I really hate my play here (AQo in BB)

KeysrSoze · #1 07-09-2005, 11:59 PM

UTG+2 is loose but low in PF aggression so must have some kind of hand to raise preflop, and lets just say that MP1 could be battered up and served in a fillet-o-fish sandwich (about 50/0/1)

Party Poker 0.5/1 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
2 folds, UTG+2 raises, MP1 calls, 4 folds, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG+2 bets, MP1 calls, SB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG+2 checks, MP1 bets, SB folds, Hero raises, UTG+2 folds, MP1 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (12 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 14 BB

I really hate the flop action, I guess my logic was I couldn't protect my hand with the preflop raiser and flop bettor on my left, so check then call and see what happens on turn. On the turn MP1 wakes up, but now I have a chance to at least get rid of UTG+2, get 3 bet but I still have outs if he picked up 2 pair or something. I probably should have found the fold button on the river, or is that just completely weak (I have top pair goot kicker!! (TM)) I just hate my play all through this hand and I don't know why.

moot · #2 07-10-2005, 12:10 AM

Bet the flop and hopefully UTG+2 will raise. That's how you protect.

Also, I think people sometimes get too hung up on the SSH protect-thing. Okay look, the pot's not that big, and you have a good hand. Why don't you just [censored]-ing bet your hand. Don't get fancy, just bet. Either you'll get raised by UTG+2 which protects, or people will just call, but that's still protecting in a way because you're betting and making them pay with (likely) weaker hands; you're putting money into the pot with a strong hand.

Just bet. Thanks.

EDIT ==

Also, if you haven't noticed, many of Ed Miller's protecting examples refer to pots that are more than twice that size. The idea is more geared for the extremely loose low limit LIVE games. These days low limit online just isn't super crazy. You often times don't have to be as creative to protect. You just BET. Simple as that.

KeysrSoze · #3 07-10-2005, 12:14 AM

Yeah, the logic of if you're gonna call anyway, just bet it out kind of slipped me here.

mmmmmbrother · #4 07-10-2005, 12:14 AM

raise the flop, turn is fine, river is fine

moot · #5 07-10-2005, 12:17 AM

Since you checked, yes, I agree that you should still raise the flop, since smooth calling here doesn't really accomplish much.

Check-smooth-calling this flop is pretty much the worst thing you can do. I prefer just betting out, but you hand is fairly strong, going for a check-raise to trap isn't a bad option, either.

jmgurgeh · #6 07-10-2005, 12:21 AM

I'd either reraise PF or fold, and I don't know if I ever fold in this situation at the Party .50-1. 3-betting would give you a bit more information about UTG+2's hand, and would make postflop play a bit easier to decide. As you played it, I think I would CR the flop. Given your read with your passive flop play and UTG+2's slowdown on the turn, I wouldn't be surprised if MP1 has a weak A that he thinks is good. Then again, maybe he has you reverse-dominated, or even has 33.

I don't think you can fold the river. You slowplayed the flop and probably induced more aggression from your opponents by doing so. That, and you have TP second kicker, mean I don't think you can fold this hand in a 13BB pot at the Party .50-1 game. I wouldn't.