Help with an interesting hand (B&M 3-5NL)

xtwalker · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 03:07 PM

Ok, well I think it was an interesting hand, and I think I played it pretty poorly. I would love to hear what some of you would have done in my possition... I'll start with a little backstory for the situation.

I had been playing for maybe 2-3 hrs and had taken a couple tough hits in big hands, but had also given a couple bad hits in big hands. Player A had just moved from my right to an open seat on my left for the declared purpose of getting better possition on me. Player A had about $600 and was playing a rather solid game but seemed to not like playing pots with me.

I just played a big hand from the SB where I flopped a wheel SF draw with As3s I checked, Player B bet, I raised, he pushed, I thought I had odds to call for the size of the pot and called. I hit my nut flush on the river and took down a $1k pot. Player B rebought for $300.

Two hands later I am in the cutoff with Player B limped-in UTG ahead of me, I held KhQh and I noticed that Player A (on the button) was holding chips for a raise. I decided to raise to $20 and see if he had a strong hand or if he wanted to play his possition. Player A calls the $20, and Player B calls the $20.

3 players to the flop, ~$65 total pot.
The flop came out 9hThAs.
Player B checks
Hero: ???? What action should I take here?

Poboy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtwalker

Player A had just moved from my left to an open seat on my right for the declared purpose of getting better possition on me. Player A had about $600 and was playing a rather solid game but seemed to not like playing pots with me.

Player A would have position on you if he is on your left, not your right. Did you make a mistake, or is he an idiot?

xtwalker · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poboy

Player A would have position on you if he is on your left, not your right. Did you make a mistake, or is he an idiot?

I made a mistake, thanks for catching it... he moved from my imediate right to my imediate left. Will correct the OP.

standpat · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 03:56 PM

If this was me.. Id bet about 40.. if Im reraised I'd plug in luckbox and Push...

If one or both call.. check turn and take the frecard.. If miss turn and river give up the hand..

VARoadstter · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by standpat

If this was me.. Id bet about 40.. if Im reraised I'd plug in luckbox and Push...

If one or both call.. check turn and take the frecard.. If miss turn and river give up the hand..

Sounds good to me, but I may bet a little more.

standpat · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 04:38 PM

Reason for betting "only" 40 is that a reraise will probably be around 100,which will make it easier for villain to fold against push.. The key to this hand to play it this way is that you don't bet to much.. say.. if you bet 65.. which is about pot.. Then the reraise would probably be around 150 and villain would "never" fold against a push.. and If youre up against a rerais from first position and push from the next you have saved yourself 25$

HOLLA

TheMightyJim2k · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 05:12 PM

I think bet, 3-bet shove is reasonable if you think you can make the villain lay down AK or AQ. But you are probably ulikely to get a fold of a set or two pair.

So I either take pats line and bet half pot planning to shove to a raise, or I check and see if I can see a cheap turn card. Really depends on how aggressive the villain to your left is going to be. If you think he is likely to check behind then try to get a free turn card.

this is a tough spot though, and I think you should post it up on 2p2 and see if you can get in any from the regs or even the guys that wrotet Pro No Limit Holdem.

(also I'm assuming the blinds were 2/5?)

xtwalker · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 06:43 PM

The blinds were 3/5.

I almost always make a continuation bet, and vary the size of it based on pot size, possition, and any reads on players in the hand, and how I want to manipulate the pot. I would say 80-90+ % of the time I c-bet.

I did bet $45, and really expected to take down the pot right there or get a call from at most one of the two players. What happened really surprised me as Player A raised to $145 and Player B insta-called (over half his remaining stack.)

This is the first time that Player A had shown this aggression toward me all night, but I had done it to him quite a few times. I was also surprised that Player B just called. He had pushed all in more times than the rest of the table combined so far in the evening.

I was a tad startled and was just starting to think about what to do with that chain of action when I...?????

What action should I take here?
Also, any initial thoughts on hands they may be holding?

Poboy · #9 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMightyJim2k

I think bet, 3-bet shove is reasonable if you think you can make the villain lay down AK or AQ. But you are probably ulikely to get a fold of a set or two pair.

So I either take pats line and bet half pot planning to shove to a raise, or I check and see if I can see a cheap turn card. Really depends on how aggressive the villain to your left is going to be. If you think he is likely to check behind then try to get a free turn card.

The villain moved for position. Most likely he likes to be aggr, but is not ballsy enough to 3bet or push light, so having to lead every hand took him out of his comfort zone.
No way he's folding a big Ace. I think he will likely bet if you check. Since he was going to raise but didn't, I would weigh mid pairs and AQ/AJ/AT a little more than AK or AA-QQ.

If you lead for $40, the pot'll be $105 to him. A pot sized raise from him would be $145. With both a 9 and T on the flop (mid pairs) and an Ace (AQ/J/T), it is dangerous to give him a chance to raise.
I'd check. He may or may not pot. Depending on the bet size, I'd call it and see what the turn brings.

Poboy · #10 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtwalker

The blinds were 3/5.

I almost always make a continuation bet, and vary the size of it based on pot size, possition, and any reads on players in the hand, and how I want to manipulate the pot. I would say 80-90+ % of the time I c-bet.

I did bet $45, and really expected to take down the pot right there or get a call from at most one of the two players. What happened really surprised me as Player A raised to $145 and Player B insta-called (over half his remaining stack.)

This is the first time that Player A had shown this aggression toward me all night, but I had done it to him quite a few times.

Why would it surprise you the guy raised when he moved to be behind you? He wants to see you coming, and was afraid to lead into your aggression.

It looks like someone has a set, and maybe an Ace, a (pair+) draw or two pair.
Half of player B's stack in means you have little implieds odds from him. If you hit your draw, you are likely going to have to lead at player A because he'll check behind a fair amount of the time.
Fold, and wish you hadn't knocked yourself off the draw.