$165 NLHE MTT: limped pot flop gutshot and 2 overs

This is a live Turbo. blinds are 400/800 no antes yet. I have 40,000 (50bb)

UTG limps off of 30k
it folds to my SB I have and I complete.

*note This is a light call esp without antes but this is a limpy terrible table and I'm trying to be in as many pots with these guys as possible. Also, this particular BB is almost never squeezing light.

BB checks his option he has 48,000 (60 bb).

flop

I lead 1,100 into 2,400. BB flats UTG folds.

the reason I lead is I want to continue in this pot with a gutshot and 2 overs and I don't think my hand is strong enough to call a bet and I don't really want to check raise and play a huge pot from OOP here with a speculative hand. so I decide to assume the betting lead where the flop should be good for the blinds and bad for UTG.

My plan is to barrel turned 7s, or broadway cards. If I turn an 8 I'll try to get to a cheap showdown.

Turn I bet 2,500 into 4,600. BB folds.

What do we think of my line and my plans?

I really like the plan and execution. Only suggestion and really not a must is to bet even smaller on the turn. 1800-2000. You want 6x/5x/4x/ and draws to continue (especially as you hinted he is a tight player). Against a station its perfect sizing- would even bet higher.

I think the turn bet is fine. Would you ever raise Q8o from the SB to the UTG limper?

Call a bet by UTG with Q8o.
Semi-bluff OOP into multiple opponents with a gutshot and two overs.

That's quite a plan you've got there.

Each action you took was justifiable, and you were thinking ahead. It's a good example of the idea that, especially in live poker, a wide variety of plays can be profitable depending on reads, image, opponent tendencies, and table dynamics.

AlexTheOwl said:

Call a bet by UTG with Q8o.
Semi-Bluff OOP into multiple opponents with a gutshot and two overs.

That's quite a plan you've got there.

Each action you took was justifiable, and you were thinking ahead. It's a good example of the idea that, especially in live poker, a wide variety of plays can be profitable depending on reads, image, opponent tendencies, and table dynamics.

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It was a limp

missjacki said:

It was a limp

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Yes. A limp or call is a bet. I didn't say it was a raise.

A limp is less strong than a raise from UTG, but, even from players with minimal positional awareness, it's stronger than an "everyone else is limping, so I will too" limp.

I'm not criticizing. I'm underscoring that in the abstract your plan sounds terrible, but under the right conditions it can be profitable.

Ok well here comes the semantics battle.

I’ve never heard anyone describe limps as bets. That’s like calling the BB a bet. While this might be technically true according to like the gaming commission or something the common parlance is to call this a limp or a call.

For instance most live dealers announce the action as it happens they will say “call” in this spot and they will say “bet” or “raise” when someone makes it more than the minimum.

Anyways as to your point yeah I’m just trying to play as many pots with these guys as possible. That’s the whole preflop plan. look at flops decide what ranges should like these flops and develop a plan from there.

I’m still not sure why this plan sounds terrible to you...yes I have the right conditions at this table to make it even more profitable but completing the SB with limpers is pretty standard at most tables unless my hand is complete trash like 92o. You’re always getting 5:1 or better.

missjacki said:

Ok well here comes the semantics battle.

I’ve never heard anyone describe limps as bets. That’s like calling the BB a bet. While this might be technically true according to like the gaming commission or something the common parlance is to call this a limp or a call.

For instance most live dealers announce the action as it happens they will say “call” in this spot and they will say “bet” or “raise” when someone makes it more than the minimum.

Anyways as to your point yeah I’m just trying to play as many pots with these guys as possible. That’s the whole preflop plan. look at flops decide what ranges should like these flops and develop a plan from there.

I’m still not sure why this plan sounds terrible to you...yes I have the right conditions at this table to make it even more profitable but completing the SB with limpers is pretty standard at most tables unless my hand is complete trash like 92o. You’re always getting 5:1 or better.

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Semantics indeed.
I agree that is what we say at the tables, and I wouldn't normally describe limping as a bet when discussing a hand.
But anytime you are putting money in the pot you are making a bet.
Wikipedia agrees with this definition:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_poker_terms#B
And it's the general meaning of the term in gaming - an amount wagered on an outcome.

I used the term "bet" instead of limp to make your play sound as bad as possible at the start of the comment, because the worse I make the play sound at the start of the comment (while still describing it accurately), the greater the irony at the end of the comment when I say I liked the play. Many humans find irony lightly amusing and an effective method of illustrating a point.

Other parts of this forum are filled with unanswerable questions like "how should I play jacks?". Context is everything. I know that won't be news to you, but I thought this hand was a nice example of how true that is. Well played.

AlexTheOwl said:

Many humans find irony lightly amusing and an effective method of illustrating a point.

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Ok this part made me smile. You’re adorable. My human mode has been activated.

missjacki said:

Ok this part made me smile. You’re adorable. My human mode has been activated.

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Awwwwww.