Small pair against an odd turn bet

topspin · #1 10-30-2005, 03:05 PM

UTG+1 is extremely loose postflop. He's happy to call one or more bets on the flop with marginal draws or pairs. Thus far he also appears pretty passive. He's spewed off most of his stack and begins this hand with 5BB. MP3 has only recently joined and I have no reads.

Paradise Poker 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, 2 folds, Hero calls, MP3 calls, 2 folds, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (6 SB) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (6 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets, MP3 calls, SB folds, BB folds, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
UTG+1 bets (3BB stack left after his bet), Hero sees one player still to act behind him and ...

El Tigre · #2 10-30-2005, 03:17 PM

calls

stuartharris · #3 10-30-2005, 03:17 PM

If he's been pretty passive, he may have the J. On the other hand, he may be playing out of character with almost no stack.

I know that I can't call here with one left to act. Folding may be best. I probably raise to get heads-up; if he raises back, I fold. If he calls, I check or call on the river UI.

McGahee · #4 10-30-2005, 03:18 PM

Interesting - I think I get your dilemma. You want to protect your vulnerable hand from MP3, but you can't feel comfortable folding to a 3-bet from UTG+1, because even passive players tend to tilt away chips on short stacks.
Because the pot isn't that large and UTG+1 probably isn't betting a flush draw, I like calling down and just hope that MP3 misses his 6-outer against you. Fold to any raises by MP3.

SoftcoreRevolt · #5 10-30-2005, 03:25 PM

I'm tempted to call here and raise the river (a safe one), calling any action from the short stack. The pot is small enough that there's no real need to try to protect here, so let's try to get value if the caller is drawing to a four outer, he's already making a mistake.

McGahee · #6 10-30-2005, 03:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm tempted to call here and raise the river (a safe one), calling any action from the short stack. The pot is small enough that there's no real need to try to protect here, so let's try to get value if the caller is drawing to a four outer, he's already making a mistake.

[/ QUOTE ]

No offence sir, but that's ridiculous. If you're going to stick in a raise somewhere, the turn is a MUCH better spot than the river. You want to protect from MP3 on the turn, and you want him to overcall on the river since he's giving us overlay and we're not sure we have UTG+1 beat.

SoftcoreRevolt · #7 10-30-2005, 03:48 PM

What does MP3 have that will likely result in a river overcall? Especially one that we beat? Very little. I think in the end letting him see the river for 1 BB is a +EV move, and then getting UTGs money in on the river, since MP3 is unlikely to overcall the river.

I'm not saying this is a great play or anything, but it makes sense when I run it through my head.

Aaron W. · #8 10-30-2005, 03:46 PM

Just call. Having 3 BB left is much different from having .5 BB left.

TomBrooks · #9 10-30-2005, 03:58 PM

utg's Turn Bet looks suspicious unless he's so passive that he usually doesn't bet top pair J on the flop. He could have a weak kicker though and being OOP wanted to avoid a possible raise. If you have been playing aggressively, he could be concerned about you.

He could be taking a shot at a bluff. Some guys do things like that when they are almost out of chips. At micolimits, it happens even against multiple opponents.

I'd either fold or raise. You could get bluff three-bet if utg is in blow off his stack mode though and you'd probably have to release to that, so I'd lean towards folding.

shadow29 · #10 10-30-2005, 04:19 PM

Welcome back topspin.