$200 NLHE Full Ring: $200 NLHE Live Full Table

Since I am taking a little time off, I chose to post a hand I remember very well for analysis. I will include all info I had at the time.

I had just sat down at the table. I had no info on opponents yet. I only had body language, and gut instinct.

UTG +4 - $500 in chips
UTG +5 - $250 in chips
BB (hero) - $175 in chips

Preflop UTG +4 raises to $12
UTG +5 calls
BB (me) looks down at , and calls.
I decide to call. I am OOP. I will see the flop against unknown opponents.

Flop:

BB (me) bets $30
UTG +4 raises all in
UTG +5 folds
BB (me)...........

So I ask UTG +4 if he was the one who raised preflop. He doesn't immediately answer. He looks as if he is trying to remain very still, and has his sunglasses on. He is breathing heavily. He finally answers after about 10-15 seconds, with a slight nod that he did indeed raise preflop. I knew darn well he raised preflop, just wanted to try and get a read on him.
I have no info on him whatsoever. This is probably my 5th hand on table. However, he looks nervous, and his story seems a little fishy to me. I just don't know.

I would appreciate any comments for analysis. Thank you in advance.

Would AK ship? Theres not many turn cards it would dislike. I call.

snap call

did he just raise 6bb preflop?and did u just donkbet? why? he has a huge stack u know he earned it somehow.now call and pray u dont make it 650.next time remember:be suspicious about big raises preflop,be careful with people who have a loy of chips in front of them,proceed with caution with just one pair and donkbet was named that way for a reason.

nidal55 said:

did he just raise 6bb preflop?and did u just donkbet? why? he has a huge stack u know he earned it somehow.now call and pray u dont make it 650.next time remember:be suspicious about big raises preflop,be careful with people who have a loy of chips in front of them,proceed with caution with just one pair and donkbet was named that way for a reason.

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I hear what you are saying. However, at a live table $12 is not a big bet.

Don't think of it in terms of 6x. That is a very standard preflop raise at a live $1/$2 table. $20+ is a big raise at these tables.

3-bet preflop to $40 and shove the flop.

As played, easy call. There is no FD here to need protection from so villain will most likely have a weaker or same Ace or KQ, KJ, QJ, QT

You would 3-bet A-Q suited OOP here?

I thought about it, but decided against it for three reasons:
1. My frequent disappointment with A-Q
2. Did not know players at table, or their ranges.
3. OOP

Dont like 3 betting pre here. Considering we are oop and likely to get a caller.

Beanfacekilla said:

You would 3-bet A-Q suited OOP here?

I thought about it, but decided against it for three reasons:
1. My frequent disappointment with A-Q
2. Did not know players at table, or their ranges.
3. OOP

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I think we commit ourselves if we 3bet here think you have to shove about any flop if he calls so I like flatting but thats just me.

UTG +4/ +5?

wtf?

10 player table
Sb
BB
UTG
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
CO
Dealer

Absolutely I 3-bet AQs here. LP raise and a flat. I don't want to just flat along and then play OOP against 2 big stacks. You reduce a number of combos that you are up against with our AQ, it's suited, you will be 1st to act and can keep the initiative. In my live experience a 3-bet is usually over-read and a lot of PP (JJ-) will fold here. The initial raiser will be worrying about what the flat caller will do and if the initial raiser folds the flat caller will also likely fold. With the stack sizes the bigger stacks are very tempted to play any draws to showdown. If the hand goes to showdown and I have to show AQs I can use this initial image on any of the hands I flop the nuts on over the session. If the hand doesn't go to showdown then I also establish an aggressive image that will help me see some cheaper flops from LP as other players may choose not to raise in front of me.

Actually after reading that UTG +45 and +46 (MP) are in the pot with us I dont mind a 3 bet so much. Still think its pretty close though.

why did you donk lead?

duggs said:

why did you donk lead?

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What do you mean? What should I have done?

Beanfacekilla said:

What do you mean? What should I have done?

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im not suggesting you do anything differently, I just want to know your reasoning.

I think this is a pretty easy call without the live tells btw, becomes very very easy with reads aswell

I have heard the term "donk bet" before. I don't actually know what you mean though.

I am guessing you mean if I check, I could induce a bet and call, instead of my bet, shove and fold?

I find that bad players (which is exactly what is on those tables) rarely give me credit here, and will call me three streets with much worse. Thing is, I don't slowplay. I would be happy to take pot down at any point, rather than be outdrawn.

I would like you to explain the donk bet thing, in detail. Perhaps I need to tweak my game.

donk bet is just a term for leading into the preflop aggressor, ie betting before he has acted on the flop, it isnt a negative term its just slang.

duggs said:

donk bet is just a term for leading into the preflop aggressor, ie betting before he has acted on the flop, it isnt a negative term its just slang.

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Oh ok. I wasn't offended by it or anything. Just wondering what it meant. Thanks.

Usually the hand is checked to the pre-flop raiser to see what action he takes instead of having to fold your hand if the pre-flop aggressor decides to raise. As said by others I would call here as I doubt he would shove over the top with Top Two pair (plus u have backdoor nut flush ). Once you donk bet the flop i think you have to go with the hand.

It's a bit gross that he shoves, as our hand strength is "only" top pair. But given no other info I snap call. Given the read, I make an even snappier call. He can't have much here that beats us.

is that your standard line at live OOP, hit a pair and lead like all the time?

I understand that fish love to call, just seems like a spot where the fish will bet air as well as weaker made hands more than call so leading seems kinda bad imo.

but then i'm an online kid and just use donks to get folds from regs

Not always, but I like to be the aggressor sometimes. I thought if I checked original raiser would just bet really strong.

what do you mean? he only bets the top of his range and checks back his air?

Beanfacekilla said:

Not always, but I like to be the aggressor sometimes. I thought if I checked original raiser would just bet really strong.

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This seems like a really good thing imo. We want him to bet, since we have a ton of his betting range drawing close to dead.