Trap or Bet?

Thriller · #1 05-06-2005, 10:22 PM

Moderate steal attempt shortly after the break. New to the table, only 1 orbit so far.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (9 handed) converter

Button (t11250)
SB (t9365)
BB (t5500)
UTG (t4680)
UTG+1 (t7155)
MP1 (t4080)
MP2 (t4700)
MP3 (t8450)
Hero (t4240)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls t150, 2 folds, MP2 calls t150, 1 fold, Hero raises to t750, 3 folds, UTG folds, MP2 calls t600.

Flop: (t1875) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

[So I'm wondering the optimal way to play this. Did I do right by checking, or should I have fired away on the flop?

DemonDeac · #2 05-06-2005, 10:26 PM

seems fine without reads
what you doing if villain checks turn?

Thriller · #3 05-06-2005, 10:50 PM

That's when I start to get in over my head. I'm trying to think of "leve 2/", whatever that means [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

I probably raise him all-in if he bets, or make a pot sized bet if he calls.

cferejohn · #4 05-06-2005, 11:00 PM

I like the check here ok. Depends how you had been playing before. Do you always bet out on the flop when your raise is called? Probably bet out here (though maybe a smallish bet like 600 so he thinks you have AK or an underpair and are trying to take a stab cheap).

If you often check behind when you miss and have gotten bet out of the hand on the turn a few times, think about checking here.

This, of course, assumes you give credit to your opponent for noticing such things. By default, I'd probably check. You do have position, so if he checks to you again, a turn bet is going to look like an obvious steal and he might call with very little. Also, you are giving a free card to what could conceivably be a straight draw (otoh, his straight might give you a full).

Pat Southern · #5 05-06-2005, 11:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
That's when I start to get in over my head. I'm trying to think of "leve 2/", whatever that means [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

I probably raise him all-in if he bets, or make a pot sized bet if he calls.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jump up to level 3 and make a standard continuation bet.

Thriller · #6 05-06-2005, 11:03 PM

Hands like this give me the creeps when it comes to the draws available with that free card.

As it turns out, I didn't have to worry about the straight, he made his boat when a 5 fell on the turn, giving him 5's and J's.

Arrgh. Hindsight says bet on the flop, but I'm not sure that would have driven him out, considering it was only a 2+R satellite.

willie · #7 05-06-2005, 11:11 PM

pfft, if he calls the raise preflop with j5, he definitely has NO fear of kicker trouble

tough break, but i still bet the flop.

edit- maybe he had 55....

Pat Southern · #8 05-06-2005, 11:18 PM

You dont want to drive him out, he has 2 outs. You want to draw the most out of him.

Thriller · #9 05-06-2005, 11:24 PM

And that's why I think I will continue to keep that option open when that situation comes up again. A bad beat story, probably, but I think I made the right move.

ThrillFactor · #10 05-07-2005, 05:57 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That's when I start to get in over my head. I'm trying to think of "leve 2/", whatever that means [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

I probably raise him all-in if he bets, or make a pot sized bet if he calls.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jump up to level 3 and make a standard continuation bet.

[/ QUOTE ]

standard continuation or does a 1/4 to 1/3 "feeler" bet have a better chance against a weaker opponent? Assume the table hasn't been together long enough for the opponent to know that he's going to be faced with the same 1/2-2/3 bet whether hero hits or misses.