NL50 FR: Float this flop against an aggressive smallish stack?

Villain is 22/14/5 over 79 hands

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HAND #1
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Full Tilt, $0.25/$0.50 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
Hand History Converter by Stoxpoker

Hero (SB): $64.40 (128.8 bb)
BB: $5.90 (11.8 bb)
MP1: $85.50 (171 bb)
MP2: $20.80 (41.6 bb)
MP3: $57.70 (115.4 bb)
CO: $40 (80 bb)
BTN: $91.05 (182.1 bb)

Pre-Flop: Hero is SB with 7 7
MP1 folds, MP2 raises to $1.50, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.25, BB folds

Flop: ($3.50) 4 9 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $3.50, Hero ???

I woudl call and see the turn. If a non spade or a overcard comes up, get ready to let it go. It's possible he has a higher pocket pair but he might also have A, K.

What are you planning on doing on the turn? Any broadway card & spade is bad, and its unlikely he's going to just quit bluffing.

I'd really like this more if you were in position, since it'd be a million times easier to get a cheap showdown. Also, you were barely getting set mining odds preflop... I guess that's why you're contemplating floating him.

I think I'd like check/raising, since we're OOP and so many turn cards will absolutely suck. Plus he's drawing somewhat live with most of his hands having overcards. The only thing that worries me is that he c-bet for full pot, but in my experience that's kinda bluff, especially if your site has a bet pot button & he hits it fast. Generally big hands put more thought into their bets than just "I HAZ BIG HAND, MASH BET POT BUTTON!"

c9h13no3 said:

What are you planning on doing on the turn? Any broadway card & spade is bad, and its unlikely he's going to just quit bluffing.

I'd really like this more if you were in position, since it'd be a million times easier to get a cheap showdown. Also, you were barely getting set mining odds preflop... I guess that's why you're contemplating floating him.

I think I'd like check/raising, since we're OOP and so many turn cards will absolutely suck. Plus he's drawing somewhat live with most of his hands having overcards. The only thing that worries me is that he c-bet for full pot, but in my experience that's kinda bluff, especially if your site has a bet pot button & he hits it fast. Generally big hands put more thought into their bets than just "I HAZ BIG HAND, MASH BET POT BUTTON!"

Click to expand...

This is exactly why I posted this hand. I think his stack size makes this decision close. If he had a full stack I'd float this flop almost every time against an aggressive opponent. Against a smaller stack I'd likely C/R and let the cars fall where they may. Still not sure what the right play is in this instance.

The question is: why do you call preflop? (I think folding is arguably better here, 3betting is fine too). Against a small stack you don't have great setmining odds, so you obviously play 77 for its unimproved value, right? In that sense, this flop is as good as it gets and you got to go for the check-raise.

Is he a "good" shortstacker? Or did he just lose a big pot and that's why he's playing with 40BBs? If he's a solid shortstacker, his range kills yours when he raises four off the button, and a fold preflop is the only defensible play, I think.

On the flop, any line can have merit depending on what we think he's up to. A lot of that comes down to why his stack is only 40BBs. Did he double up from 20BBs as a shortstacker and is waiting for the blinds to come around so he can sit out? Or did he lose a big pot recently or is he just sitting with $20 most of the time?

As always, Fredrick says it a lot better than I do, but that's essentially it.

Now that you've got real answers, Ill give you mine to go with it.

Does Friendly McMidstack tend to bet 3bb PF a lot? He's loose with a standard bet, and youre holding a likely best hand here.

No, I don't float it. I either fold or raise. Calling gets me nowhere but more confused on the turn.

For that matter, I'm good with the pre flop call, and I like this flop for our cards.

Obviously my advice is mostly given so I can sound important to myself...

His stack actually started at $50 and he's been up and down (mostly down) since he started.

I called preflop purely to set mine. I certainly think I had the odds to do so (~16:1).