Mono-Tone Flops in low stakes cash

[David Wibel]

HOw do you guys handle being the aggressor and defender on mono-tone flops? I find myself frequently folding to early signs of aggression even with hands like top pair good kicker if I don’t have a flush draw. On the other hand I will often find myself semi-bluffing with hands like bottom pair and the third nut to nut flush draw. Below are some scenarios that I frequently find myself in.

Scenario 1:
Hero: 100BB MP JcJs
Villain: 100BB Button

Pre flop: Hero Raise to 4BB, Villain calls.

Flop 369 all Diamonds

Scenrio 2:
Hero: 100BB Cutoff 5h5d
Villain: 100BB Button

Pre flop: Hero raise to 4bb, Villain calls.

Flop: 289 all hearts Villian Checks

Scenario 3:
Hero: 100BB SB 7h8h
Villain: 100BB Cutoff

Pre flop: Hero raises to 3BB, Villain calls.

Flop: TQK all hearts

Scenario 4:
Hero: 100BB UTG+2 QsQc
Villain: 100BB Button

Pre Flop: Hero raise to 3.5BB, villain calls

Flop: 78K all spades

Thanks for the help and hopefully I’m not the only one to learn something.

[Han]

Hi David. Monotone boards are tricky indeed. Even when you are the preflop raiser proceeding with extreme caution is warranted.

It difficult to flop a flush, < 1%. I think the odds of flopping a flush draw is approximately 10%. In spot like scenario 1 and 4, I think a flop bet and checking the turn to pot control would be a good approach. Definitely, do not want to give villains a free card. If the turn is checked, bet the river. Fold to any aggression on the river.

I tend to see opponents play cautiously as well, even if they have a draw.

For scenario 2 & 3, I’d probably be done with the hand on the flop or turn.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by Han.

[John S]

I’m 100% leading scenario 1, 3, and 4, and probably leading scenario 2 as well.

If there’s one thing that scares a low stakes player, it’s a flush. People shut down when that 3rd of a suit hits. If they don’t have a draw or a pair, 95% of players are folding.

In all of those scenarios you either have a flush or a pair. Lead the flop, you are most likely ahead and will win more times than you won’t. Don’t go crazy and 3 barrel this, but show some aggression try to take down the pot now. It gets even worse if a 4th of the suit hits the board.

[Author]

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