Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

My friend played this and asked me to post it here.

First hand of the event. Blinds are 25/25. 5000 starting chips.

2 folds and he raises to 100 with AQc.

just the BB calls (Chris Bigler).

Flop comes QJ5 rainbow. Chris checks, he bets 200, Chris calls.

Turn is another Q, completing the rainbow. Chris checks, he bets 500. Chris now check-raises to 1500 quickly.

My friend thinks for a second and calls.

River is a 7. Chris bets out 1500. Whats my friend's play and why?

-Scott

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

i call.

i think you're ahead there often enough that folding is bad, but i think KQ is just about the only worse hand that pays off if you push.

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

Call. A reraise here is very very bad.

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

I would call and cry when he turns over 5's full. I'm not sure at what point you become pot committed on the first hand of a tourney, but calling here and having less than 50% of your chips left if you lose is a scary thought. Brutal decision for the first hand of a big buy-in tournament.

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

It looks to me like your friend is beat, or Bigler (of whom I've never heard) is making a move with TT, or some such hand.

I actually think the turn decision is far more interesting. If he just calls, he has to expect Bigler to bet the river. There is no way Bigler is going to CR on a semi-bluff, and then give it up on the river when his opponent shows weakness by just calling. I think this is extremely read-dependent. Villain could certainly have JJ or QJ, or be running a pretty nifty bluff.

I don't think your friend can fold to the river bet - if he was ahead on the turn, he's certainly ahead on the river. But I also don't much like raising. Cry, call, and hope the villain has KQ.

Sam

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

IIRC Bigler is insanely tight.

If the above is true, I would contemplate checking behind on the turn and setting up either a river value bet from Bigler or a total bluff.

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

This is either an early bully play or a QJ. I think this is about 60/40, sure he played it like a QJ, but he might have put hero on a pair and figured he could scare him off if he played it like a QJ.

I'm pretty sure it's a call. If you lay this down here you might as well just wear a sign that says please run over me.

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

If this guy is tight you need to exercise some pot control in this hand and not get into a situation where you are playing this hand for your stack. I would definitely check behind the turn for a few reasons.

1) There arent many draws you are scared about. I mean, if he has KT he only has 4 outs and its probable this player would fold it before the flop.

2) Checking the turn allows you to value bet your hand and get called by worse ones. Bigler may make a call on the river here with AJ or something like that.

As the hero played the hand, I think you have to call the turn CR but I'm not sure. On the river you are likely beat and I hate this spot, which is why I'd be inclined to check the turn with AQ here. If I had AA I'd definitely be firing two barrels and folding to the turn CR.

-Jason

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

[ QUOTE ]
IIRC Bigler is insanely tight.


[/ QUOTE ]

Only against other pros at a final table.

Bigler is just like any other pro with a good bankroll he likes to bully early on. I wouldn't be shocked if he thinks the hero here is playing over his head and can run him off of his chips.

Re: Hand from $5000 Pot limit WSOP event
 

I call just in case he has QJ and has the boat, which could be a possibility with his play, but he could have KQ just as well and was trying to trap the whole time.