Critique of blind stealer vrs blind defence play

Stu started a thread about blind stealing/defence.

I'm interested in opinions about each step of the way in this hand. BTN has a steal percentage of 50% and is otherwise 25/14/1.3. SB is 11/9/1.



Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
Hand History Converter by Stoxpoker

UTG+1: 111.6 bb
MP1: 107.2 bb
MP2: 93.4 bb
MP3: 179.4 bb
CO: 101.4 bb
BTN: 143.8 bb
Hero (SB): 100 bb
BB: 89.2 bb

Pre-Flop: Hero is SB with 7 7
UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 folds, CO folds, BTN raises to 2 bb, Hero raises to 6 bb, BB folds, BTN calls 4 bb

Flop: (13 bb) 5 9 3 (2 players)
Hero bets 9 bb, BTN raises to 18 bb, Hero calls 9 bb

Turn: (49 bb) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: (49 bb) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

Results: 49 bb pot (2.4 bb rake)
Hero showed 7 7 (two pairs, Sevens and Fives) and lost (-24 bb net)
BTN showed 8 J (two pairs, Eights and Fives) and won 46.6 bb (22.6 bb net)

As weird as this sounds, no one really did much wrong here. BTN probably should have folded after the rereaise preflop, but at that point his odds weren't too horrible. Really, the only glaring mistake in my mind was the BTN's raise after the flop. Raising wasn't a bad play, but a raise that small was. They should have either folded or raised to at least 20-25 BBs, if not more. On the turn, the 7s easily could have been good, so checking it down was fine, just like the BTN could easily believe that the 8s were good, but not good enough to bet.

My first interpretation would be similar but reversed; the biggest mistake being the button calling after being 3 bet, and by someone who hadn't played back at him yet. But, if he was thinking ahead and planning to bet or raise most flops, maybe it's not so bad.

I dunno; 's why I asked for opinions. Anyone else with a thought?

I think I would have Check called the flop. Then looked for a cheap showdown.

The only hands in his range you are really worried about are A9, 99, TT and JJ. (so very little of his range)

Its very possible he holds an Ace. Sets of 3 and 5 are very unlikely.

The flop is very likely to have missed him completely, but its one that looks like it should have missed you. I think the goal here is to take 77 to showdown cheaply. You are likely to be in a WAH / WBH situation. If you 3 this flop are you representing TT+ or representing an obvious bluff? What I mean is would you bet this flop with an over pair or would you check in hope of getting another bet from your opponent?

The problem with check raising is that if he calls... and bets the turn.. can you call?

77 is a hand that has some value here so my feeling would be to get it to showdown.

Aside from you 'cbetting the flop' (thats what it could easily be nterperated as.. and him then testing the waters witha min raise.. thats what happened.

The fact that you were beaten by 88 is neither here nor there.

Well it seems that both of you played it well, i can't find much that was wrong. I'd have to know more about the previous hands in order to do so. Preflop you reraised cause you had a hunch he was trying to steal the blinds, plus you had a fair hand. Botton called you, and then raised your bet on the flop. Small cards came so you could say that he didnt catch anything if he was telling the truth with his raise preflop, but if he were lying he could have the 9. Either way he could think you have a higher pair in your hand so his raise isn't as convincing cause some ppl would just call with the nine, but u never know these things. So you called his raise on the flop, turn comes you check which is the right thing... and he catchs so he checkings thinking that... ok if you have the 9 you are probably gonna call his raise all the way so no point losing all the money, and no point bluffing cause i already have second highest pair... so if he checks hes alright. The checks keep going and he wins eventually. It was well played by both of you i say but he had the luck in the end...