Jacki's Cashgame Thread 2.0

[Jacki Burkhart]

Ok this is something I have been meaning to do for a long time. My background has always been tourney poker and I have known for at least 2 years that I need to become much better at cash and spend a larger portion of my time at the tables playing cash.

I had one cashgame thread/challenge that fizzled last fall because almost immediately after starting the challenge I won a seat into a big poker tourney that was 3 months away and I had to focus all my efforts on studying for that tournament.

so here we go, the re-boot.

The focus of this thread will be to discuss sessions, hand histories, mental game issues and make and track goals for myself.

Currently, I mostly play $1/3 (about 90% of my cash time) and $2/5 and $5/5 the remainder. I'd like to increase the ratio of $5/5 while at least maintaining my current hourly rate.

If I filter my results to just $5/5 and lower then I'm currently making $40.73 per hour over 214.5 hours. I'm averaging 15.56 BB/hour (I know it's a small sample size, it's what I've got)

Goals:

to play at least 4 hours a week of live cash increasing my ratio to at least 1/3 of the time at $2/5 or $5/5


maintain or increase my hourly rate


be more aware of my mental game, A,B,C games and signs of tilt in realtime

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

Attached is my report and ledger of most recent sessions

 

[freeringo]

I wish you the best of luck Jacki :wavey:

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

My most recent cash session was at a casino I've never played at before in my parent's town. "Northern Quest" in Spokane, WA.

I showed up about 6:30 and had to wait a while until they started a 2nd table. They were only running 1 table of $1/3 and 1 table of PLO. When we started the new table I bought in for the max of $500 and the others bought in for $200-$400

It was typical. They were passive and limpy

Hand #1
older man limps for $3 in EP off $250. he has limped or called every hand so far in about 20 hands. I have yet to play a hand. I have in the CO and I make it $15. folds back to the limper who calls.

Flop


he checks I bet $20 into $30 he calls.

turn is he leads $25 into $70 I call (my spidey sense is going off. he's a check call kind of guy.... I feel like he has something now but I don't feel I can fold top pair yet).

River

he bets $40 into $120 and I just call with top and bottom pair. he had T9o and we win. I don't know if I should consider raising the river? but I think a call is fine. he will have a set or straight about as often as he has 2 pair but I'm not sure he will call a raise with 2 pair.

a while later, I stack an overpair with bottom set and I'm up to $900. the super limpy passive guy busts for the 3rd time and leaves and after that the table is pretty boring and passive. the next biggest stack is $400 and I have the chance to move to the "main game" where several players have over $1,000. I don't know if this is a good move or not, but it's a more lively game so I take my seat at the new table.

these are the types of questions I don't really know how to answer for myself in live cash....stay at a boring but easy table where you already know how to beat them? Or swing for the fences but accept the higher variance?

there weren't a ton of interesting hands at this table, some standard spots with higher variance I ended up bringing $900 to that table and 4 hours later cashing out $879.

all in all for the session I made $379 in 5 hours

 

[Poker_Mike]

My most recent cash session was at a casino I've never played at before in my parent's town. "Northern Quest" in Spokane, WA.

I showed up about 6:30 and had to wait a while until they started a 2nd table. They were only running 1 table of $1/3 and 1 table of PLO. When we started the new table I bought in for the max of $500 and the others bought in for $200-$400

It was typical. They were passive and limpy

Hand #1
older man limps for $3 in EP off $250. he has limped or called every hand so far in about 20 hands. I have yet to play a hand. I have in the CO and I make it $15. folds back to the limper who calls.

Flop


he checks I bet $20 into $30 he calls.

turn is he leads $25 into $70 I call (my spidey sense is going off. he's a check call kind of guy.... I feel like he has something now but I don't feel I can fold top pair yet).

River

he bets $40 into $120 and I just call with top and bottom pair. he had T9o and we win. I don't know if I should consider raising the river? but I think a call is fine. he will have a set or straight about as often as he has 2 pair but I'm not sure he will call a raise with 2 pair.

a while later, I stack an overpair with bottom set and I'm up to $900. the super limpy passive guy busts for the 3rd time and leaves and after that the table is pretty boring and passive. the next biggest stack is $400 and I have the chance to move to the "main game" where several players have over $1,000. I don't know if this is a good move or not, but it's a more lively game so I take my seat at the new table.

these are the types of questions I don't really know how to answer for myself in live cash....stay at a boring but easy table where you already know how to beat them? Or swing for the fences but accept the higher variance?

there weren't a ton of interesting hands at this table, some standard spots with higher variance I ended up bringing $900 to that table and 4 hours later cashing out $879.

all in all for the session I made $379 in 5 hours

Not a bad hourly rate. And yes he would have called (at least) a min raise with your bigger two pair.

Cash game table shopping is important. And it depends on what a player's goals are that day.

I think you could have taken another $300 (at least) off of the limpy table you were at - in the extra 4-hours of play. If you had a really good run - you would break that table and then "have" to play at the bigger table.

Personally I would rather play at a table where I am the best player. I don't need poker lessons from players at the bigger table (right now anyways).

I like that you tried something different. Unless I see a player or two at the bigger table that are "giving chips away" I might continue to play at the smaller table.

I do hear that you were getting bored at the smaller table and that is something to consider but boredom (or excitement) is not on your list of goals. Always refer back to your original goals. I mean calculate your hourly if you would have just left the room for the night instead of changing tables.

Good luck !

 

[ScooperNova]

My most recent cash session was at a casino I've never played at before in my parent's town. "Northern Quest" in Spokane, WA.

I showed up about 6:30 and had to wait a while until they started a 2nd table. They were only running 1 table of $1/3 and 1 table of PLO. When we started the new table I bought in for the max of $500 and the others bought in for $200-$400

It was typical. They were passive and limpy

Hand #1
older man limps for $3 in EP off $250. he has limped or called every hand so far in about 20 hands. I have yet to play a hand. I have in the CO and I make it $15. folds back to the limper who calls.

Flop


he checks I bet $20 into $30 he calls.

turn is he leads $25 into $70 I call (my spidey sense is going off. he's a check call kind of guy.... I feel like he has something now but I don't feel I can fold top pair yet).

River

he bets $40 into $120 and I just call with top and bottom pair. he had T9o and we win. I don't know if I should consider raising the river? but I think a call is fine. he will have a set or straight about as often as he has 2 pair but I'm not sure he will call a raise with 2 pair.

a while later, I stack an overpair with bottom set and I'm up to $900. the super limpy passive guy busts for the 3rd time and leaves and after that the table is pretty boring and passive. the next biggest stack is $400 and I have the chance to move to the "main game" where several players have over $1,000. I don't know if this is a good move or not, but it's a more lively game so I take my seat at the new table.

these are the types of questions I don't really know how to answer for myself in live cash....stay at a boring but easy table where you already know how to beat them? Or swing for the fences but accept the higher variance?

there weren't a ton of interesting hands at this table, some standard spots with higher variance I ended up bringing $900 to that table and 4 hours later cashing out $879.

all in all for the session I made $379 in 5 hours

The river call seems right if you think he would limp hands like KJ.

 

[Beanfacekilla]

In. Will have to catch up later.

Hi.

 

[Steve Deeble]

I totally agree with the River call too two pairs good but this particular hands got straight written all over it.

 

[Kanetuck]

When I first read this last night, I was wondering why you even questioned the call you made. But today, it suddenly made more sense to me.

First off, congratulations for not playing too tight and folding when he bet into you on the turn. Your Spidey senses were right. You were behind at that point. His bet sizing was low enough to keep you in it. I am guessing you might have folded to a pot sized bet. The way I see it, you had five possible outs on the river. Not enough pot odds to call, but implied odds were good. If you knew for sure this guy would bet higher with the nutz, this might be exploitable, but you also only had 20 hands of info on him. Also, if he has J8 or 68, he might bet low as well. I think if the board only has one straight possibility, a raise might be a good bet Given that it is early in the session and how wet the board is, I think the call was best. Folding the turn wouldn't have been awful.

 

[Beanfacekilla]

a while later, I stack an overpair with bottom set and I'm up to $900. the super limpy passive guy busts for the 3rd time and leaves and after that the table is pretty boring and passive. the next biggest stack is $400 and I have the chance to move to the "main game" where several players have over $1,000. I don't know if this is a good move or not, but it's a more lively game so I take my seat at the new table.

these are the types of questions I don't really know how to answer for myself in live cash....stay at a boring but easy table where you already know how to beat them? Or swing for the fences but accept the higher variance?

It depends on what your goal is. If you are trying to make reliable-ish income from poker, stay at the low variance table.


If you have a little gamble in ya, yolo and move to the big kids table and hopefully you dont get whacked and end up being up-stuck as a result. Higher variance indeed, but you can't really scoop a 2k pot at 1/3 without a little gamble.

Your choice. I generally remain cautious.

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

Put in a 3 hour session tonight at $1/2 after I busted the bounty tourney.

Had a few interesting hands.

Hand #2

MP raises to $12 off $700

HJ calls off $150

Button calls off $350

SB calls off of $400

I’m in the BB with $400 and

I make it $55. MP calls everyone else folds.

Pot $146 flop is

I bet $75 he calls.

Turn is pot $296. I check he moves in I fold

Hand #3
EP raises to $10 off $300

3 callers off stacks $200-$400

I’m Button with and $450 and I call. Both blinds call

Pot $70 flop is

EP Cbets $50 folds to me I flat.

Heads up the turn is pot is $170

He checks I bet $75 he calls

River is pot is $320

He checks and I decide to check back. I know him somewhat well and I don’t think he will call another bet with an overpair (in a very multi-way preflop pot) so I feel like it’s a negative freeroll to bet. Is this too nitty?

Anyways he rolls over AA.

Hand #4
There is a MP limper off of $200

CO makes it $10 off $400 he is a good, winning reg that I know well and he is waiting for the $5/5 game.

I have $550 in BB and I call. This is a pretty light call don’t know if I should be making it here, but I did.

Limper calls

Pot $30

Flop

CO Cbets $15 I Check Raise to $60

Limper folds CO thinks and calls.

Turn pot $150

I bet $110 and he instantly folds

In the end I booked a $116 win in 3:05 Some other interesting hands happened but those were the most questionable ones for me.

 

[Matt Vaughan]

Haven't read OP yet.

Consider me in.

 

[Beanfacekilla]

Put in a 3 hour session tonight at $1/2 after I busted the bounty tourney.

Had a few interesting hands.

Hand #2

MP raises to $12 off $700

HJ calls off $150

Button calls off $350

SB calls off of $400

I’m in the BB with $400 and

I make it $55. MP calls everyone else folds.

Pot $146 flop is

I bet $75 he calls.

Turn is pot $296. I check he moves in I fold

Hand #3
EP raises to $10 off $300

3 callers off stacks $200-$400

I’m Button with and $450 and I call. Both blinds call

Pot $70 flop is

EP Cbets $50 folds to me I flat.

Heads up the turn is pot is $170

He checks I bet $75 he calls

River is pot is $320

He checks and I decide to check back. I know him somewhat well and I don’t think he will call another bet with an overpair (in a very multi-way preflop pot) so I feel like it’s a negative freeroll to bet. Is this too nitty?

Anyways he rolls over AA.

Hand #4
There is a MP limper off of $200

CO makes it $10 off $400 he is a good, winning reg that I know well and he is waiting for the $5/5 game.

I have $550 in BB and I call. This is a pretty light call don’t know if I should be making it here, but I did.

Limper calls

Pot $30

Flop

CO Cbets $15 I Check Raise to $60

Limper folds CO thinks and calls.

Turn pot $150

I bet $110 and he instantly folds

In the end I booked a $116 win in 3:05 Some other interesting hands happened but those were the most questionable ones for me.

7-7 bet larger on turn IMO
Q-6 fold pre. Instant muck.

 

[Kanetuck]

Hand #2. How many people are at the table? AJo seems pretty weak to 4bet with to me. I don't claim to really know what I am doing yet, especially in a live cash game. I understand the need to isolate, but I don't really like increasing the pot that much out of position. You bet an extra $42 and then lead out with another $75. That's a little over a fourth of your stack on AJo. Beanfacekilla didn't mention it, so I may be way out of line on my thinking on this one.

Hand #3. I liked everything about it except your bad luck on the river card. If anything but an ace, jack or deuce hits that river, I think you make a small bet and he calls. I don't think checking the river is too nitty. I know two jacks are out, but if he has a jack, you are toast

Hand#4. I liked it. I thought you played it perfect. The good winning reg could have any two cards against the limper here. So as long as your preflop chart shows your hand a call against a heads up button raise, I like it.

That's my two cents on it, but that is literally what it is probably worth [emoji16]

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

7-7 bet larger on turn IMO
Q-6 fold pre. Instant muck.

yes I can see both of those points. esp the Q6s...it's close I think Q9s and possibly Q8s are calls but obviously those can make straights and that is a big difference.

on the 77 hand I'm basically targeting Jx or overpairs and there are a lot more overpairs than Jx, IMO so I wanted to bet enough that QQ+ could call. but in retrospect he's also probably calling $100 or $125 with all of those hands, so I see your point.

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

Hand #2. How many people are at the table? AJo seems pretty weak to 4bet with to me. I don't claim to really know what I am doing yet, especially in a live cash game. I understand the need to isolate, but I don't really like increasing the pot that much out of position. You bet an extra $42 and then lead out with another $75. That's a little over a fourth of your stack on AJo. Beanfacekilla didn't mention it, so I may be way out of line on my thinking on this one.

Hand #3. I liked everything about it except your bad luck on the river card. If anything but an ace, jack or deuce hits that river, I think you make a small bet and he calls. I don't think checking the river is too nitty. I know two jacks are out, but if he has a jack, you are toast

Hand#4. I liked it. I thought you played it perfect. The good winning reg could have any two cards against the limper here. So as long as your preflop chart shows your hand a call against a heads up button raise, I like it.

That's my two cents on it, but that is literally what it is probably worth [emoji16]

in hand #2 it's a full table, but I did not 4bet I 3bet. this will be a standard 3bet/fold spot for me. I'm not sure it's correct....that's why I posted it...but it seems like AJo OOP will play much better HU, and who knows...maybe I can win preflop....? that's the end of my reasoning there. you think maybe flatting is better? with AJs I will consider flatting more often because it has more playability....

in hand #4....here's the thing...I don't really have preflop charts for cash (I mean I've seen some but they are way too nitty). But I do have extensive preflop charts for deepstack tourneys which play similarly except there is an ante (so we will defend wider as a result) in my 100+bb chart for tourneys the Q6s is a pure defend and the grid extends to much weaker hands as well. I figure I can drop a portion of the worst hands due to there not being an ante....but even so Q6s is solidly in the defend grid. again....I'm not sure how well this translates from tourney to cash.

thanks for chiming in! your thoughts are worth much to me...that's why I'm posting here!

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

Put in 5 hours of cash tonight after busting the $400 noon tourney.

I started at $1/2 while waiting for a seat in the $5/5 game. there was only 1 really interesting hand at $1/2


Hand #5 ($1/2)

folds to the Button who limps off about $280

SB calls off about $500

I have in the BB and I decide to make it $15 off of $450

the button has been super active and aggressive and generally just trying to play too fancy for $1/2. My plan here is to just raise and I will fold to a 3bet and I will attempt to outplay him post flop with the betting lead. he can be expected to do some weird spewy stuff and I'm ready for it.

so, they both call.

pot $45 flop

SB checks and I Cbet to $30
Button raises to $100
SB folds and I call

having the in my hand isn't actually that great as it blocks some bluffs....but with this kid it really doesn't matter all that much. He's firing and bluffing constantly.

pot $245 turn

I check button bets $45 (weird bet....) I call

river pot contains $335

I check. he tables and I win

I get called up to the $5/5 game and I made $113 in 1:15 at that table.



Hand #6 ($5/5)
my recent image is overly tight due to poor starting hands and situations. I've chipped up a tiny bit but I've just mostly been folding for 90 minutes

folds to the CO who has $750 and he makes it $15

I'm on the Button with $950 and I 3bet to $50 with

he is the only caller

pot contains $110 flop is

he checks I cbet $65 and he Check Raises me to $250

He is a good player that I know well. He has well constructed ranges and is very capable of bluffing, but when he is bluffing he will barrel and he is fairly balanced. He is also on the conservative side....he is not an overbluffer but when he decides to do it he commits and exectues it well.

anyways...I think this is a trivial fold given that his range consists of 2pair+ and combo draws all of which will barrel and his range crushes mine. So I fold and show the AA we are friendly like that and I figure he will show me. he shows me Q8s.

My question is: should I even Cbet this flop? and if yes, what size?



Hand #7 ($5/5)
EP limps off about $1,000
HJ makes it $20 off about $900

folds to my BB I have I 3bet to $90 off of about $800

limper folds, HJ calls.

pot contains $195 flop is

I Cbet $120 he calls.

pot contains $435 the nturn is

Here is where I go off script...I'm not sure if this is good or not, but he strikes me as a player that will have a fair amount of floats. With the stack to pot ratio being what it is, I am happy to get it in here....but I think if I bet this turn I allow him to play perfectly against me. anytime he has AK, KJ, 88 etc he folds and anytime he has me beat he gets to move me in and I will call off.

so I check.

He bets $200.

I move in and he folds.

what do we think of this? too tricky?

In the end, I ended up booking a $129 win at the $5/5 table over 4 hours. $242 win for both tables over 5:15

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

some notes about my mental game tonight:

when they called me to play $5/5 I really wasn't excited to go. It's so comfy and easy at $1/2. But I made myself go since it is one of my goals.

I bought in for the minimum $500 just because my comfort level isn't all that high. and I feel my 100bb game is a lot better than my 150 or 200bb game

Once I wont a decent pot with that QQ I had $1,200 in front of me and I really just wanted to cut and run because the idea of losing it all back was terrible. I decided this was a mental game leak. I need to make rational decisions, not fear based decisions. So I chose to play 20 more minutes and try to just focus on being calm and rational.

overall....as far as how I executed my situations I'd say I played my A game tonight. My mental game was a B- because of too much fear based thinking.

 

[Poker_Mike]

some notes about my mental game tonight:

when they called me to play $5/5 I really wasn't excited to go. It's so comfy and easy at $1/2. But I made myself go since it is one of my goals.

I bought in for the minimum $500 just because my comfort level isn't all that high. and I feel my 100bb game is a lot better than my 150 or 200bb game

Once I wont a decent pot with that QQ I had $1,200 in front of me and I really just wanted to cut and run because the idea of losing it all back was terrible. I decided this was a mental game leak. I need to make rational decisions, not fear based decisions. So I chose to play 20 more minutes and try to just focus on being calm and rational.

overall....as far as how I executed my situations I'd say I played my A game tonight. My mental game was a B- because of too much fear based thinking.

Congrats on your run. And congrats on being in touch with your emotions honestly enough to evaluate whether you can continue playing.

The old saying that scared money doesn't make money. And honestly the 5/5 table must have been a more difficult situation.

Anytime you take money off a 5/5 table it is a good day!

And, there is nothing wrong with just beating the 1/2 table and achieving your goals.

Fear happens - you could be getting tired and realized that you don't have another 2 hours in you to manage your $1k+ stack better than you already had.

You kind of peaked mentally in your game (that day) and that's ok....because that is how people lose that stack - they don't listen to themselves.

Good luck !​

 

[Figaroo2]

AJos I think the squeeze is fine I go x3 the original opener +12 for every caller. So around 72. It all depends on how you assess the original opener. Getting that person to fold is the key. If he never folds preflop then you are probably just better flatting, the hand has too much equity to ditch getting such a good price multiway.
As a squeeze hand imo its fine hes going to call with a lot of 88-QQ that you can still outflop.
Once you get called preflop K74 r is as dry as it gets. Id cbet 33% as a one and done.

Regarding cbetting the AA and generally, the current fad which solvers are showing is that cbetting about 1/3 pot has a similar EV as larger cbets. I'm using this sizing now most of the time and only scaling it up exploitatively for value versus fish who call too wide.
If your read v the guy with the AA is that good you made a fine fold exploiting his underbluffing.

QQ the turn check raise is unusual but you do need some strong hands in your checking range early doors on a new table to deter floating.
All options are still open on the turn. I don't think there is any harm in checking and calling though, If depends on how aggressive they are. Re aggros I think it more likely you will stack him that way as you allow him to bluff it off. If they are passive types just keep betting until you get raised.

Q6 suited is a fold for me unless the players are very weak. It's a hand to use as part of a polarised 3bet range rather than calling. And yes spot on we can technically call with hands that can flop straights and double gutters Q.T98.6 is as low as you ever want to call

 

[Beanfacekilla]

Hand #6 ($5/5)
my recent image is overly tight due to poor starting hands and situations. I've chipped up a tiny bit but I've just mostly been folding for 90 minutes

folds to the CO who has $750 and he makes it $15

I'm on the Button with $950 and I 3bet to $50 with

he is the only caller

pot contains $110 flop is

he checks I cbet $65 and he Check Raises me to $250

He is a good player that I know well. He has well constructed ranges and is very capable of bluffing, but when he is bluffing he will barrel and he is fairly balanced. He is also on the conservative side....he is not an overbluffer but when he decides to do it he commits and exectues it well.

anyways...I think this is a trivial fold given that his range consists of 2pair+ and combo draws all of which will barrel and his range crushes mine. So I fold and show the AA we are friendly like that and I figure he will show me. he shows me Q8s.

My question is: should I even Cbet this flop? and if yes, what size?

If we bet flop or not depends on our opponent.

If they are a station, and they don't raise without the goods, yes. This describes most of the player pool at live games.

If the opponent is capable of putting us in tough spots, maybe we check/call and let them do the betting for us.

However....

I wonder if your reads are accurate. This guy raised, and called a 3b with Q-8. I don't think this is very good pre, and for him to raise the flop he should perhaps think about waiting until the turn to drop the hammer on you. Another straight forward call station it seems to me. Q8s is garbage IMO. I would like 7-6s much better than these rags (me personally).

I would recommend really thinking about your reads, and whether they are accurate moving forward.


And defending Q-6s vs something a little better like Q-9s+.....


I think this is personal preference. Opponent dependent. I don't like defending blinds with sub par hands, especially against competent opponents. We will be OOP for the hand and we are going to a gunfight with a knife. I'm a nit, and I don't like calling off unless there is a reason. A 3b would be better but we don't have to do that to beat the game.


Just some thoughts.

 

[Kanetuck]

If we bet flop or not depends on our opponent.

If they are a station, and they don't raise without the goods, yes. This describes most of the player pool at live games.

If the opponent is capable of putting us in tough spots, maybe we check/call and let them do the betting for us.

However....

I wonder if your reads are accurate. This guy raised, and called a 3b with Q-8. I don't think this is very good pre, and for him to raise the flop he should perhaps think about waiting until the turn to drop the hammer on you. Another straight forward call station it seems to me. Q8s is garbage IMO. I would like 7-6s much better than these rags (me personally).

I would recommend really thinking about your reads, and whether they are accurate moving forward.


And defending Q-6s vs something a little better like Q-9s+.....


I think this is personal preference. Opponent dependent. I don't like defending blinds with sub par hands, especially against competent opponents. We will be OOP for the hand and we are going to a gunfight with a knife. I'm a nit, and I don't like calling off unless there is a reason. A 3b would be better but we don't have to do that to beat the game.


Just some thoughts.

What is the reasoning for this guy waiting to raise the turn being better? I really like this hand. It is a situation I see fairly often.

As far as the Q8s being a garbage hand, it is certainly not one I like to play either. However, I follow your YouTube feed and know how much you love to bust nits. If she has been folding every hand, that is probably her table image. If this guy has been paying attention to her, he knows she is capable of making a tough fold. So his initial raise to steal the blinds might have been almost any two cards at this point. As far as him calling her raise, he has position and even if he misses, with a favorable flop like this one he can bluff. This is one of those situations where having a reputation of being a decent player can work against her.

I personally have been letting myself get too excited when I have an overpair in these situations and get rudely reminded of the straight possibility with a three bet.

I totally understand not playing the Q6s. I wouldn't play it 100 percent for sure.

 

[Jacki Burkhart]

However....

I wonder if your reads are accurate. This guy raised, and called a 3b with Q-8. I don't think this is very good pre, and for him to raise the flop he should perhaps think about waiting until the turn to drop the hammer on you. Another straight forward call station it seems to me. Q8s is garbage IMO. I would like 7-6s much better than these rags (me personally).

I would recommend really thinking about your reads, and whether they are accurate moving forward.


And defending Q-6s vs something a little better like Q-9s+.....


I think this is personal preference. Opponent dependent. I don't like defending blinds with sub par hands, especially against competent opponents. We will be OOP for the hand and we are going to a gunfight with a knife. I'm a nit, and I don't like calling off unless there is a reason. A 3b would be better but we don't have to do that to beat the game.


Just some thoughts.

This is a fair question. I think we should always be questioning the accuracy of our reads. Esp if we get confused by what they showdown. But in the moment; when making my decisions I try not to question my reads too much as I have a lot of factors I’m weighing....the read being only one of them.

I was slightly surprising to see him turnover Q8s but I did not make a large 3b and we are late position vs late position so ranges generally open up. Because of circumstances I’ve folded so much he probably puts me exactly on monsters and will have an easy time knowing where he is at. If the situations were reversed I would probably call if I had 22+, Q9s, J9s, T8s, 56s+, KQo+ all suited broadways, all suited aces, AQo+. Personally...I would probably fold that Q8s but it’s only 1 pip lower than what I think would be a good call for the situation.

On that flop if I’m him I like a raise. We are going to want to raise with our combo draws while they still have 2 cards to come and we need to balance that with value. Our value hands want to raise to put in as much money as possible on a very wet board before the draws come in...for 2 reasons if I have an overpair then draws coming in will cost him action...and if I have a draw the draws coming in will cost him the pot. There are some value hands we can slow play on a board like this but I’d favor the stronger ones like straights and sets. 2 pair is the most vulnerable of the value hands esp on a board like this and so it benefits the most from raising. If I’m holding Q9, Q8 or 89 I’ll NEVER not raise in a HU pot here. QQ and 99 I’ll slowplay sometimes. JT I’ll slowplay sometimes. JTdd I’ll slowplay 100%.

But I will try and take your advice about my reads. One of my poker friends I talk hands with says I give players too much credit...that I always assume they are good for too long before changing my opinions. So I will take your recommendation to heart!!

 

[Beanfacekilla]

What is the reasoning for this guy waiting to raise the turn being better? I really like this hand. It is a situation I see fairly often.

As far as the Q8s being a garbage hand, it is certainly not one I like to play either. However, I follow your YouTube feed and know how much you love to bust nits. If she has been folding every hand, that is probably her table image. If this guy has been paying attention to her, he knows she is capable of making a tough fold. So his initial raise to steal the blinds might have been almost any two cards at this point. As far as him calling her raise, he has position and even if he misses, with a favorable flop like this one he can bluff. This is one of those situations where having a reputation of being a decent player can work against her.

I personally have been letting myself get too excited when I have an overpair in these situations and get rudely reminded of the straight possibility with a three bet.

I totally understand not playing the Q6s. I wouldn't play it 100 percent for sure.

The reasoning being we can get our opponent to bet again with wider range before we drop the hammer. As it was, our opponent correctly folded aces. Need to be a little more sneaky perhaps.

I personally just dont like calling off 3b pre with Q8s. Think it has to be -ev. Got to be better hands like 6-5s or something.

 

[Matt Vaughan]

Don't have time to review hands (and it seems there's already good activity here) but you are inspiring me to reincarnate my old CC progress thread... again.

Putting in more volume online than I have in ages, and just getting that itch to dump my hands on others lol.