ITH Poker Forum

[Harlequin99]

One area of my game I have worked hard on and am happy with is value betting medium and low strength holdings. This hand I decided to try and "value call" my medicore hand. Not sure if it makes sense.

1/2 Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
Hero (UTG) ($70.85)
CO ($78.40)
BTN ($75.97)
SB ($81.00)
BB ($105.90)

Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 5 players) Hero is UTG
Hero raises, CO calls, 3 folds

Not a huge fan of K10o - UTG 6 handed I fold it and 5 handed I open for a raise.

I have played 68 hands vs CO. He has VP$IP of 57%, PF raise of 30% and I notice he has cold called at least twice before. He usually bets when checked to heads up.

Flop: (5.5 SB, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls

The most common hands I find weak players cold calling bets with are low pocket pairs and Ax. Against one of these I am in very good shape and against the other very bad shape. I figure that if I bet or check raise there is a decent chance of him folding a low pocket pair with A and K on board. I check and call down, hoping to induce bluffs, and hoping that he "value" bets pocket pairs or a weaker king, if he does indeed hold this.

I avoid the scenario of having to call raises with a weaker hand (e.g. an ace or when a draw comes in) . I will however lose some value bets in certain scenarios. Also, the pot is fairly small so I don't need to worry too much about losing what is in it.

I feel that because of number of draws on board I am likely to take this hand to showdown. However, the pot is small so it may be hard to call semi-bluff raises with this mediocre holding - I prefer to avoid this by calling.

Turn: (3.8 BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls

Had my opponent check the flop then I bet this.

River: (5.8 BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls

Possible donk bet here, just to make sure I extract some value from a low pocket pair, 8 or weaker king. I can assume he would not raise without a strong hand given that several draws have come in. I think check calling is fairly weak on the river considering it now.

Final Pot: 7.8 BB

[thew92]

I think you have to C-bet the flop here 100% of the time no matter the flop or your hole cards.

[ardilladeneys]

Folding pre-flop is probably best. As played, I think a river fold might be okay, since villain is like never bluffing there.

[nsidestrate]

I'm totally baffled as to why you would select this particular 2 year old hand to bump, but folding on the river has got be a big mistake. Getting 7 to 1, you would have to be extremely confident that he is never bluffing a missed flush draw nor value betting something like 98s or 99.

[Misunderstud]

I'm totally baffled as to why you would select this particular 2 year old hand to bump.

Pinsticking to breach the link-posting quota, would be my jaundiced assumption. As to the hand, I'm thinking bet flop, check/fold turn. Seems to me the value aspect of value calling 2nd pr nosedives when there's an A on the board.