[Devilboy]

Question 1)

What is the worst hand in holdem playing heads up, pre flop?

[Devilboy]

So clearly it's no KJ but I think many people mistakenly think that 27 is the worst hand always. But that's not really true - heads up 23 is actually worse than 27 since making straights is more important at a full table. Heads up most of the pots will be won with just a pair.

Am I right?

[Quads]

There are some things I like about the poker IQ, but others I don't. This is one I actually really like.

PS treats the hands as follows:

2,097,572,400 games 0.031 secs 67,663,625,806 games/sec
Board: 
Dead: 
equity win tie pots won pots tied 
Hand 0: 60.569% 59.44% 01.13% 1246822903 23649120.00 { KdJc }
Hand 1: 39.431% 38.30% 01.13% 803451257 23649120.00 { random }
 
---
2,097,572,400 games 0.005 secs 419,514,480,000 games/sec
Board: 
Dead: 
equity win tie pots won pots tied 
Hand 0: 34.584% 31.71% 02.87% 665146081 60270960.00 { 7d2s }
Hand 1: 65.416% 62.54% 02.87% 1311884399 60270960.00 { random }
 
---
2,097,572,400 games 0.031 secs 67,663,625,806 games/sec
Board: 
Dead: 
equity win tie pots won pots tied 
Hand 0: 32.303% 29.24% 03.06% 613318625 64264972.50 { 3s2c }
Hand 1: 67.697% 64.63% 03.06% 1355723830 64264972.50 { random }

This is one of the questions that often gets people (I think) because there are times (+/- 2%) where the 7 plays, so in effect 2/3 is the worst to go heads up with. Yes, you shoot your straight possibilities by taking 7/2, but you have (albeit a 7) a card that can play as a kicker or where you share board cards.

I think this is the basis on this question and the angle in which they are taking on the question with the hands they present you. This is providing that neither hand is suited. In which case you pick up a few points for flush possibilities.

Any other thoughts around it?

[Devilboy]

Your numbers confirms it then - Question 1 is definitely 23o.

Question 2:

10/20 Cash NL Hold’em. 9 Handed. $2,000 stacks. You have been at the table for a few rotations. You are weak, tight, and playing over your head. In the SB you find:



UTG limps. Button Limps. You limp. Unknown tight aggressive player in BB (playing about 20% of his hands and raising 10%) Raises to $120. UTG calls. You call.

Flop:


You check. BB bets $200. You call.

Turn:


You check. BB bets $300. What should you do?

Fold
Raise
Call and check call the river
Call and check fold the river
Call and bet out on river
Call and check raise river

[Devilboy]

So I guess the first thing to work out here is the villain's range. Which hands in the top 10% could he have?

We're beating AK, or AQ, AJ, KQ, AA and KK
We're screwed against QQ or JJ. He probably won't have QJ or J10.

Since we're beating most hands, and since his turn bet looks like a blocking bet, we should raise? Or what?

[Quads]

Personally I raise.
I'll know in a hurry if he has JJ or QQ.

[yeltzen]

For question 2, I raise in case he has a straight or a draw. You don't win crap if the draw doesn't come in.

[ACE'S FULL]

Originally Posted by Quads

Personally I raise.
I'll know in a hurry if he has JJ or QQ.

I agree here I would also raise in this spot BUT... What do you all think about the check-raise in this spot? That is if he bets to you... Is this a bad move?

[luckychick]

Originally Posted by ACE'S FULL

I agree here I would also raise in this spot BUT... What do you all think about the check-raise in this spot? That is if he bets to you... Is this a bad move?

I raise right away. I'm not checking the river (unless maybe it's a Q or something goofy) because I think check-check is likely to happen. I think I'm ahead, although I would like to know what happened to UTG in this hand - did he fold turn?

[Devilboy]

So it seems everyone likes the raise for Q2.

Question 3:

Tournament. Blinds are 300-600 with 75 antes. 9 handed.

SB is a well known tourney pro and has 60,000 chips. A weak tight player UTG with 100,000 chips limps and SB completes. Big blind with 12,000 chips checks.

Flop:


Blinds to UTG who bets 3,000. SB calls and the BB min check raises to 6,000. UTG min re-raises to 12,000. After long consideration SB calls, and the big blind calls all-in.

Turn:


SB checks. UTG checks.

River:


SB bets 10,000 into the 40,000 chip pot. UTG quickly calls. What did all three players hold?

SB had AA, UTG has a flush draw, and BB holds a set.
SB had a draw, BB has two pair, and UTG has AA.
SB had a set, BB has 99+, and UTG has flush draw.
SB had two pair, BB has a draw, UTG has A8.