Common 6max top pair situation. Is it simple?

barongreenback · #1 05-15-2005, 07:26 AM

First orbit and no info on villain yet. I'm interested in general thoughts, though, so feel free to say you'd play in one way with read x and another with read y.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter

MP ($33.75)
Hero ($98.5)
SB ($30.2)
BB ($134.76)
UTG ($28.3)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $0.5.
2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 1 fold, BB calls $2.

Flop: ($6.50) J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $5, BB calls $5.

Turn: ($16.50) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB checks
Hero?

Mainly interested in the turn but would anyone check the flop?

Thanks
James

-Skeme- · #2 05-15-2005, 08:14 AM

I wouldn't check the flop. I might check the turn, though.

ncskiier · #3 05-15-2005, 09:15 AM

Either check the turn or put out a large enough bet that you can REALLY get a feel for where the SB is at. I like checking though.

thomase · #4 05-15-2005, 09:36 AM

If you check turn you have to call if he bets at the river. I like a 3/4-pot bet at the turn and check behind at the river. I fold to a reraise or a big river bet.

jhall23 · #5 05-15-2005, 10:42 AM

I'm betting the flop here after raising pre-flop pretty much every time. After the call I'll usually check behind on the turn and then call a reasonable river bet. If I have a read that villian is a total calling station I might bet the turn. Checking behind on the turn gets extra bets out of aggro opponenents with weaker hands and losses less when they actually have something good like a set.

Usually in 6 max they will read your turn check behind as weak/missed overs and aggro's will bet into you on the river with anything. There are many players who will call your continuation bet just to see what you do on the turn and then try and take the pot away when they sense weakness.

barongreenback · #6 05-15-2005, 02:09 PM

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I might check the turn, though.

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Is betting your usual line? Is it a close decision?

barongreenback · #7 05-15-2005, 02:13 PM

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After the call I'll usually check behind on the turn

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Would it make any difference if you had AJ or KJ? What if the turn was a 3?

jhall23 · #8 05-15-2005, 09:50 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
After the call I'll usually check behind on the turn

[/ QUOTE ]
Would it make any difference if you had AJ or KJ? What if the turn was a 3?

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Nope I'd play it pretty much the same with AJ and KJ. The 3 might make me more likely to bet if I know my opponents will call with a draw. Against a LAG I'm willing to risk a free card to get them to bet the river with junk.

TheWorstPlayer · #9 05-15-2005, 11:22 PM

HU, I'm betting the turn in case he has a draw, checking the river. I'll lay down to a turn check/raise. This is against an unknown.

If I know he's overaggro, I'll check turn because I don't want to lay down to a turn c/r and because I'll be more likely to induce a bluff on the river. If he's super loose I might bet the turn and the river. In a HU battle like this, top pair with a decent kicker is very strong.

barongreenback · #10 05-16-2005, 01:51 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Before this session I was thinking I was over focusing on getting a SD with my marginal hands and had decided that it would be more effective to maintain aggression and fold when played back at.

With this in mind I bet the turn and folded confidently when he raised me. Then he showed me A9o which was certainly not a hand I expected to see, bluff or no bluff. I'm not sure that this is a hand where the results say much, though. If I'd checked and seen his hand I would have assumed I'd made an error. It's exactly the sort of hand you want to bet the turn against (assuming he doesn't raise of course). I suspect its close against most opponents.

I think the moral of the story is to play conservatively while you don't have reads. Annoyingly, for the rest of this session the villain played loose passive and this move seemed totally out of character.

James