ITH Poker Forum

[cowboyinexile]

HOH2 states that head up, the correct mathematical play is to call with any two cards in the small blind. Obviously there are other factors to consider, but its something I have taken to heart. Generally, if I am sb in an unraised pot early, I'm going to take a turn with the hand. Its easy to play-usually its a check fold, occasionally you flop a monster, and sometimes you either get trappy with AQ or flop top pair with 10-6 and are forced to some sort of awkward decision.

This time though, it was my turn to flop a monster.

My only read was on CO-LAGish and he liked to make small bets when he was bluffing.



Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, 1+0.25 Tournament, 20/40 Blinds (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) (t1095)
BB (t1380)
UTG (t2430)
UTG+1 (t1560)
MP1 (t1210)
MP2 (t1290)
MP3 (t1560)
CO (t2975)

Hero's M: 18.25

Preflop: Hero is SB with 4, 9
1 fold, UTG+1 calls t40, 3 folds, CO calls t40, Hero calls t20, BB checks

Flop: (t160) 9, 9, J (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks

The flop was great yet a tad bit scary with the multi-way action into the pot. I really thought with 3 other guys in this pot someone was going to bet at it. No flush draws, but with the limpers and BB, figured someone had caught some sort of the flop. I was hoping for a check/raise but didn't get it.

Turn: (t160) 9 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, CO bets t40, Hero calls t40, BB calls t40, 1 fold

I hit the money card-not only did it kill any draw someone might have had, if any of my opponents were sitting on a pocket pair, they had to figure they were good. I was very dismayed when it checked to CO and he bet the minimum. I had him on A high at this point and assumed his bet would be all I was going to get from the hand. BB calling the min-bet made me think he might be holding a jack and maybe I could get some value out of this hand.

River: (t280) 8 (3 players)
Hero bets t100, 1 fold, CO calls t100

Whats my bet based on the action here? I wanted to go 1/3rd the pot, but was thinking a t100 bet would make it think I was making some sort of move with A high or something like that. Should I have bet more and made it seem like a bluff or bet something like t80 and maybe suckered BB into a crying call?

Total pot: t480

[ciaran]

Don't have HOH in front of me, but I think he's suggesting HU as in at the end of the tournament and/or HU with the BB's random hand. Here, you're a significant dog to whatever UTG and CO have voluntarily decided to play, and you should be folding pre-flop 100% of the time in a SNG.

Anyway, as played flop is probably fine, though you can lead against many players. Having not led the flop, I think you can lead the turn since no J will fold and many pairs will call. You can probably check-raise the turn and bet the river and get action from most Js as well, though you'll probably lose the pairs and anyone still drawing. Bet more on the river, I can't think of a lot that will call 100 that wouldn't call 200. Shoving the river isn't out of the question, either...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $55+$5 Tournament, 10/20 Blinds (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO (t1500)
Button (t1490)
Hero (SB) (t1480)
BB (t1500)
UTG (t1530)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t1500)

Hero's M: 49.33

Preflop: Hero is SB with ,
UTG calls t20, 1 fold, MP1 calls t20, 4 folds, Hero calls t10, BB checks

Flop: (t80) , , (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks

Turn: (t80) (4 players)
Hero bets t40, BB calls t40, UTG calls t40, 1 fold

River: (t200) (3 players)
Hero bets t1420 (All-In), BB raises to t1440 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: t3040

Results:
Hero had , (four of a kind, Jacks).
BB had , (four of a kind, sevens).
Outcome: Hero won t3040

[ikeee]

HOH2 states that head up, the correct mathematical play is to call with any two cards in the small blind. Obviously there are other factors to consider, but its something I have taken to heart. Generally, if I am sb in an unraised pot early, I'm going to take a turn with the hand. Its easy to play-usually its a check fold, occasionally you flop a monster, and sometimes you either get trappy with AQ or flop top pair with 10-6 and are forced to some sort of awkward decision.

This time though, it was my turn to flop a monster.

My only read was on CO-LAGish and he liked to make small bets when he was bluffing.



Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, 1+0.25 Tournament, 20/40 Blinds (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) (t1095)
BB (t1380)
UTG (t2430)
UTG+1 (t1560)
MP1 (t1210)
MP2 (t1290)
MP3 (t1560)
CO (t2975)

Hero's M: 18.25

Preflop: Hero is SB with 4, 9
1 fold, UTG+1 calls t40, 3 folds, CO calls t40, Hero calls t20, BB checks

Flop: (t160) 9, 9, J (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks

The flop was great yet a tad bit scary with the multi-way action into the pot. I really thought with 3 other guys in this pot someone was going to bet at it. No flush draws, but with the limpers and BB, figured someone had caught some sort of the flop. I was hoping for a check/raise but didn't get it.

Turn: (t160) 9 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, CO bets t40, Hero calls t40, BB calls t40, 1 fold

I hit the money card-not only did it kill any draw someone might have had, if any of my opponents were sitting on a pocket pair, they had to figure they were good. I was very dismayed when it checked to CO and he bet the minimum. I had him on A high at this point and assumed his bet would be all I was going to get from the hand. BB calling the min-bet made me think he might be holding a jack and maybe I could get some value out of this hand.

River: (t280) 8 (3 players)
Hero bets t100, 1 fold, CO calls t100

Whats my bet based on the action here? I wanted to go 1/3rd the pot, but was thinking a t100 bet would make it think I was making some sort of move with A high or something like that. Should I have bet more and made it seem like a bluff or bet something like t80 and maybe suckered BB into a crying call?

Total pot: t480

We all play these games differently and read different books, but if I was in your place here I would of folded the trash cards and thought no more of them, you have 26BB this is early play still in good shape, so no need to get chips in the middle without a value hand.

[the_hawk]

Most players at low limits would c/r the flop in your shoes (or c/c with a view to "waking up" on the turn) which makes leading the flop clearly best IMO. This will maximise value on most turn cards, especially overcards. You'll get a ton of value from aces up when an ace falls on the turn. Leading the flop also works best when the miracle turn card falls - simply lead again and they'll put you squarely on a jack.

[jrmdes]

Personally i will not play any 2 out of the SB. And im sure cirian was right about the HU in HOH2. It's actual heads up. In this case you were not HU, this was a multiway pot. HOWEVER... That being said i will call with alot more hands in the situation where there are a few limpers.

I preffer suited cards.. I will actually play K2 suited from the SB if i have a few limpers however remember you cannot get too crazy if you hit the flush cause for me there always seems to be an Ace lurking in the closet.

IMHO - suited/non suited connectors even 1 gappers are ok from the sb. Suited paint. Sometimes i might play an Ace rag however i'm not getting too nuts unless i hit my 2 pr. And get even more cautious if the board pairs above my kicker.

Dependant on my reads and my stack i love raising from the SB vs limpers. I know i'm gonna be told it's risky but i have found it to be profitable, if i get played back at then i obv have to fold unless i actually have a legit hand to play.