Knowing when to slow down
 

Two hands where I started out strong and wasn't sure when to slow down. In the first example, I have aces and am betting them as hard as I can. Should I have figured the turn bet from my opponent as 2 pair or better and gone into check-call mode? That seems weak and I'm pretty sure you guys will all say "no, keep raising", but I want to check.

In the 2nd hand, I hate flops like this: I've hit top 2 pair with AQ but the board is AQJ. If the straight is out there I have only four outs; if the straight is not there then several people are probably drawing at it. This time, my slowdown comes on the turn. Do you agree, or have I backed off too early?

Comments much appreciated.


Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls, <font color="666666">1 fold</font>, MP1 calls, <font color="666666">1 fold</font>, MP3 calls, CO calls, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="666666">1 fold</font>, BB calls, UTG calls, MP1 calls, MP3 calls, CO calls.

Flop: (12.50 SB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(6 players)</font>
BB checks, UTG checks, <font color="CC3333">MP1 bets</font>, MP3 calls, CO folds, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises</font>, BB folds, UTG folds, MP1 calls, MP3 calls.

Turn: (9.25 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(3 players)</font>
MP1 checks, <font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP1 folds, MP3 calls.

River: (13.25 BB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 15.25 BB
<font color="green">Main Pot: 15.25 BB, between MP3 and Hero.</font>




Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG calls, <font color="666666">2 folds</font>, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, CO calls, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="666666">2 folds</font>, UTG calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, CO calls.

Flop: (13.50 SB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(6 players)</font>
UTG checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks, MP3 checks, CO checks, <font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG calls, MP1 calls, MP2 folds, <font color="CC3333">MP3 raises</font>, CO calls, <font color="CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, UTG folds, MP1 calls, <font color="CC3333">MP3 caps</font>, CO calls, Hero calls, MP1 calls.

Turn: (15.25 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(4 players)</font>
MP1 checks, <font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, CO calls, Hero calls, MP1 calls.

River: (19.25 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(4 players)</font>
MP1 checks, <font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, CO folds, Hero calls, MP1 folds.

Final Pot: 21.25 BB
<font color="green">Main Pot: 21.25 BB, between MP3 and Hero.</font>

Re: Knowing when to slow down
 

Hand 1 is fine.

Hand 2 I think I'd have a real hard time slowing down becuase I'd assume that any hand I was behind would call the 3 bet and check-raise the turn. I guess maybe a set could play it this way but any hand that made a set with that flop I'd expect to raise preflop. I would expect to see AJ or something like K [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]J [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] fairly often here. So I'd raise the turn and call down if he 3 bets.

Re: Knowing when to slow down
 

Thanks, Evan, for the feedback.

I think you're right about hand 2: as it turns out my hand wasn't good, and the villain had flopped the straight with KT, but I think my immediate move to check-call mode on the turn was some old weak-tight thinking creeping in.

Cheers,
--JTR.