Late in a $3r, AJo in BB.

(I've rounded off the chip stacks to make them easier to read)

This was a $3+rebuy on stars. I was between 5th-10th in chips and there were 43 people left. Because of the crappy payout structure only the final table is seeing any triple digit prizes.

Villian had recently moved to the table and this was the first pot he entered. I felt there was a good chance the flop had missed him, planned to call any weak c-bet and lead any turn.

Was this line good and/or would you have played it differently?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, (9 handed) converter

MP3 (t275000)
CO (t101000)
Button (t175000)
SB (t132000)
Hero (t341000)
UTG (t519000)
UTG+1 (t390000)
MP1 (t152000)
MP2 (t363000)

Big Blind is t12000
Preflop: Hero is BB with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">UTG+1 raises to t24000</font>, <font color="#666666">6 folds</font>, Hero calls t12000.

Flop: (t40800) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG+1 bets t24000</font>, Hero calls t24000.

Turn: (t88800) 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t50000</font>, UTG+1 calls t50000.

River: (t188800) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG+1 bets t120000</font>, Hero calls t120000.

Final Pot: t428800

[Tweetle]

I definitely call the preflop raise.

If he's min-raising AQ/KQ/KJ here you are right, that flop missed him. I don't mind c/r his flop bet for information... as long as he folds. If he calls, what's your plan on the turn? The problem we get into with this is all of a sudden we're playing for a biggish pot with very marginal holdings out of position. If he calls the c/r what do you do on the turn if you don't improve? Lead into him? Check and fold to his bet?

His call of that turn bet makes me think you may be up against 66-QQ and behind. I'm just not sure what his preflop minraise means. Could easily be KQ putting you ahead.

That jack on the river gives you reason to call.

I generally don't like to play big pots without a made/strong drawing hand against unknowns. Sometimes it pays to wait and get some reads.

Hands like this give me fits, I'd be interested in other opinions.

[CardSharpCook]

This is a decent line. Gotta call the min-raise. Flop and turn have likely missed him and you are ahead of his range, so a bet is good. However, you miss a value bet on the river. He bets any hands that are better than yours and checks with lesser hands. What lesser hands? 87,89,33-TT, etc. He also must only call with most better hands. QQ-AA. The only worry is that he raises you, but if you bet the river you might have been playing the turn flush card, so it is very unlikely he raises with less than a boat/flush. So I think you can safely fold to a river raise, but get calls from lesser hands if you bet it. Get it?

[2005]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a decent line. Gotta call the min-raise. Flop and turn have likely missed him and you are ahead of his range, so a bet is good. However, you miss a value bet on the river. He bets any hands that are better than yours and checks with lesser hands. What lesser hands? 87,89,33-TT, etc. He also must only call with most better hands. QQ-AA. The only worry is that he raises you, but if you bet the river you might have been playing the turn flush card, so it is very unlikely he raises with less than a boat/flush. So I think you can safely fold to a river raise, but get calls from lesser hands if you bet it. Get it?

[/ QUOTE ]

good analysis, river bet is a must.

[ansky451]

I agree, although I am a real loose value bettor.

I'd prob bet like 2/3rd-3/4th pot.