Options for dry flops

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CaptainKout

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Dry flops usually mean bet, but what if you hit them weakly**please don't say play tighter pre**. I have a couple examples and it was kinda confusing me as to when I'm essentially bluffing or if its a value bet and whether or not it would be better to check.

So first hand, hero opens btn with A6s and is called by one of the blinds. Flop is A83 rainbow(so pretty darn dry).
-My thought was, that this could be a Way ahead Way behind situation(which i need to learn more about). I've got top pair but there are a lot of better aces in almost any villains range so a value bet should come down to how often the villain will call with pocket pairs or a weird 8, right? If I'm ahead, there are no draws to worry about giving a free card which also means no draws to get value from. So bet it? or check and hope there will be a better chance of extracting value on the turn.

Next hand, hero opens btn with Q10 and is called by one of the blinds. Flop Comes Q72 rainbow. So this time I feel like betting is necessary(could be wrong). Its still a super dry board so no draws to extract value from, but now you might get calls from sticky missed aces(like AJ who wants to hero call all the way), pocket pairs, and you have a slightly better kicker than the last hand so you could have some fish outkicked.

Next hand, hero opens btn with 89s and is called by one of the blinds.
Flop A) K92 rainbow. I think bet as a bluff now. If called/raised you probably don't have the best hand. Anything other than an ace on the turn means give up and try to get to showdown free.
Flop B)862 rainbow. So you've got tp but could still be way behind if he called with 88+ . Do you bet to get value from over cards? Do you just try to check it down? or check with the intention to bet any big turn cards?

I'm still playing 4nl so these villains are pretty much straightforward players, especially post flop. I know a lot of this would be based on the opponents ranges but just try your best to answer for play against a generic opponent. Where does a way ahead way behind scenario become a bluff/valuebet on a dry board? Is tp on a 10 high board too vulnerable not to bet? Jack? Q? K?
 
JCgrind

JCgrind

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hand 1 depends on opponent imo. not sure what stakes youre at, but micros, id be checking back here most of the time OTF, then Vbet turn/river. people who have a clue (starting at 25NL and higher) will often bluff c/r this flop w/ air because an ace is simply a tiny part of your button range and you cant really call without one, so ye.

hand 2, i like bet flop, check turn, bet (or call the donk bet) river, cos youre getting calls from like you said, AT, AJ type hands, as well as 66-TT OTF. lots of vils esp fish interpret your checking back OTT as you had air OTF and consequently will donk the river for bwtween half and like 80% assuming theyre getting a fold. i often find myself hero'ing A high in these spots sucessfully.

hand 3a, i like your logic. bet flop, check turn back unimproved on any card but A and see a free river (if vil c/c's flop they generally are OTT too)
3b, bet flop always/raise donkbet. look for pot control OTT. i prefer betting flop and turn as opposed to flop and river here for obv reasons. youll often get value from AT+ and underpairs, and turns going to be either J+ imo good barreling card, or <7 in which case i like check back, eval on river whether you can Vbet

EDIT: just saw youre on 4NL. ignore my fancy ace air c/r for hand 1
 
Cafeman

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I think I bet all those flops, and then variously bet/check turns and call/bet/check rivers. Highly villain dependent of course as to which line to take, but when I'm trying to extract value I tend to take the line which will get the most calls. The only problem with these hands you describe is that it's difficult to get 3 huge streets of value unless you're up against the drooliest of droolers.

Hand 3a is the one we all love and see so often. I tend to bet as a semi-bluff, and bink 2p or trips on turn or river :D
 
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CaptainKout

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I think I bet all those flops, and then variously bet/check turns and call/bet/check rivers. Highly villain dependent of course as to which line to take, but when I'm trying to extract value I tend to take the line which will get the most calls. The only problem with these hands you describe is that it's difficult to get 3 huge streets of value unless you're up against the drooliest of droolers.

Hand 3a is the one we all love and see so often. I tend to bet as a semi-bluff, and bink 2p or trips on turn or river :D

So the plan is to boat up on the river either way.:cool:
 
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baudib1

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Hand 1 - I'd check back quite a bit and bet a mega-polarized range of 2 pair+/air vs. a tightish player. I'd check back a pretty strong range of 99-KK, AJ-AK type hands quite often too. Incidentally, every flop with an A contains a straight draw.

Hand 2 - I'd bet half the pot.

Hand 3a - bet
Hand 3b - bet
 
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Kaymoar

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it really depends on position.. and how aggressive your opponents are
 
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Navonod

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I think the questions you asked, OP, are problems that all good players struggle with. These spots are so marginal that it is SUPER tough to say what to do with no read or info at all about villain.
This is how I approach these spots;A6 on Axx
VS: Hyper Aggro player; a bet on the flop will rarely be called by worse and never get better hands to fold. Also, are we prepared to call the ch/raise? If so will we be willing to call on turn and river? Worse thing we can do is bet/call and give it up later. OK, don't care for the bet...what will a check do? If we check flop vs Hyper LAG we will induce a lot of bluffs, and we may even get loose calls or loose "value bets we beat" by taking a more passive approach. So for me, the answer is clear. Vs. LAG/Maniac it is best to check back the flop, hands down.
Against a nit; Betting flop ~ bluff. We never get three streets from nitty players unless we are beat. If we check the flop we can get nit to hang in with second best hands on the turn and river. Against a nit I think this would be a check back.
Against TAG (still check back flop but for a combination of the reasons above)
Against a big fat drooling fish: Bet flop, bet turn, bet river and say "OMG I thought for sure i was beat when you called the river" as you rake in a big fat pot against second pair no kicker.
W/ A6 on A rag rag I like the check back most of the time against most players.
The Q72 spot is the most opponent dependant for me and 98 on K92 is almost as tough. I'm more likely to bet QT on Q72 but on K92 with 98 i may just check it back and bet turn or call a bet on the turn. Really tough decision, very opponent dependant.
I bet 98 on 862 for value. LAGs can "value float" worse hands. Fish can chase over cards. TAGs and nits usually just fold worse hands but you just can't get much value in these spots against them, but you are slightly better to lock up the equity now before your hand goes from value to thin value to show down value as you go from TP to 2nd Pr, to 3rd Pr. The risk of giving free cards is just too great when you have TPTK on an 8 high flop. Not just because the free cards can beat you but because they can also kill any action you can get from second best hands. You have to look at the effect of free turn and river cards on your hand in total.
 
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