R is AJ, KJ, QJ, JT, JJ, 88, 66. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I see a LAG, esp one getting caught in multiple bluffs, all these hands are in my range. 100% when checked to me on the flop.

Anyways, if he's not calling with a draw then his call on the flop must be a real hand, unless you think he's sophisticated enough to call a C/R to make a huge move on the turn. It doesn't sound like it. Therefore, on the turn, there's 24 possibilities you're ahead of, 9 you're behind, and 4 you're tied with. Since you're positive he's not on a draw, I check, let him bet, and push. If he doesn't bet, I value be the river.

standard disclaimer, I don't play this high, but this is all pretty logical, esp against what seems to be an ABC villain.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

Although he may be capable of bluffing, betting into that board in a multi-way pot dosen't seem like a smart place for a player that you respect to be pure bluffing.

I don't understand the check-raise with top pair. You build a bigger pot then you want, OOP, in a muti-waypot, with a draw heavy board.

On the turn, If you are going to committing your whole stack wouldn't you like to have a stronger read, or at least be in postion?

You will almost never get called by a hand you are beating (which are only the unlikely overpairs and AJ, KJ, QJ.). So you are risking the loss of far more than you stand to gain. With a push, your opponet has only committed 140 to the hand where as you are risking your whole stack. He's not in the worst position.

I think it's a matter of picking your spots.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

easier if you bet flop and turn. If you bet 3/4 on each you're in for same 150ish, then you can fold when he raises you all in on turn with his set.

Usually when I c/r on flop, i'm trying to take it down there and i'm done/slowing way down if its called.

You're in a real tough spot now. You can bet pot; i know no one will like it, but you can also check and see what he does.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

flop checkraise is meh.

once you get to this turn with that card with those stacks you should be figuring out how to get all the money in.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

I don't play anywhere near that high, but I'm really interested to hear your reasoning.

If you check-raise flop and don't want to stick your chips in the middle after you hit one of the best cards for your hand on the turn, then why do you CR? If you're done with the hand when villain calls you should do it with air, no?

Probably Obvious Results
 

I originally checked planning on check/folding because I had a "bad feeling about it." Maybe not the best reason, but there it is.

When the button bet, he was the only player who I thought would take a stab at the pot with a weakish hand.

After I check/raised the flop, I told myself that I was done with the hand.

When he called the check/raise, I felt pretty confident that he had a monster and was trapping me... but then I hit the T on the turn, and couldn't see myself check/folding it... so I moved in. I guess I was hoping that I could still get calls from AJ, KJ, QJ, QQ, or some wacky two pair, often enough that the move wasn't horrible, but I had a sinking feeling when I made the bet.

He instacalled with 666.

Re: JTs Top Two Pair: PL $400
 

me dont like flop check/raise at all.. but im new to 400NL so what the hell i know. peace
-nir

Re: Probably Obvious Results
 

It sucks when your hand improves just enough to screw you.