$200 NL HE Full Ring: 200NL Live cash game Small pocket pair Post flop discussion

[Styrofoam]

Game

Hold'em

Game Format

No Limit

Stakes

$1/$2

Table Format

Full (8-10 seats)

Currency

$

Stacks are ~200 effective. Straddle is on, and the action goes 1 limper to the Hero on the button who has 5c5s

Hero raises: $16
SB Calls
BB Calls
Limper folds.

Flop is 8d7s3h Rainbow. SB checks, BB checks

hero bets 25.
SB Calls
BB Folds.

Turn 3c

SB: Check
Hero: Check

River: Qh

SB: Bet $50
Hero: ??

This is how the hand played out, but I am curious if there was a way to get to showdown with only 1 bet going into the middle to try and see a showdown. What do you guys think?

 

[Station_Master]

Not really as the SB will always be able to put 2 bets in if they want. You could check flop but SB could then bet turn and river. I think the cbet is fine on such a low board to realise equity. By the river you have a bluff catcher which is quite villain dependent as to whether it's worth a call. You will be shown an 8 or alot, but decent villains will bluff T9, JT poss some A high. Given he called from SB I think I'd be more inclined to fold than v BB

 

[Styrofoam]

Not really as the SB will always be able to put 2 bets in if they want. You could check flop but SB could then bet turn and river. I think the cbet is fine on such a low board to realise equity. By the river you have a bluff catcher which is quite villain dependent as to whether it's worth a call. You will be shown an 8 or alot, but decent villains will bluff T9, JT poss some A high. Given he called from SB I think I'd be more inclined to fold than v BB

thanks for the reply. Is there a reasonable world where the flop goes check, and the turn doesn't go Bet? At that point he'd be betting into 2 others from OOP, and could possibly check the turn? Or if he bets the turn, and the BB folds and I call, is it possible that he checks the river when it is a high card like the queen? The queen certainly hits my range better than it hits the SB's range.

 

[D0nk3y Hunt3r]

My take on this.
I would probably bet stronger the flop and continue some on turn, because in most cases it doesn't change a thing. On river, as a consequence, you would probably be facing either a bet to which one you would fold or a check to which you would also check.

 

[Station_Master]

thanks for the reply. Is there a reasonable world where the flop goes check, and the turn doesn't go Bet? At that point he'd be betting into 2 others from OOP, and could possibly check the turn? Or if he bets the turn, and the BB folds and I call, is it possible that he checks the river when it is a high card like the queen? The queen certainly hits my range better than it hits the SB's range.

Yeah certainly possible, but if he has A8, 99, T8 etc I'd expect him to bet, also with draws like T9. Aggressive opponents might start bluffing all sorts too. As you say under this line, if he had say T8 he could well check river. Definitely merit in checking pocket pairs on the flop for pot control, though personally I prefer a cbet on a board like this as you want stuff like QJ just to fold rather than spike top pair later, or they call with their 6 outs and you get value.

 

[gustav197poker]

When you raise preflop make sure you oust suitable opponents. If you are not sure, adapt to the table and just pay the blind.
Raising with small pockets might be fine from BTN, but it's always better when you know your opponents have a lot of fold equity.
On the flop I like your bet. A more prominent size is preferable here to make your opponents fold. There aren't many draws available in villains' range, so trying a more aggressive line might not be a bad idea.
The turn is a bit neutral since now any 2 pair can beat any draw (which you are probably blocking or representing in your bluffing range), so checking is a good option here.
The river is pretty bad for your bluffs. Now Villain doesn't seem to be speculating with his bet roughly 2/3 pot . Maybe he's trying to scare you off with a middle hand pair like 99 or TT (although I don't think so, since I think he got Qx). In my opinion it is a standard fold when you do not have more information.
Greetings.