Working on my game, a few hands.

PuckNPoker · #1 02-22-2005, 04:14 AM

I've never called down with Ace high (a leak in my game I am sure), and while I dont want to make too big of a habit of it tonight I decided I would do just that if I found a laggy opponent that I have seen betting junk.

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Table was pretty weak tight, with a couple of lags to my left. CO has shown down some junk on the river.
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
3 folds, Hero raises, CO calls, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (7 SB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

I have the nut flush draw + 2 overs (which I discount because of the 3 to a flush call it 3-4.5 extra outs) I think a check/ call here is fine. Thoughts?

(3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets, SB folds, Hero calls.

Paired the board, and no help. BD straight draw goes away. Still have a flush draw + 2 overs (not sure how good they are at this point) . I check / call. Thoughts?

River: (7 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Missed everything. I can only beat a very loose pre-flop call, which is exactly what I put the CO on, but it is really questionable. I decide that 7 BB's (well 8 BB's with the COs bet) is big enough and that I am going to try out calling with Ace high, weak/ok kicker.

Final Pot: 9 BB

Thoughts?

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

I've loosened up my pf standards a little, I normally dont play JTo (suited with a lot of people in the pot, I play it in LP, off suit I usually toss it), but from the CO, with little chance of a raise, I decide to see a flop.
Preflop: Hero is CO with J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
2 folds, MP1 calls, 2 folds, Hero calls, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

I hate the flop, I'm hoping someone is on a 4 to a flush draw. I raise to see where I am at. 2 callers. Not good.

Flop: (4 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, MP1 bets, Hero raises, SB calls, BB folds, MP1 calls.

I want to see a showdown cheap, and Im pretty sure this is an attempted check raise. If another spade comes I fold.

Turn: (5 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB checks, MP1 checks, Hero checks.

No spade, but a bet and fold. Either a busted draw representing a flush or he has it. I think I got to a showdown with this hand as cheap as I could. Thoughts?

River: (5 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
SB bets, MP1 folds, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 7 BB

Last one, I'm not thrilled with the way I played this hand. A little too weak, I think if I had position I would have played it differently.

Ultimate Bet 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (8 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
2 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 calls, CO calls, 1 fold, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (5 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, MP1 raises, MP2 calls, CO folds, Hero 3-bets, BB calls, MP1 calls, MP2 calls.

Turn: (8.50 BB) 2[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP1 bets, MP2 folds, Hero calls, BB folds.

River: (10.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 12.50 BB

All comments appreciated.

DeathDonkey · #2 02-22-2005, 04:23 AM

If you go through this thought process during the hand than I expect you to be very successful in the future. This is great self analysis and your questions are great. Alot of new posters I've seen recently could learn from this.

That said, a common theme in your hands is "too weak" as you mention in hand 3. It seems to me you are fearing the worst (ex: fearing a turn CR in hand 2).

In hand 1 I would always bet this flop, you are the preflop raiser, that is a good flop for you, and if everyone folds and you win with Ace high it is fantastic. It totally changes the way the rest of the hand plays out. But in general, I would fold the river, as I almost never find picking off a bluff to be a decent strategy against mostly clueless opponents.

Hand 2: this is a bad spot to open up your standards. For one, your not the button, if it gets raised behind you you will kicking yourself. For two, there is only one limper, this isn't going to be a big pot where your drawing type of hand will do well. For three, if you were going to play this hand a raise would be better to try and isolate the presumably weak limper. After that, you simply must bet this turn. Giving a free card to single spades is awful. If you get CRed, you get CRed, and then you can decide what to do based on that. But you must protect your hand from draws, checking behind gives them infinite odds to beat you.

In hand 3 I would at the very least bet the turn and see if I get raised before going into call down mode. You flopped top two, one measly flush card shouldn't make you completely clam up like this.

-DeathDonkey

imported_leader · #3 02-22-2005, 05:24 AM

Hand 1: Bet the flop.

Hand 2: Bet the turn. If check-raised, I'd fold. I think you give up value not beating here.

Hand 3: You have to bet here (on the turn). If you're raised on the turn, call and check call the river unimproved.

PuckNPoker · #4 02-22-2005, 01:46 PM

Thanks all, great advice, I will re-read what you have to say and take it to heart.

Hand 1: Villian has KTo
Hand 2: Villian has Qs3s for a flopped flush
Hand 3: Villian had AKo for TPTK

The basic issue I see from your advice is that I am assuming too much, keep betting until I am given a reason not to.

gvibes · #5 02-22-2005, 01:53 PM

I just want to comment that I agree with the donkey and the leader in all respects.

In spite of the results in hand 1, I am going to reiterate that calling down rivers with A-high is usually not a profitable endeavor. The hand also plays out completely differently if you lead the flop.

And that was one oddly played flush.