97s against competent opponent

[Chris]

Pretty good game. During a couple rounds of straddling. I pick up 97s in my straddle. One limp then a competent opponent in the SB raises to 15. We are about 300 effective.

I decide that I could play post flop in position profitably. I likely put him on a decently wide range. Could be 77+, KJs+, A10s+. Things of that nature. Other person calls but he is the spot at the table. Not too many worries there.

Flop comes A107 rainbow with one diamond (I have diamonds). He bets out for 13. He can definitely be betting worse or better hands but I think one bet isn’t enough to get me off the hand. Other guy folds and turn is HI.

Turn is 6d. He checks. Bow I’m starting to feel much better about my hand. Only exactly 98 comes in. He would usually continue with all his aces on this turn then evaluate rivers. So I am feeling I either have the best hand or he is weak enough that if I don’t improve he would likely check fold rivers.

I however elect to check. Picking up extra equity and having some amount of showdown value, I would rather not get blown off my hand against a check raise and I want to realize the equity of my hand.

River is an offsuit 9. He elects to check. I think I have a pretty clear bet for value here as it seems he has given up on this board. The best I can ever see him having now playing the hand this way is a weak ace which was outta my initial range from him. But perhaps the spot at the table deciding to limo gave him an idea to raise and isolate him.

But I think that my hand also seems weak. So I should be able to get some as I have shown the ability to bluff in these types of spots with him. But I size down. I bet 20.

Thoughts?

[Chuck M]

I like your thought process and your analysis. I think you’re good the whole way, his flop bet is super tiny isn’t it? 13 into 45? He might have an ace and bet small to get the weaker player to call. But I think he’d bet the turn with his Ax. He might have broadways and have a gutshot. The board gets pretty connected to the river but he showed weakness i’m sure you’re good. I see a vbet there, 20 is small but ok, maybe he’d call with Tx or 9x. Also, if you can bluff river with small bets (looking as if you wanted a call), it’s a good way to balance with a small vbet too.
I think you played it good

[Chris]

Yeah I was thinking about sizing up but I figured I can’t get a ton of value from worse.

I figured it was ok. He is one of the few I sometimes talk strategy with cause he is a cool guy and berated me for it. I was certain my thought process was reasonable. Just wanted to be sure.

[John S]

I think you played it right. Given the fact that he c-bet flop, checked turn and river, I don’t think he had much – either second or third pair or maybe something like KQ for no pair. He shut down two streets in a row, so he doesn’t have a top pair or better type hand to call of a big bet. Most players aren’t going to call down an 80%+ pot bet with middle pair, so it’s best to try to get what little value you can and go for the small bet.

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