How to play this?

#1 09-01-2005, 09:48 AM

Villain is a TAG.

I'm unsure about the flop raise. Another line would be to call until the end; that might cost me 1SB extra but I would get an extra chance to make trips on the river.

Same for the turn; I bet because I figured he would probably fold if he wouldn't hold a 9. But then checking would only give him 6 outs at most for free, while on the other hand if he would have the 9, it would give 2 free outs to me.

Any thoughts?

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
1 fold, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, 1 fold, MP2 calls, Hero calls, 3 folds, BB checks.

Flop: (5.33 SB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (5 players)
BB bets, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 folds, MP2 folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Turn: (4.66 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero folds.

Final Pot: 7.66 BB

peterchi · #2 09-01-2005, 10:03 AM

How tricky is he?

If you haven't seen him do anything out of line, I play this the same.

#3 09-01-2005, 10:08 AM

He had not caught my attention with anything unusual yet. According to PT he was a TAG.

Piiop · #4 09-01-2005, 10:50 AM

What did you put him on when he bet out on the flop? A TAG player usually isn't betting this drawless lowcard flop into 4 players with nothing.

sy_or_bust · #5 09-01-2005, 11:41 AM

I agree. The flop situation looks much better than it really is. You should probably just fold.

#6 09-01-2005, 11:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
What did you put him on when he bet out on the flop? A TAG player usually isn't betting this drawless lowcard flop into 4 players with nothing.

[/ QUOTE ]
The hero needs to listen to this statement, is is very unlikely that your opponent is going to bet this board into a field of 4 without a hand that beats 55. So fold the flop.

Dopey · #7 09-01-2005, 12:36 PM

Are you saying if you are said TAG your only betting this with a 9 or a pair higher than 5's??

He was in BB an was able to check his option preflop. He can have any two cards. Any overpair he would/should raise preflop so I would rule those out.

I would assume most TAG's would lead with any 9, any pocket pair > 4, some 4's & 2's, most straight draws and in some cases overcards given the raggedy nature of the board.

I couldn't argue with a flop fold (although doing it every time in this situation seems a bit weak). I think a raise is better than a call alot of the time.
You can only be calling if you think you may have the best hand, as you do not have odds to be trying to hit anything. Raising should only cost you one small extra bet but does three important things that calling does not:
<ul type="square">[*] gives you more information on where you stand. If you are 3-bet you can get away from this.[*] gives you a possibility to take a free card.[*] gives you a chance to win the pot right here.[/list]Turn play seems pretty straight-forward to me, I play the same.

If your not folding, how is calling not worse than raising? I think this is a case of folding>raising>calling but I may be wrong. Thoughts?

Dopey [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

#8 09-01-2005, 12:43 PM

I would call the flop, and evaluate his behaviour on the turn. This would unfortunately lead me to calling the turn and the river when the 9 comes up, because it puts reasonable doubt in my mind he has it. It's unfortunate, because trip 9's beat two pair.

sy_or_bust · #9 09-01-2005, 12:46 PM

There are no reasonable draws (53 is quite unlikely), and the only worse hand a good BB might bet is A4. Hero has a weak made hand that is vulnerable to absolutely anything. You are simply putting too much money into a tiny pot as an underdog by continuing with this hand. You need to know something like "BB will bet into a field with overcards" to play on. Against a typical TAG, you just fold.

#10 09-01-2005, 12:49 PM

I wasn't completely sure he had a 9. He could have a 4 or something like 53 as well. After all from his point of view it would not be unlikely that everybody missed the flop.

I guess this is very read dependent, but unfortunately I did not know this player very well. I wasn't sure either what I should put a 'typical TAG' on.