Awkward big Hands

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Skulldown1

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Sometimes i got hands like AJ,AQ,A10,AK,low pairs and i get bad flops like:2,9,5;6,2,8.
The question is:What should i do:c-bet or just simply check-fold?
 
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BomTombadil

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This is way to situational to give a blanket answer. You shouldn't always give up right away if the perfect flop doesn't come, but you have to be willing to let big hands go too, especially AJ-AK type of hands where you just have A high when you miss. How you should approach any given situation will depend on many things including stack size, how your opponents play, your table image, etc...
 
vinnie

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These are great flops (assuming they are rainbow)! The second flop is just very-good if it's two tone.

:2h4:-:9c4:-:5s4: -- GREAT

:6h4:-:2c4:-:8h4: -- VERY GOOD

If you're heads up, meaning only one caller pre-flop, you should c-bet these boards 90% of the time or more. It's very hard for a caller to have hit these flops strongly. They'll often just give up to a c-bet. They won't always give up, especially if they know these boards are just as hard for you to hit, but they'll fold these flops way more often than many other flops.

Also, these boards are often excellent for a turn c-bet for the times you get called on the flop and you're in position. Any card Jack or higher is excellent to fire another bet on if it gets checked to you. It's just very hard for a high turn card to help their range (once they call the flop), but those cards all improve your range. They'll fold a lot. Sometimes, they will check/fold so often that you feel like they just have to be trapping you this time. . . but you'll bet anyway and they'll fold.

Once in a while, you'll get called down here by someone getting sticky with top-pair, second pair, or a pair like :10s4:-:10c4: or :7d4:-:7h4: that just wouldn't fold. You'll feel like a moron when that happens. But, if you go back and check, you'll make enough from those times they fold to compensate for these rare call downs.

Obviously, c-bet slightly more often when you're in position and check-fold more often when out of position. You also need to have a decent read on your opponent. You don't want someone who is aggressive and tricky (rare at the micros), who is willing to bluff-raise you on boards like these. I wouldn't worry about someone being that type until they've shown they'll raise these types of boards often. Until they prove to me their aggressive like that, I'm going to c-bet because it's just burning money to not take advantage.
 
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Skulldown1

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I play a lot of live poker and i came up vs guys who call with low cards like 93;74 and i saw a bad flop.Whatever i will try they will just call me.In that case do i have to play a little passive?

PS:Ty vinnie for replying me out.
 
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MK8

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In cases where you don't expect you opponents to fold low pairs, even when betting multiple streets, you should just bet for value. Often if you check AT on that board your opponent will check back or bet some amount that gives you a great price to float.
 
vinnie

vinnie

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These flops are still very good. If someone's playing hands like 9-3 and 7-4, they have a huge range. It makes hitting any flop strongly very hard. How much money will 7-4 be willing to put in on these boards if the turn and river come J-K? I would be more willing to fire a lot of turn cards against those players. They are playing like 70% of their hands if they have those specific hands in their range. They'll be folding the turn, when a big card comes, way more than 50% of the time. I would also shove a lot of good rivers against these players (very board dependent) when they call the turn but I get the sense that they're weak. Passive play doesn't properly punish these players for playing so wide. Make it expensive for them to play so many hands and call too often.

I have a feeling you aren't going to get called as often as you think. Maybe take a few notes about how often you bet the flop and then the turn (on dry boards) and see how often they fold. It only feels like they're calling 80% of the time (unless your bets are silly small... keep them 1/2 pot to 3/4ths pot).

Also, if you're seeing the flop with three of these players, c-bet way less. It's just too hard to fold them all. Still, don't play passive against them.

One last thing, since you're going to be betting often when you are weak, you absolutely should never slow-play when you flop huge.
 
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