(Stars 20 tbl SnG) JJ pre-flop with lots of action.

KneeCo · #1 11-22-2005, 01:33 AM

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

MP3 (t2555)
CO (t1175)
Button (t2390)
SB (t4480)
BB (t1400)
UTG (t4955)
UTG+1 (t4265)
Hero (t2585)
MP2 (t1775)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls t50, 1 fold, Hero raises to t150, 1 fold, MP3 calls t150, 1 fold, Button calls t150, 2 folds, UTG raises to t250, Hero ???.

Mid stages of a Stars 180 person MTT, and I just got shuffled to this table, so I'm entirely in the dark in terms of reads.

What's your move and why?
If you're calling, what's your plan for the flop?
Finally, what range do you put UTG on?

mlagoo · #2 11-22-2005, 01:36 AM

sure looks like a donk getting greedy with a monster. i call because you may have odds just to hit a set, and if not, its close, and if you do hit, your implied odds are absurd.

so i call preflop. if someone comes over top behind me and UTG calls, i'm folding, obviously.

if the flop comes with a jack, obviously i'm getting my chips in however i can. if the flop comes all unders, if UTG checks to me i'm going to bet/fold. if the flop comes all unders and UTG bets, i think i'm just folding. obviously if the flop comes with no set and overs, i'm getting away very quickly.

A_C_Slater · #3 11-22-2005, 01:44 AM

A limp reraise does usually indicate a monster. So I would say his range is AA-QQ, AK and maybe AQ if he's really donkey.

You have to call just for set potential. As far as my plan for the flop, well I would first have to see the flop texture and what UTG does. Take things one street at a time.

So show me the flop.

You should also raise more than 3xbb after one limper. 3xbb is good for an open raiser, but you should make it 4xbb with one limper, 5xbb with 2 limpers, etc. By only raising 3xbb he's getting better odds to call with a wider range of hands and it's harder to narrow down his range.

KneeCo · #4 11-22-2005, 02:02 AM

I didn't raise 4x because I wasn't sure where I stood or how aggro the table was, and since I was UTG+1 I didn't know how hard I wanted to play my hand necessarily. The pf raise was made with the hopes of playing my jacks heads-up in position. But you are right, the majority of the time, I raise an extra BB per limper.

Here's the flop:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

MP3 (t2555)
CO (t1175)
Button (t2390)
SB (t4480)
BB (t1400)
UTG (t4955)
UTG+1 (t4265)
Hero (t2585)
MP2 (t1775)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls t50, 1 fold, Hero raises to t150, 1 fold, MP3 calls t150, 1 fold, Button calls t150, 2 folds, UTG raises to t250, Hero calls t100, MP3 calls t100, Button calls t100.

Flop: (t1075) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
UTG checks, Hero ???

I think Hero has to bet here (though of course I'm willing to discuss arguments for checking), a lot of passive play from MP3 and the Button could easily mean small pockets that may have flopped a set, and there's still the real possibility UTG has an overpair.

Are we looking at a bet/fold to a push? What amount do you bet, and why? Do you fold regardless of who the raiser is or only if it's UTG? If you bet and just get called, what's the prognosis, do you believe you are ahead? and what's your plan for the turn?

mlagoo · #5 11-22-2005, 02:06 AM

bear in mind that this is just the way i'd play it, but i think it's reasonably close to correct.

hero leads flop for about t600-700, calls a push from anyone except UTG.

hero shuts down on turn if UTG calls.

if someone else calls and UTG folds, hero shoves any turn.

that'd be my line.

A_C_Slater · #6 11-22-2005, 02:51 AM

I think bet half the pot and fold to push is good. No non-maniac is check/raising all in with AK here.

A potential concern is that he may be the type to check/call with AK here. Which means shutting down on a turn blank is unclear. I lean toward checking the turn and calling a small bet on a river blank (1/3 pot or less.)