AAA heads up: Should I try to get as much in on the flop as I can?

JTG51 · #1 08-02-2004, 03:30 AM

.50/1 PLO. I start the hand with $170, my opponent has $350+. I haven't been at the table all that long, but I suspect he's a good player.

My PLO game has no finesse. My strategy is usually to just bet or raise the pot when I think I have the best hand. I wonder if maybe this hand was a good time to do something else?

UTG limps, I'm next and limp with A [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. Villian limps in MP. Two other players limps and the blinds come along. Seven to the flop.

Flop: A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]6 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]2 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]

Checked to me, I bet the pot ($6.65 because of the rake). Folded to the villian who raises the pot, making it $26.60 to go. Folded back to me. Another pot sized raise would make him have to call $60 and would leave me with $60.

Like I said, I think he's a solid player, but I don't know him well enough to know if he could have a big draw on the flop or if he could fold a set to another pot sized raise. What's my best default play?

nicky g · #2 08-02-2004, 07:27 AM

He could have you on a range of hands here given you;re lack of PF raise and consequently could have a wide range himself - two pair, a set (though the six in your hand makes sixes farily unlikely), a big draw or a bluff. I think either play is probably OK here - a reraise is much safer, and he may play with a poor hand given his large stack, but if he's a thinking player he'll probably put you on a set of sixes or aces and might fold. I'd be tempted to just call and checkraise the flop unless a diamond came down (I might occasionally bet out here), to make sure I win more money if he has a made hand or is bluffing. I think it;s unlikely he has some kind of big low straight draw.

Smasharoo · #3 08-02-2004, 07:34 AM

I think you'd have to put him on AdXd and maybe two pair. Possibly Ad3d.

I think I'd call it down if there was no third diamon, or a pair to fill you up obviously.

JTG51 · #4 08-02-2004, 04:57 PM

If you just call the flop, what would you do on the turn if a diamond hit?

turnipmonster · #5 08-02-2004, 05:02 PM

I almost certainly checkraise allin if he underbets at all. in this situation he wouldn't have folded but any player that you are going to be slowplaying the flop against is capable of laying down a small flush on the turn. the big problem is if he checks behind on the turn.

--turnipmonster

nicky g · #6 08-03-2004, 05:42 AM

I'm hoping that doesn't happen [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]. Seriously, that screws the plan up big time. But on the other hand it happens less than 1 in 4 times. I might well bet out as even if he does have the flush (and I put him more on a made hand than a draw here) he may not have a very good one, and you can represent that reasonably convincingly, having bet out and called a raise on the flop. Sometimes I check and probably fold depending on the bet size. But most of the time a flush card doesn;t come and he bets out again, which puts you in a situation to win a lot of money.

turnipmonster · #7 08-02-2004, 01:15 PM

it's pretty hard to construct a hand where he would have a big draw on the flop with. Ad 3d 4x 5x? aside from diamonds it's not a superdraw flop, and I think it less likely he would raise the pot here with only a draw. I think it looks like a made hand, and you beat all those, so I think you can give him some rope here, no?

the only thing is if he does have a big draw he also has at least top pair, so he might be willing to push a flush draw a little harder. I suck at PLO hand reading, don't listen to me [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]. I think if he has a made hand you are so far ahead you can slowplay. thoughts on my thoughts?

--turnipmonster

Smasharoo · #8 08-02-2004, 02:05 PM

Wrong thread, NT

JTG51 · #9 08-02-2004, 04:32 PM

it's pretty hard to construct a hand where he would have a big draw on the flop with. Ad 3d 4x 5x?

That hand may not be all that likely but it's certainly possible, and it would make him a favorite. Something like 5d 5x 4d 3x is about a coin flip with my hand. So I think big draws should at least be conidered.

I think if he has a made hand you are so far ahead you can slowplay. thoughts on my thoughts?

Yeah, I think if he has a made hand like a smaller set I need to do whatever I can do make sure I double up, which might mean check raising the turn. The problem with that plan is there are tons of scare cards that could come on the turn and keep him from giving me a lot of action.

Mikey · #10 08-02-2004, 02:11 PM

I'm just learning this game so I may err.... in my adviace

I think that at this juncture in the hand after you bet the pot and your opponent raised the pot, If it were me I would reraise the pot and be happy to take down the money right in there and reraise him back, because usually players get tied into the hand once this type of action occurs and they usually won't let it go.

Also the fact that you didn't raise preflop could cross his mind and he probably won't put you on top set. I'm pushing it all in here.

If he wants to draw... he's going to pay.
If he thinks he has the best hand he's going to pay to find out.

There may also be another arbitrary amount you can raise here that someone else may give but I think raising the pot up will suffice.

How'd you play it?

I reraise pot.