Bellagio 15/30

[icepoker]

This is Bellagio 15/30 last Sat night. My first pokertrip to Vegas and of course had a blast. Played the Bellagio 8/16, then the Mirage 10/20 and finally B 15/30. Nice rooms both. Here's a hand I played against a quite loose and somewhat aggressive opponent (semi-LAG).

Semi-LAG in lp limps first in, I'm next to act and raise with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], BB calls and the LAG calls.

Flop comes J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], BB checks, LAG bets, I raise, BB folds and now LAG makes it 3, I just call. Although I call my opponent LAG, I'd never seen him 3-bet the flop before but the board is draw heavy so who knows.

Turn is 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], LAG bets and I call.

River is 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], same action.

How did I do? It occurred to me to raise the turn as he certainly could have something like J9, T9s, 89s etc but at the same time he could have some two pair combo.

[haakee]

I would raise the turn and fold to a 3-bet.

[icepoker]

Yes, if I raise the turn I put myself in the situation of having to fold to a 3 bet, however I'm not a fan of folding top pair. In my usual game, Party 10/20 6 max, people have no problem betting/raising/capping with a draw regardless of odds/equity in the pot. This is why raising may be dangerous when you plan to fold to a 3 bet.

[icepoker]

My opponent had T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] and MHIG, it feels fishy that I allowed him to grab control of the hand but could I have done anything else?

[Garland]

I'm not too big of a fan of a "raise the turn, fold to a 3-bet" line because for the same price you could have seen the showdown at the river and get a line on his play. Note that the loose aggressive player in this hand not only had an open-ender, but got even more outs on the turn with a [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] flush draw. He could conceivably 3-bet the turn on that potential alone, and you'd fold the winning hand.

The only benefit is the case you have here: he has 9 and perhaps a piece of it, and you charge him double for his draw. Otherwise, he might actually have a good hand like 2 pair or a set, straight or less likely AJ, and you're charging yourself extra for drawing out on him...if you can!

Garland

[nepenthe]

You say he's a maniac? Raise the river and call a 3-bet.

[icepoker]

Never said he was a maniac and raising the river may be the worst possible decision as the draw either made it or not or I'm was behind all along and I'm throwing chips away.

[James282]

I'm not a fan of raise and fold to a three-bet because opponents are always raising and three-betting with 1 pair/draw combos. I raise the turn here almost every time - most people won't three-bet the flop with the 2 pair, they'll wait to check-raise you on the turn.
-James