Time to Devalue Big Slick (Cardplayer Article)

IMHO ... another article with more entertainment value than educational value. Things that are not distinguished in the article:
- Suited or not suited
- Position, opening bet or already a raise or reraise
- First in? Following an open bet or raise?
- etc., etc., etc.

The one key point that he touches upon but misses is when players are making bad calls and getting miracle flops. Yeah, you will occasionally get busted in these situations, but I think you will earn more chips than you will lose over time.

One key point that he misses completely is that the concept of the continuation bet is widely understood nowadays. Therefore the AKo or AKs semi-bluff with an empty flop has much less value, because players are more inclined to cold call or raise with a pair. The obvious change would be to check and call (if the odds are ok) and try to catch a 6-outer on the turn if the odds are good and you think that may win the hand with just top pair.

Further, he misses another point which is when you find yourself with AK and top or second pair and facing a hand like AJ or KJ. Sometimes it is enough to check the flop and get the opponent bet into you the rest of the way with second best hand.

On his other point: "So, if the flop comes J-6-2, many opponents will put you on A-K and happily go all in with 9-9, knowing you can’t profitably call."

I would love situations like this because it makes it easy to get away from the hand, and this is a sign of a not very crafty opponent. On the other hand, if there is an opponent who might only bet 30-40% of the pot and try to make you call with poor odds, then this is not a good situation.