Polished Poker Vol. I Study Group

[John A]

And for you guys only in this thread on cardschat, I want to offer 20% off on the GTO strategy packs. I know they are pricy, but well worth it. Use coupon code: CC_GTO20

It's a little tricky right now if you use the coupon though. You have to click view cart, and then enter the code, and then checkout, rather than just going straight to checkout. I'll have this up until the end of June for you guys.

 

[John A]

I think you backed into the answer a little more here. He's tight, he squeezed an UTG raise big. His range is pretty well defined here, and hero isn't in good shape. In fact, he'd have to rely on implied odds to make a flop call here profitable long term. But let's punch in a range and look at the exact numbers since this is a somewhat common spot.

I think it comes down to often we add in AQs here, but I'm not sure I could do more than 20%. I put zero here:

Ace Poker Drills Poker Equity Calculator
Board: 6c 9s 9d

equity Win Tie Hand Range
29.36% 10.3134% 19.043% [Kh As]
70.64% 51.6006% 19.043% [QQ+(100), AKs(100), AKo(100), JJ(40),]

He probably does give up with AK almost always after the flop bet, but there's more of his range that beats you. I'd give up, or even consider folding pre unless I was deeper against this kind of opponent/situation.

 

[Figaroo2]

Thanks John, I was pretty sure it was an easy laydown with the AK and I will have a good look at this new strategy stuff.
When you get a moment can you look at Rhom's hand above with the baby flush on the river. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the hand.

 

[mottotom27]

I think it comes down to often we add in AQs here, but I'm not sure I could do more than 20%. I put zero here:

Ace Poker Drills Poker Equity Calculator
Board: 6c 9s 9d

Equity Win Tie Hand Range
29.36% 10.3134% 19.043% [Kh As]
70.64% 51.6006% 19.043% [QQ+(100), AKs(100), AKo(100), JJ(40),]

He probably does give up with AK almost always after the flop bet, but there's more of his range that beats you. I'd give up, or even consider folding pre unless I was deeper against this kind of opponent/situation.

so in general we ought to just be folding flop unless we hit our A or K or some decent draw in this situation? also if we changed the positions to say LP vs blind resteal does that make it a call then on the flop?

 

[rhombus]

On some business side news. For those interested here. We're taking on Tilt Breaker as they are leaving HM2. We're also working with GTO Rangebuilder to put together some new apps. We'll be selling their products off our site.

Pokersoftware.com announcement:
http://pokersoftware.com/articles/2...ners-with-tilt-breaker-gto-range-builder.html

I'd highly recommend some of the strategy packs. Especially the 3-bet pot strategy. They will be worth the investment.
http://www.acepokersolutions.com/GTO-Strategy-Packs/

Some cool stuff coming down the pipe.

Clicked on both of the links above and got Virus popup with AVG, looks like it was the pokersoftware.com link
not sure if false positive or a dodgy link

 

[John A]

Thanks John, I was pretty sure it was an easy laydown with the AK and I will have a good look at this new strategy stuff.
When you get a moment can you look at Rhom's hand above with the baby flush on the river. I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the hand.

Yw... and against someone like that, he's not going to exploit you, I'd probably just lay it down pre because there's really not a great outcome unless it comes AAK and he has KK.

Yeah, I'll take a look. And yes, I highly recommend the new content. It's a little dense, but very well done.

 

[Figaroo2]

Tom and I have been going through the hands were I got stacked in the last month . They are almost all 3 & 4 bet pots where I have just got over aggressive with 99 TT JJ
Example
Hero JJ mp opens x3
Villain 3bets from button (6-9% 3bet from there )
Hero calls.... flop 699. Hero?
Or Hero 4 bets & villain calls
This is where I'm struggling at the moment. I know Ax forms a big part of his range but how do we find out without getting pot committed?
If you lead out they never fold to the first bet and any further betting leaves you pot comitted. If you CR you are usually pot committed at 100bb.
Check call seems too passive and gives them a free shot at their overcards

I have several examples where I've shoved the turn and got snapped off by QQ KK

 

[mottotom27]

i still think check/call is the best option. we don't accomplish anything by check/raising other than folding out worse and getting owned by better. sure it does bring some tough turn and river decisions but it's still better if the money goes in that way where you keep some bluffs in his range than if you raise and force him to fold the bluffs and call with QQ+. and as for a scare card rolling off, well sure you will probably have to fold JJ but there will be other hands in your range like A high floats that can happily call down on an A turn. so it's more about how your range as a whole plays out on different runouts.

so say in the example you gave, JJ can x/c 699 MP vs BTN, then on most low card turns probably x/c again. river will be a tough decision if he bets again, probably folding vs most players cos i don't see them tripling as a bluff in spots like this, especially on blank dry runout. if instead it's BTN vs blinds then ranges are usually so wide that you probably just have to call down depending on their aggression tendencies.

hopefully John can correct any errors in my thinking, but that's generally how i approach situations like this

 

[John A]

NO reads as 1st hand
Played the hand awfully. I know its a fold preflop but got me thinking how differently should you play the draw when OOP or In Position.

Guess in position better to call and if you dont hit you have the option of bluffing and maybe when OOP take the initiative and check raise ???

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
SB: $22.23 (222.3 bb)
Hero (BB): $10 (100 bb)
UTG: $9.41 (94.1 bb)
MP: $11.24 (112.4 bb)
CO: $13.44 (134.4 bb)
BTN: $9.85 (98.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6

4

2 folds, CO raises to $0.30, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.65) K

9

K

(2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.20, Hero raises to $0.80, CO calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.25) 4

(2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.60, Hero calls $0.60

River: ($3.45) 2

(2 players)
Hero bets $1.64, CO raises to $11.74, Hero folds

Results: $6.73 pot ($0.30 rake)
Final Board: K

9

K

4

2

Hero mucked 6

4

and lost (-$3.34 net)
CO mucked and won $6.43 ($3.09 net)

I'm sure it's been pointed out, but this is a pretty big pre-flop leak. First hand, you have no info and you call with 64s out of the blind. I'm pretty curious why? Outside of a misclick, there's no reason you should be playing the hand ever. If you have info, your opponent is super weak and you're deep or something that's different. It's difficult not to sound harsh in posts, but I think you understand why I'm asking. These are costly leaks we want to avoid.

Once you CR the flop, which at this level I guess is ok, you should lead the turn. At higher stakes you're going to get 3-bet in that spot with a pretty wide range and if you're flatted you're facing a big turn bet or shove a lot.

Once you go CR the flop, you should just bet the turn and set the going price. He bet really small so he most likely has a monster and wants to keep you in. Very typical at these stakes. If he had a flush draw, he's probably bet bigger.

The river makes his range super small. A flush seems remote based on the turn bet. You'd expect a flush draw to bet bigger or check the turn. So really his hand narrows to 99/KK/K9 and maybe a badly played 44. It's hard to know if big Kx hands would shove here since you have no info, and because of that you need to fold. I think leading the river is the best choice. W/o further info you just need to let this one go.

 

[John A]

Clicked on both of the links above and got Virus popup with AVG, looks like it was the pokersoftware.com link
not sure if false positive or a dodgy link

I'm sure it's pretty dodgy.

Don't use AVG. Yeah, pokersoftware.com is a legit site. They've been around a long time. That ace poker solutions though, I don't know about those guys.

 

[or3o1990]

Sorry if this is just a cooler guys. The villain on the button wasn't folding to any of my raises, so I think I could have raised more pre but I don't think he was folding his hand. I figured AA,QQ,AK and maybe AQ would have reraised pre. But the reraise on the flop made me think he had a single ace and was drawing or maybe KQ,K10 or Q10. Does anybody loose less here?


Seat 1: UTG ($97.09 in chips)
Seat 2: UTGplus1 ($47.76 in chips)
Seat 4: UTGplus2 ($73.45 in chips)
Seat 5: Hero ($63.60 in chips)
Seat 6: UTGplus4 ($12.03 in chips)
Seat 7: Dealer ($36.45 in chips)
Seat 8: Small Blind ($22.50 in chips)
Seat 9: Big Blind ($50 in chips)
Small Blind: posts small blind $0.25
Big Blind: posts big blind $0.50

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Kc Kh]
UTG: folds
UTGplus1: calls $0.50
UTGplus2: folds
Hero: raises $2 to $2
UTGplus4: folds
Dealer: calls $2
Small Blind: folds
Big Blind: folds
UTGplus1: folds

*** FLOP *** [Th Ks Qd]
Hero: bets $2.50
Dealer: raises $6.37 to $6.37
Hero: calls $3.87

*** TURN *** [Th Ks Qd] <font color='red'>6♥</font>
Hero: checks
Dealer: bets $17.99
Hero: raises $37.24 to $55.23 and is all-in
Dealer: calls $10.09 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Th Ks Qd 6h] <font color='red'>8<font face="arial">♦</font></font>

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero: shows [Kc Kh] (three of a kind, Kings)
Dealer: shows [Jd Ad] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Uncalled bet ($27.15) returned to Hero
Dealer collected $71.15 from pot

 

[rhombus]

Sorry if this is just a cooler guys. The villain on the button wasn't folding to any of my raises, so I think I could have raised more pre but I don't think he was folding his hand. I figured AA,QQ,AK and maybe AQ would have reraised pre. But the reraise on the flop made me think he had a single ace and was drawing or maybe KQ,K10 or Q10. Does anybody loose less here?


Seat 1: UTG ($97.09 in chips)
Seat 2: UTGplus1 ($47.76 in chips)
Seat 4: UTGplus2 ($73.45 in chips)
Seat 5: Hero ($63.60 in chips)
Seat 6: UTGplus4 ($12.03 in chips)
Seat 7: Dealer ($36.45 in chips)
Seat 8: Small Blind ($22.50 in chips)
Seat 9: Big Blind ($50 in chips)
Small Blind: posts small blind $0.25
Big Blind: posts big blind $0.50

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Kc Kh]
UTG: folds
UTGplus1: calls $0.50
UTGplus2: folds
Hero: raises $2 to $2
UTGplus4: folds
Dealer: calls $2
Small Blind: folds
Big Blind: folds
UTGplus1: folds

*** FLOP *** [Th Ks Qd]
Hero: bets $2.50
Dealer: raises $6.37 to $6.37
Hero: calls $3.87

*** TURN *** [Th Ks Qd] <font color='red'>6♥</font>
Hero: checks
Dealer: bets $17.99
Hero: raises $37.24 to $55.23 and is all-in
Dealer: calls $10.09 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Th Ks Qd 6h] <font color='red'>8<font face="arial">♦</font></font>

*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero: shows [Kc Kh] (three of a kind, Kings)
Dealer: shows [Jd Ad] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
Uncalled bet ($27.15) returned to Hero
Dealer collected $71.15 from pot

I'd have lost the same amount but shoved on the Flop when he reraised, worst possible scenario 35% and against AJ, QQ, TT, KQ, AK you are 60%

So many cards on Turn that will kill action especially a Jack and he bets out with a big bet or shoves

 

[rhombus]

Bet Sizing Tell on the River???

Looks like betting with a draw or weak ace then bet size increases when flush hits

Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( $7.15 USD ) - VPIP: 0, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 1
Seat 2: Player2 ( $11.15 USD ) - VPIP: 20, PFR: 14, 3B: 3, AF: 1.3, Hands: 70
Seat 3: Hero ( $10.00 USD ) - VPIP: 26, PFR: 19, 3B: 8, AF: 1.9, Hands: 71688
Seat 4: Player4 ( $11.29 USD ) - VPIP: 0, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 6
Seat 5: Player5 ( $8.12 USD ) - VPIP: 50, PFR: 50, 3B: 100, AF: 0.0, Hands: 2
Seat 6: Player6 ( $9.59 USD ) - VPIP: 25, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 4
Player2 posts small blind [$0.05 USD].
Hero posts big blind [$0.10 USD].



SB: $11.15 (111.5 bb)
Hero (BB): $10 (100 bb)
UTG: $11.29 (112.9 bb)
MP: $8.12 (81.2 bb)
CO: $9.59 (95.9 bb)
BTN: $7.15 (71.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8

A

4 folds, SB raises to $0.25, Hero calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.50) 7

A

6

(2 players)
SB bets $0.30, Hero calls $0.30

Turn: ($1.10) 5

(2 players)
SB bets $0.70, Hero calls $0.70

River: ($2.50) 2

(2 players)
SB bets $2, Hero folds

Results: $2.50 pot ($0.11 rake)
Final Board: 7

A

6

5

2

SB mucked and won $2.39 ($1.14 net)
Hero mucked 8

A

and lost (-$1.25 net)

 

[rhombus]

Possible fold on river, they had AF 0.5 although at the time I felt he had more flushes in his range than flopped Boats and maybe he hoped I had hit the King

poker stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 PlayersSeat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( $4.95 USD ) - VPIP: 33, PFR: 21, 3B: 0, AF: 0.8, Hands: 39
Seat 2: Player2 ( $27.25 USD ) - VPIP: 13, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.5, Hands: 8
Seat 3: Player3 ( $10.38 USD ) - VPIP: 25, PFR: 17, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 12
Seat 4: Player4 ( $20.21 USD ) - VPIP: 0, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 2
Seat 5: Player5 ( $2.40 USD ) - VPIP: 0, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 3
Seat 6: Hero ( $18.34 USD ) - VPIP: 26, PFR: 19, 3B: 8, AF: 1.9, Hands: 71832
Player2 posts small blind [$0.05 USD].
Player3 posts big blind [$0.10 USD].

SB: $27.25 (272.5 bb)
BB: $10.38 (103.8 bb)
UTG: $20.21 (202.1 bb)
MP: $2.40 (24 bb)
Hero (CO): $18.34 (183.4 bb)
BTN: $4.95 (49.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q

A

2 folds, Hero raises to $0.30, BTN folds, SB calls $0.25, BB folds

Flop: ($0.70) 4

J

4

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.40, SB calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.50) 9

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.90, SB calls $0.90

River: ($3.30) K

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.90, SB raises to $7.10, Hero calls $5.20

Results: $17.50 pot ($0.79 rake)
Final Board: 4

J

4

9

K

SB showed J

J

and won $16.71 ($8.01 net)
Hero mucked Q

A

and lost (-$8.70 net)

 

[or3o1990]

Possible fold on river, they had AF 0.5 although at the time I felt he had more flushes in his range than flopped Boats and maybe he hoped I had hit the King

Poker Stars, $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 PlayersSeat 1 is the button
Seat 1: Player1 ( $4.95 USD ) - VPIP: 33, PFR: 21, 3B: 0, AF: 0.8, Hands: 39
Seat 2: Player2 ( $27.25 USD ) - VPIP: 13, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.5, Hands: 8
Seat 3: Player3 ( $10.38 USD ) - VPIP: 25, PFR: 17, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 12
Seat 4: Player4 ( $20.21 USD ) - VPIP: 0, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 2
Seat 5: Player5 ( $2.40 USD ) - VPIP: 0, PFR: 0, 3B: 0, AF: 0.0, Hands: 3
Seat 6: Hero ( $18.34 USD ) - VPIP: 26, PFR: 19, 3B: 8, AF: 1.9, Hands: 71832
Player2 posts small blind [$0.05 USD].
Player3 posts big blind [$0.10 USD].

SB: $27.25 (272.5 bb)
BB: $10.38 (103.8 bb)
UTG: $20.21 (202.1 bb)
MP: $2.40 (24 bb)
Hero (CO): $18.34 (183.4 bb)
BTN: $4.95 (49.5 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q

A

2 folds, Hero raises to $0.30, BTN folds, SB calls $0.25, BB folds

Flop: ($0.70) 4

J

4

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.40, SB calls $0.40

Turn: ($1.50) 9

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.90, SB calls $0.90

River: ($3.30) K

(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.90, SB raises to $7.10, Hero calls $5.20

Results: $17.50 pot ($0.79 rake)
Final Board: 4

J

4

9

K

SB showed J

J

and won $16.71 ($8.01 net)
Hero mucked Q

A

and lost (-$8.70 net)

I didn't shove on the flop because I wanted to see the draw miss first. I would have folded otherwise.


I think it's hard to put him on a backdoor flush he'd want to stick around with because even if he did have clubs they'd be mostly small. By the turn I would have had to give him credit for at least a j or medium pp or a medium ace but I think the ace would be a bit optimistic. I don't think I bet the turn unless I really thought I could get a fold but I can't fold the river either.

 

[or3o1990]

I'm trying to figure out peoples ranges which is a pain when playing against anonymous players. I have realized that many of the players at .25/.50 are only ever balancing their ranges when they limp. They'll limp weak aces, premium aces, suited connectors low and premium pocket pairs as well.

Exhibit A:

pokerstars Hand #3069000877: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2015/05/29 15:42:52

Table '#9665796' Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Small Blind ($54.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Hero ($64.93 in chips)
Seat 3: UTG ($51.05 in chips)
Seat 4: UTGplus1 ($40.93 in chips)
Seat 5: UTGplus2 ($61.23 in chips)
Seat 6: UTGplus3 ($11.30 in chips)
Seat 7: UTGplus4 ($91.87 in chips)
Seat 8: Dealer ($74.64 in chips)
Small Blind: posts small blind $0.25
Hero: posts big blind $0.50

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [8d 8s]
UTG: calls $0.50
UTGplus1: folds
UTGplus2: folds
UTGplus3: calls $0.50
UTGplus4: calls $0.50
Dealer: folds
Small Blind: folds
Hero: raises $1.50 to $2
UTG: calls $1.50
UTGplus3: folds
UTGplus4: calls $1.50

*** FLOP *** [Qd 2d 6s]
Seat sit down
Hero: bets $3
Table deposit $50
UTG: folds
UTGplus4: folds
Uncalled bet ($3) returned to Hero
Hero: shows [8d 8s]
Hero collected $6.45 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.75 | Rake $0.30
Board [Qd 2d 6s]
Seat 1: Small Blind (small blind) mucked [9c 7h]
Seat 2: Hero (big blind) won ($6.45)
Seat 3: UTG mucked [Jh Jd]
Seat 4: UTGplus1 mucked [Qc 4d]
Seat 5: UTGplus2 mucked [Kd 2h]
Seat 6: UTGplus3 mucked [3c Th]
Seat 7: UTGplus4 mucked [Kc Ah]
Seat 8: Dealer (button) mucked [Qs 5d]

Upon reviewing this hand I was floored that JJ and AK played this way but it worked out for me.. But in a different hand when KK limped and the flop came all low I was out of position and got reraised on the flop and shoved 99 and lost a little bit.

Any advice in general in adapting to players that balance their ranges this way?

 

[Figaroo2]

Well a Q on the flop with no AK or J was the only way you were going to win that hand, you got really lucky. When I saw the preflop action my immediate thought was why not just call, you are closing the action with no chance of being squeezed or being reraised and having to fold. I'd just want to see the cheapest flop possible with 88 and try and hit your set. Then when I saw the size of your squeeze I thought way too small. If I did choose to squeeze here Id bet the usual x3 +1 bb for every limper so a minimum of $3 and id probably add another bb or even 2 as my hand is relatively weak here.
Generally if everyone is being tricky trappy I would up my bet sizing early in the hand with most of my stronger preflop holdings, the more you can get them to reveal the real strength of their hands and make the speculative stuff fold the better. Its not all bad as you want to see flops in this game and if there is a lot of limping going on you can get in there with your own speculative stuff nice and cheap as well.

 

[John A]

Bet Sizing Tell on the River???

Looks like betting with a draw or weak ace then bet size increases when flush hits

Yeah, pretty easy river fold. I think the better question is, what's the max you'd call for in this spot?

 

[John A]

I'm trying to figure out peoples ranges which is a pain when playing against anonymous players. I have realized that many of the players at .25/.50 are only ever balancing their ranges when they limp. They'll limp weak aces, premium aces, suited connectors low and premium pocket pairs as well.

Exhibit A:

PokerStars Hand #3069000877: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2015/05/29 15:42:52

Table '#9665796' Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Small Blind ($54.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Hero ($64.93 in chips)
Seat 3: UTG ($51.05 in chips)
Seat 4: UTGplus1 ($40.93 in chips)
Seat 5: UTGplus2 ($61.23 in chips)
Seat 6: UTGplus3 ($11.30 in chips)
Seat 7: UTGplus4 ($91.87 in chips)
Seat 8: Dealer ($74.64 in chips)
Small Blind: posts small blind $0.25
Hero: posts big blind $0.50

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [8d 8s]
UTG: calls $0.50
UTGplus1: folds
UTGplus2: folds
UTGplus3: calls $0.50
UTGplus4: calls $0.50
Dealer: folds
Small Blind: folds
Hero: raises $1.50 to $2
UTG: calls $1.50
UTGplus3: folds
UTGplus4: calls $1.50

*** FLOP *** [Qd 2d 6s]
Seat sit down
Hero: bets $3
Table deposit $50
UTG: folds
UTGplus4: folds
Uncalled bet ($3) returned to Hero
Hero: shows [8d 8s]
Hero collected $6.45 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.75 | Rake $0.30
Board [Qd 2d 6s]
Seat 1: Small Blind (small blind) mucked [9c 7h]
Seat 2: Hero (big blind) won ($6.45)
Seat 3: UTG mucked [Jh Jd]
Seat 4: UTGplus1 mucked [Qc 4d]
Seat 5: UTGplus2 mucked [Kd 2h]
Seat 6: UTGplus3 mucked [3c Th]
Seat 7: UTGplus4 mucked [Kc Ah]
Seat 8: Dealer (button) mucked [Qs 5d]

Upon reviewing this hand I was floored that JJ and AK played this way but it worked out for me.. But in a different hand when KK limped and the flop came all low I was out of position and got reraised on the flop and shoved 99 and lost a little bit.

Any advice in general in adapting to players that balance their ranges this way?

They aren't balancing their ranges, they just don't know how to play. There's a HUGE difference between players that know how to balance, and this example here. HUGE.

In these spots you just need to notice they are folding too much and punish them for that. There's not much more you need to do beyond that. If you have guys that are limp calling KK+ type hands, then just note that. You don't know what someone is limp calling with until you get to see them show a hand. So you just have to make your best educated guesses and look at VPIP and PFR gaps, etc.. if they are really big, then you know they are fish and most of their range will be junk. If they have a low VPIP but still a big PFR gap, then there's likely some bigger hands in their range.

 

[Figaroo2]

River value bet, what do we think, big enough?
Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 5 Players
This was a full ring table that went shorter handed.

Hero (SB): $25 (100 bb)
BB: $25 (100 bb)
MP: $26.92 (107.7 bb)
CO: $25.87 (103.5 bb)
BTN: $25 (100 bb) 12/8/35 in 190 hands

Preflop: Hero is SB with A

K

2 folds, BTN raises to $0.50, Hero raises to $2, BB folds, BTN calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.25) 3

6

4

(2 players)
Hero bets $2.03, BTN raises to $5, Hero calls $2.97 (because I have the K of spades and I don't think i'm beat to be honest he could easily have a fairly wide range here)

Turn: ($14.25) A

(2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($14.25) 4

(2 players)
quick peek at his wtsd% shows 29% so hes a bit of a station
Hero bets $6.80, BTN calls $6.80

Results: $27.85 pot ($1.25 rake)
Final Board: 3

6

4

A

4

Hero showed A

K

and won $26.60 ($12.80 net)
BTN mucked T

A

and lost (-$13.80 net)

 

[mottotom27]

not sure WTSD has much statistical meaning after 200 hands lol. but i would just fold to the flop raise, i mean he's a 12/8 nit so i'd say the bottom of his range is flush draws and the K spade blocker is much less meaningful than the A spade blocker. against his range i'd say AK is not in good shape at all, and you've still got two more streets to play.

when he raises flop he can raise with a bunch of overpairs plus some flush draws (and sets if he calls those pre), so the ace turn means you almost certainly have the best hand, but when he checks back he's representing 99-QQ a bunch, plus some weak Ax flush draws that now got there. i don't expect many of these hands to call a big bet on the river so i think your sizing was reasonable.

 

[or3o1990]

They aren't balancing their ranges, they just don't know how to play. There's a HUGE difference between players that know how to balance, and this example here. HUGE.

In these spots you just need to notice they are folding too much and punish them for that. There's not much more you need to do beyond that. If you have guys that are limp calling KK+ type hands, then just note that. You don't know what someone is limp calling with until you get to see them show a hand. So you just have to make your best educated guesses and look at VPIP and PFR gaps, etc.. if they are really big, then you know they are fish and most of their range will be junk. If they have a low VPIP but still a big PFR gap, then there's likely some bigger hands in their range.

Thanks for the input. I'm on Bovada so idk how useful stats will be session by session but I'm going to give the HUD offered by Acepokersolutions a try in the next couple of days.

 

[or3o1990]

Well a Q on the flop with no AK or J was the only way you were going to win that hand, you got really lucky. When I saw the preflop action my immediate thought was why not just call, you are closing the action with no chance of being squeezed or being reraised and having to fold. I'd just want to see the cheapest flop possible with 88 and try and hit your set. Then when I saw the size of your squeeze I thought way too small. If I did choose to squeeze here Id bet the usual x3 +1 bb for every limper so a minimum of $3 and id probably add another bb or even 2 as my hand is relatively weak here.
Generally if everyone is being tricky trappy I would up my bet sizing early in the hand with most of my stronger preflop holdings, the more you can get them to reveal the real strength of their hands and make the speculative stuff fold the better. Its not all bad as you want to see flops in this game and if there is a lot of limping going on you can get in there with your own speculative stuff nice and cheap as well.

Yeah I definitely did get lucky that none of them touched the flop and even luckier that JJ just gave up. I guess I bet because of the preflop action, I felt like I most likely had the best hand and that a bet might take down the limpers and give me initiative to rep something on the flop and maybe win if I miss. I don't like limping strong hands ever but in this case I agree that I could have just called, especially because I was oop.

In hindsight I guess that squeeze was too small. I've been betting smaller because these limpers are sticky, they're just as likely to call that $2 raise as the $3. I don't think they take the sizing into consideration at all and they're just as likely to fold if they miss and I bet 1/2 pot on the flop as if I bet 2/3. So because I like to bet more I've been betting less because it's usually very obvious when someone has something because they just give up otherwise. Is this a this a terrible adjustment? I'm been pondering if I should just move up to .5/1 because I have the BR I've just been trying to log some experience. However, it's crossed my mind a couple of times that adjusting to these terrible players may be counterproductive.

River value bet, what do we think, big enough?
Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 5 Players
This was a full ring table that went shorter handed.

Hero (SB): $25 (100 bb)
BB: $25 (100 bb)
MP: $26.92 (107.7 bb)
CO: $25.87 (103.5 bb)
BTN: $25 (100 bb) 12/8/35 in 190 hands

Preflop: Hero is SB with A K
2 folds, BTN raises to $0.50, Hero raises to $2, BB folds, BTN calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.25) 3 6 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $2.03, BTN raises to $5, Hero calls $2.97 (because I have the K of spades and I don't think i'm beat to be honest he could easily have a fairly wide range here)

Turn: ($14.25) A (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($14.25) 4 (2 players)
quick peek at his wtsd% shows 29% so hes a bit of a station
Hero bets $6.80, BTN calls $6.80

Results: $27.85 pot ($1.25 rake)
Final Board: 3 6 4 A 4
Hero showed A K and won $26.60 ($12.80 net)
BTN mucked T A and lost (-$13.80 net)

__________________

I think given the board it's good. If you thought he was likely holding an ace then you could have gotten away with more. Otherwise you had to give him a price he could call something like 77-jj with. Unless you have a super loose image that the villain is conscious of he's probably not calling more than half a pot sized bet with a 6 or any of those pocket pairs.

 

[rhombus]

Yeah, pretty easy river fold. I think the better question is, what's the max you'd call for in this spot?

$2.50 on River so maybe call $1 when obv flush draw comes in

 

[John A]

Thanks for the input. I'm on Bovada so idk how useful stats will be session by session but I'm going to give the HUD offered by Acepokersolutions a try in the next couple of days.

I play on Bovada too. Having a HUD on there still makes a difference. It would of course be nice to have lots of data, but we'll take what we can get. Use my hitman HUD with the bovada card catcher (comes with it). It's a great combo for putting together quick reads, which is what you'll need on there.