Greg's Turkey Day interactive blind quiz

[Greg J]

One thing that is great about SSHE is the hand quizzes. I am proud to say I now get every question, okay nearly every question, correct. (There are one or two that still trip me up I’ll admit.) One thing it does not have, however, is much on blind play, which becomes increasingly important in tighter and tougher games. I have long realized this was the weak point of my game, so yeah maybe this is self-serving to some extent. But if I have this issue I’m sure I’m not the only one. Anyway, here is a blind hand quiz.

But this won’t be any ordinary quiz, folks. I want this to be interactive. I would like to challenge everyone to come up with one question. Try and contrive a situation you think is borderline or difficult and pose it for consideration from the other posters.

Also, when you answer a question, don’t just say, “call” or “fold” or whatever. Give some justification. You don’t have to write an essay, but at least provide a sentence or two.

1) First hand at the table– you have observed a pretty tight table waiting for the blinds, but have no real reads yet. You are dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG+2 open raises, folded to you.

2) The very next hand in the SB you get 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Hijack (MP3 for the uninitiated) open limps, folded to you.

3) Loose table with mixed aggression: three loose passives limp, and a loose aggressive but thinking player raises on the button. You have 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] in the SB. BB is a reasonably good player who plays tight.

4) You are in the BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Four loose passive limp, and a loose aggressive player raises on the button. SB (loose passive) calls.

5) UTG, a tight aggressive players raises, you get 2 cold callers from loose and passive types. You are in the SB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] BB is loose and passive. (Does your answer change if you have 3 cold callers?)

6) Same situation as #5, only this time you have 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. (Does your answer change if you have 3 cold callers?)

7) UTG+2 open raises. He is loose, aggressive, but thinking player. You get 2 cold callers and the SB calls (all looser players). You have 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] in the BB.

8) Same situation as #7, but this time you have T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

9) You are in the SB with 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Hijack open limps, folded to you. BB is crazy and unpredictable LA player.

10) You are in the BB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Seven players limp (an assortment of muppets), the SB folds.

11) Same as #10, only the button (LAG) raises.

Oh, when responding please quote the questions. That makes it easier to see what you are refering to. Thanks.

[milesdyson]

[ QUOTE ]

1) First hand at the table– you have observed a pretty tight table waiting for the blinds, but have no real reads yet. You are dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG+2 open raises, folded to you.

[/ QUOTE ]
call and play wa/wb with a flopped ace. c/r a 9, a flush draw, or a combo gutshot/overcard/bdfd flop, like 568 with a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. after this hand i leave the table.

[ QUOTE ]
2) The very next hand in the SB you get 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Hijack (MP3 for the uninitiated) open limps, folded to you.

[/ QUOTE ]
i fold this. depending on how much bb raises, i will call hands like 87o and 65s.

[ QUOTE ]
3) Loose table with mixed aggression: three loose passives limp, and a loose aggressive but thinking player raises on the button. You have 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] in the SB. BB is a reasonably good player who plays tight.

[/ QUOTE ]
just call. bb will likely fold anyway, and you won't thin the field against the loose players. you will bloat the pot out of position with a pair of 9s. you have great position to either bet the flop when you hit a set or c/r the flop when you want to protect your hand.

[ QUOTE ]
4) You are in the BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Four loose passive limp, and a loose aggressive player raises on the button. SB (loose passive) calls.

[/ QUOTE ]
i fold this. AXo hands, in my experience, do not do well in raised pots. you will usually only get bets in postflop with the worst hand.

[ QUOTE ]
5) UTG, a tight aggressive players raises, you get 2 cold callers from loose and passive types. You are in the SB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] BB is loose and passive. (Does your answer change if you have 3 cold callers?)

[/ QUOTE ]
call. my answer becomes a happier call with 3 cold callers.

[ QUOTE ]
6) Same situation as #5, only this time you have 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. (Does your answer change if you have 3 cold callers?)

[/ QUOTE ]
call again. flop a set, check raise the field, and profit immensely.

[ QUOTE ]
7) UTG+2 open raises. He is loose, aggressive, but thinking player. You get 2 cold callers and the SB calls (all looser players). You have 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] in the BB.

[/ QUOTE ]
i definitely call this getting 9:1. i call this with only one coldcaller from the bb (this would be 5.5:1).

[ QUOTE ]
8) Same situation as #7, but this time you have T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].

[/ QUOTE ]
now i make it three. this is similar to the 99 hand, but i now have position on at least one of these guys, and tens are of course, better than nines.

[ QUOTE ]
9) You are in the SB with 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Hijack open limps, folded to you. BB is crazy and unpredictable LA player.

[/ QUOTE ]
he's from LA? makes sense. i fold.

[ QUOTE ]
10) You are in the BB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Seven players limp (an assortment of muppets), the SB folds.

[/ QUOTE ]
raise. tie them to the pot for when you hit your set.

[ QUOTE ]
11) Same as #10, only the button (LAG) raises.

[/ QUOTE ]
make it 3 and hope they all call.

[Aaron W.]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

1) First hand at the table– you have observed a pretty tight table waiting for the blinds, but have no real reads yet. You are dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG+2 open raises, folded to you.

[/ QUOTE ]
call and play wa/wb with a flopped ace. c/r a 9, a flush draw, or a combo gutshot/overcard/bdfd flop, like 568 with a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. after this hand i leave the table.

[/ QUOTE ]

Table selection at the micros is overrated. Besides, tight tables allow you to play a LAG game from mid-late and late position, which is lots of fun.

[milesdyson]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

1) First hand at the table– you have observed a pretty tight table waiting for the blinds, but have no real reads yet. You are dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG+2 open raises, folded to you.

[/ QUOTE ]
call and play wa/wb with a flopped ace. c/r a 9, a flush draw, or a combo gutshot/overcard/bdfd flop, like 568 with a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. after this hand i leave the table.

[/ QUOTE ]

Table selection at the micros is overrated. Besides, tight tables allow you to play a LAG game from mid-late and late position, which is lots of fun.

[/ QUOTE ]
i'll take the easy profit.

this is a full ring table where UTG and UTG+1 folded, UTG+2 open raised, and no one coldcalled. i don't care if this (and the fact that we "observed a pretty tight table") is a fluke. with the mass of tables available, why wouldn't you take 14 seconds to go sit at another one?

[shant]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

1) First hand at the table– you have observed a pretty tight table waiting for the blinds, but have no real reads yet. You are dealt A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG+2 open raises, folded to you.

[/ QUOTE ]
call and play wa/wb with a flopped ace. c/r a 9, a flush draw, or a combo gutshot/overcard/bdfd flop, like 568 with a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. after this hand i leave the table.

[/ QUOTE ]

Table selection at the micros is overrated. Besides, tight tables allow you to play a LAG game from mid-late and late position, which is lots of fun.

[/ QUOTE ]
i'll take the easy profit.

this is a full ring table where UTG and UTG+1 folded, UTG+2 open raised, and no one coldcalled. i don't care if this (and the fact that we "observed a pretty tight table") is a fluke. with the mass of tables available, why wouldn't you take 14 seconds to go sit at another one?

[/ QUOTE ]
This is a good thread about playing in tight games.

[milesdyson]

i've read that thread. i believe the point of it is more along these lines:

"you can't find a loose game, because there aren't any. the tights ones are still very profitable."

however, if you could choose a game based purely on vpip, would anyone choose the 25/5 game over the 40/5 game?

and i take back the A9s call from the big blind in a tight game - i would call it against myself in a 6-handed game though, as i raise ATo, ~A8s, KJo, KTs, QJs, 66+ from utg.

I agree with Miles 100%.

Hands 2 and 9 are calls that I usually make incorrectly.
But I'm way too loose in the SB.

[ QUOTE ]
call and play wa/wb with a flopped ace. c/r a 9, a flush draw, or a combo gutshot/overcard/bdfd flop, like 568 with a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. after this hand i leave the table.


[/ QUOTE ]

Miles, can you explain the rationale for check-raising the flush draw in this situation? In weighing the odds King Yao advocates the same thing, and I don't get it. I mean, I do get it against someone I've played a lot of hands against, because it makes me harder to read etc. etc., but against an unknown I'm not sure what it accomplishes.

I haven't read the rest of the thread, so sorry if it's already been discussed.

[milesdyson]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
call and play wa/wb with a flopped ace. c/r a 9, a flush draw, or a combo gutshot/overcard/bdfd flop, like 568 with a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. after this hand i leave the table.


[/ QUOTE ]

Miles, can you explain the rationale for check-raising the flush draw in this situation? In weighing the odds King Yao advocates the same thing, and I don't get it. I mean, I do get it against someone I've played a lot of hands against, because it makes me harder to read etc. etc., but against an unknown I'm not sure what it accomplishes.

I haven't read the rest of the thread, so sorry if it's already been discussed.

[/ QUOTE ]
we're not just check raising any flush draws - i did not make that clear. ie. on a T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], the best line is to check call because we're not going going to be able to fold him out with a turn follow up bet.

the idea is that if he has a stronger ace than ours (or a hand with 6 outs like KQ), we want him to fold it unimproved on the turn. so, we check raise a T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] flop. he will have a hard time calling a turn lead (sometimes he may even fold the flop) if he doesn't improve his overcard hand. if he 3-bets us with an overpair, we still have 9 flush outs + 3 ace outs usually (since he can have JJ/QQ/KK 18 ways and AA only 3 ways). 12 outs heads up is not such a bad spot.

[Koss]

It would be nice if you could make this a poll somewow, but here goes.

[ QUOTE ]

1) First hand at the table– you have observed a pretty tight table waiting for the blinds, but have no real reads yet. You are dealt A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in the BB. UTG+2 open raises, folded to you.


[/ QUOTE ]

1) Fold. You're dominated 99% of the time and OOP. Not a good spot to be heads up.

[ QUOTE ]

2) The very next hand in the SB you get 5 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Hijack (MP3 for the uninitiated) open limps, folded to you.


[/ QUOTE ]

2) Fold. This is a weak hand that needs a big pot to be profitable. Not here.

[ QUOTE ]

3) Loose table with mixed aggression: three loose passives limp, and a loose aggressive but thinking player raises on the button. You have 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] in the SB. BB is a reasonably good player who plays tight.


[/ QUOTE ]

3) Call. You could be behind and a 3-bet might not force anyone out. This hand can easily be played for set value. I'd call with any pair here.

[ QUOTE ]

4) You are in the BB with A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Four loose passive limp, and a loose aggressive player raises on the button. SB (loose passive) calls.


[/ QUOTE ]

4) Fold. Multiway pot facing a raise and you have a weak Ace out of position. Nothing good about this hand.

[ QUOTE ]

5) UTG, a tight aggressive players raises, you get 2 cold callers from loose and passive types. You are in the SB with 9 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] BB is loose and passive. (Does your answer change if you have 3 cold callers?)


[/ QUOTE ]

5) This one is very close. Blind structure is important here. If it's 1/2 or 2/3 I call. 1/3 I fold.

[ QUOTE ]

6) Same situation as #5, only this time you have 5 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. (Does your answer change if you have 3 cold callers?)


[/ QUOTE ]

6) Call it.

[ QUOTE ]

7) UTG+2 open raises. He is loose, aggressive, but thinking player. You get 2 cold callers and the SB calls (all looser players). You have 6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] in the BB.


[/ QUOTE ]

7) Call.

[ QUOTE ]

8) Same situation as #7, but this time you have T [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].


[/ QUOTE ]

8) 3-bet, but it's close.

[ QUOTE ]

9) You are in the SB with 2 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Hijack open limps, folded to you. BB is crazy and unpredictable LA player.


[/ QUOTE ]

9) I would like a pretty good idea of how often the BB will raise. I probably call.

[ QUOTE ]

10) You are in the BB with 8 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 8 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. Seven players limp (an assortment of muppets), the SB folds.


[/ QUOTE ]

10) Check. Not enough flops that 88 is going to like here. See a flop.

[ QUOTE ]

11) Same as #10, only the button (LAG) raises.


[/ QUOTE ]

11) Call, play it for set value.