[aces_dad]

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Ok, I appreciate the replies, but I think the "bet more" line is much too simplistic. For one thing I was betting around 1/2 pot with hands and without, so betting 1/2 pot doesnt make it look like I have air. I have no reason to believe that betting pot on the flop would make him fold bottom pair. 60% of the time with hands like AK I'll flop no pair, so betting more for continuation just means I'm putting more money in the pot with no pair.

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You're getting a lot of these responses because the default cb size recommended on this forum is PSB, not 1/2 PSB. If 1/2PSB is your default cb you'll get advice to raise that as well. Basically you're laying too good odds for others to call and not getting enough value from your made hands.

If you're not hitting the flop, and your CB's aren't working against this guy, quit making them. Bluffy LAG's are the players I'm least likely to cb against.

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The button steal hand is a tough river call but if you're not willing to make this call you're better off just folding pf.


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Hmm.. well, I don't want to just become a vanilla player because of him. I want to be able to show down a top pair when it's good and fold when it's not. He's still going to make big hands and I don't want to pay off when he does. Maybe that means I just need to play tighter preflop so I can be more sure my hands are good?


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I see two options for playing against him, and both should be profitable. Either tighten up and only play strong hands against him (the so called vanilla you don't want to do), or make these tough river calls with marginal hands TPNK. My point is that if you're not willing to enter the marginal decisions he is going to face you with when playing these type of hands, you should be careful to not enter them.

There's nothing wrong with so called vanilla against these players BTW, it's up to you how you want to play them.

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The final hand, I don't like the flop 3 bet, I don't think you've got good FE to make that move, and he's likely to pay you off if you improve on the turn anyway. Just call his c/r.

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Are you assuming I'm behind on the flop? When he check-raises the flop I think I'm still ahead there often. He's shown he can check-raise with air, and will call with bottom pair, etc. He could also just have a draw with no made hand. Certainly when I 3-bet and he calls then I know I'm in trouble, but if I just fold to his check-raise that's inviting more check-raises. If I just call and don't improve I have to check-fold the turn?

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I am not folding to the flop c/r, there is a good chance we're ahead and if not have a good draw to get there. I just don't like the 3bet because there is no reason to semi-bluff this player; we should be looking to draw cheaply and get paid when we hit. Based upon what you've shown, he will pay us off. Also if we keep it cheap getting to showdown with these marginal holdings will be easier.