A nano preflop decision

bozlax · #1 12-23-2005, 04:45 PM

(Note: this post is primarily directed at the newer members of the forum, in an effort to spur a conversation about reads and table selection.)

So, I'm continuing a nano-limit 15BB challenge from yesterday. Having run through .02/.04 and .05/.10 in 53 hands, I stalled at .10/.20. Picked it up again today...sat down at this table and watched 3 hands before posting and getting the following:

PokerStars 0.10/0.20 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG raises, UTG+1 3-bets, 1 fold, MP1 calls, 5 folds, Hero ?

Reads: I haven't seen UTG do anything much. UTG+1 is short-stacked, and tilting at MP1 who's sucked out on him with crap a couple of hands in a row. UTG+1 capped the flop and turn last hand against 2 opponents with a really obvious gutshot.

Call, raise or fold, what do you do and why?

Vote4Pedro · #2 12-23-2005, 04:49 PM

I'd call

As long as you aren't reraising, I think either calling or folding is fine.

bozlax · #3 12-23-2005, 04:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'd call

As long as you aren't reraising, I think either calling or folding is fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
(Note: this post is primarily directed at the newer members of the forum, in an effort to spur a conversation about reads and table selection.)

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You also forgot to give any sort of why...c'mon, Pedro, follow the rules, man.

Vote4Pedro · #4 12-23-2005, 04:58 PM

[img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Fryguy · #5 12-23-2005, 04:52 PM

You're getting better than 4:1 right now, and will certainly be better than 4:1 after UTG completes. Pretty easy call here. I don't think you can raise with this much action out of position, and I think folding is giving up too much.

It sucks if UTG caps, but we are suited, and we are getting a discount. And MP2 is bad and will likely help bloat the pot if you make a big draw

GTSamIAm · #6 12-23-2005, 05:07 PM

Is UTG a thinking player? If he is, he had to expect UTG+1 would do something crazy, so I would put his range of hands much stronger in that case.

bozlax · #7 12-23-2005, 05:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Is UTG a thinking player? If he is, he had to expect UTG+1 would do something crazy, so I would put his range of hands much stronger in that case.

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See the OP for my read on UTG. To that I'll add, how many thinking players do you see at .10/.20 and what does that make your "default" player?

GTSamIAm · #8 12-23-2005, 05:56 PM

Fold? I dunno, however you split it, preflop is a close decision.

bozlax · #9 12-23-2005, 07:04 PM

Interesting. Calling was the only option that I pretty well ruled out, here, primarily because my read was that this pot was being capped regardless of my or UTG's action. My thinking:

I don't give UTG credit for being "good," or "thinking," or anything. I think he's probably on a pocket pair, or two big cards, or even something as bad as a high-middle-suited connector, but I'm not prepared to call it AA/KK/QQ/AK at this limit.

UTG+1 is short enough to not be able to play the whole hand, but not short enough to stack off before the turn. Furthermore, he's tilting as well as stacking off, and MP1 is goading him (the chat was priceless), so I don't give either of them credit for anything more than 2 cards, but also think that both of them will stay in for the duration of UTG+1's stack.

So, I'm looking at twice the money I'm putting in in dead money, and figuring I might be as good as 50/50 or better against UTG. Moreover, even if it's capped I'm still getting 5:1 on a hand that stands to be at least 5:1 of catching something I can play going into the flop.

So, I capped. I was hoping to chase UTG out preflop or at least put myself in a position to bet out on a scary flop and get rid of him, leaving me against two opponents that I figured to be ahead of. I agree with everybody that says it was close, and disagree with Brad about playing nanos...it's a great way to burn time while my kids are napping, eating supper, or just jumping up and down in the living room.

Eeegah · #10 12-23-2005, 07:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Interesting. Calling was the only option that I pretty well ruled out, here, primarily because my read was that this pot was being capped regardless of my or UTG's action.

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If we're playing I'd much rather call and let UTG tell us if he likes his hand enough to cap.