I was reviewing an old Paradise 2-4 transcript (100 hands) and came across a few hands where my current line of play is different than what it used to be. I hid my actions from myself and tried to guess what I was about to do. So, are these changes for the better?
Hand 1:
Paradise Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed)
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Preflop: Hero is BB with 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. CO posts a blind of $2.
<font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, UTG+1 calls, <font color="#666666">
4 folds</font>, CO (poster) checks, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.
Flop: (5 SB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG+1 folds, CO folds, Button calls, SB folds.
Turn: (3.50 BB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls.
<font color="#0000CC">
Nowadays, I would *always* check-raise this in a short-handed field. I think this is a change for the better. Anyone prefer the bet?
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River: (5.50 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls.
Final Pot: 7.50 BB
Hand 2:
Paradise Poker 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed)
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Preflop: Hero is Button with Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, UTG+1 calls, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, <font color="#666666">
3 folds</font>, SB completes, BB checks.
<font color="#0000CC">
Nowadays, I would call here. I had a very strong bias against hands that did not play multiway in a multiway pot. I may still fold KJo here, but not KQo. I'm guessing a large percentage of this forum subscribes to raising with the KQo here? I think at least seeing the flop with KQo is also a change for the better?
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Hand 3:
Paradise Poker 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed)
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Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">
2 folds</font>, MP1 calls, <font color="#666666">
2 folds</font>, CO calls, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, SB calls, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>.
Flop: (9 SB) A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP1 calls, CO folds, SB calls.
<font color="#0000CC">
I may not take a shot against this many players with 99 here. And if I choose to, it's probably my last bet into the pot without improvement. Since this bet looks a little
suicidal, and the follow-up bet I made on the turn looks no better, I think that slowing down is a change for the better?
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Turn: (6 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 raises</font>, SB folds, Hero folds.
Final Pot: 9 BB
Hand 4:
Paradise Poker 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed)
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Preflop: Hero is Button with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">
7 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, BB calls.
Flop: (4.50 SB) K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, BB calls.
Turn: (3.25 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, Hero checks.
<font color="#0000CC">
When I was reviewing this hand, I had serious troubles deciding whether to bet or check here. The bet should end the hand if BB has little, and protects the hand against a J or Q falling. There is also some protection against BB filling up a small pocket pair on the river, and maybe charges BB in case he has a flush draw. But a check may induce a bluff. Also, it may be a statistically weak idea to try and protect this small of a pot against a lone opponent.
Finally, I decided that I would probably bet because BB may call down with a much weaker hand, suspecting a weak steal raise. I think this is the most complicated decision in the transcript and I'm not sure which way it really should be played.
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River: (3.25 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">BB bets</font>, Hero calls.
Final Pot: 5.25 BB
Hand 5:
Paradise Poker 2/4 Hold'em (8 handed)
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Preflop: Hero is Button with 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">
5 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">
1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">BB 3-bets</font>, Hero calls.
Flop: (6.50 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">BB bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, BB calls.
<font color="#0000CC">
I fold this against most players these days. It seems pretty obvious to me right now that this should have been a fold since I may be bluffing with as few as 3 outs + running flush outs. Anyone call here?
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Turn: (5.25 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, Hero checks.
River: (5.25 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
BB checks, Hero checks.
Final Pot: 5.25 BB