Three Hands….do they ever go differently?

[Hans Griese]

Hey all,
Three frustrating hands, and I just want to know if I played them alright…I think so, but even then I want some validation. playing 1/2, and the 2nd two hands are a different session. I didn’t take notes, so there may be minor errors.

1) This hand was mid-way through session, against a tighter opponent. She has shown a lot of aggression in the recent orbits, but hasn’t shown anything down that was bad (but often got away without showing). I have QQs in the SB. Villain opens to $7 in LP, button calls. I 3-bet to $22. EP limp-calls me. Villain 4-bets to $47, button folds. I call, but think I am behind. EP folds. She can have all the broadway pairs here (JJ-AA), and some AJ/AQ/AK. The flop comes AJ8 rainbow, and she james for about $100. I tank fold…I’m behind even JJs now, so just don’t see how I can continue. She doesn’t show what she had

2) AQ off (no hearts), I open to $12 in EP, I get 3 callers. Flop is A82 with two hearts. I C-bet $25, only MP calls. He’s been fairly tight so far, and hadn’t played many hands. Turn is a 7 hearts. I check, he bets $25 with $35ish behind. I jam on him, and he calls. River is a blank, and he shows A7 off….also no hearts. So I lose to the turned two-pair. Maybe a bigger flop bet? I don’t think I played this well, but I didn’t have him on the flush, and never expected an A7 here.

3) 10s UTG, I open to $10, get 2 callers. Flop is 733, I bet $15, 1 caller (SB). Turn is a 6, I bet $35, he check-calls again. River is a 7, checks through, he has 78 spades (there was 1 spade on flop, that’s all). So I lose the minimum to his rivered boat, but is there any way to get him off of this before that? I am very surprised he called the turn bet – what does he think I have here?

Thanks for any comments. I think hand 2 was played poorly looking back at it, but 1 and 3 I think are fine.

[Jazbo Burns]

Hand 1: You had QQ in the small blind. After LP raises to $7 and the button calls, you raised to $22. That’s not even a pot-sized raise, which would be to about $28, but I would add another bet because of your poor position, raising to about $35. As played, the Villain 4-bet very small to $47 over your $22. You don’t gives stack sizes, but a shove is probably a better play than a call here (you have 56% EV against the Villains assumed range) — what is your plan if you don’t hit a set on the flop? (BTW, we also need to know what your image is at the table.)

Hand 2: You just got outdrawn here. Don’t worry about it. Are you usually C-Betting half-pot? A smaller bet (say $15 on the flop) will often be enough to win the pot or get calls from weaker hands, which is a good result (even though you lost this hand).

Hand 3: TT UTG is a tough hand to play, but you got a lucky flop, 733, giving you a vulnerable overpair. Once again, you chose to C-Bet half-pot. Once again, a small bet or a larger one might be better.

–jazbo

[DeeKay]

I think you did pretty well. I don’t agree much with Jazbo.
Hand 1: Is $7 standard bet at the table? Seems light. I do agree your 3-bet was a bit light, but considering she 4-bet you with a re-raise that begs action… I think warning lights are going off and we are going call and set mine giving you are getting great value to call. To your point, you are beating nothing. So be it.

Hand 2: Given the guys stack… seems like there was no situation he was folding, even if you bet stronger on the flop. But seems like you bet for value and just got unlucky. It happens

Hand 3: 10’s are tricky, but you got a nice flop. I like the value bet as you should be in control of the hand. The river is just horrible as I think we were hoping he had a 7. If the river is any other card, we are purely betting for value. But given the 7, I think we are check calling to control the pot. Once again, just a bad run out.

I think you played all three hands pretty well.

[Hans Griese]

1) stack size is effective with her at $147 (47 open, jams for 100). My image is pretty tight – I had folded JJs face-up a little earlier on a clean flop (was facing KKs, so go me). I don’t show down crap, and I don’t open wide. I didn’t like a jam – $1/$2 no one 4-bets light, so I thought I may be at best flipping – according to you I’m slightly ahead of her perceived range, but its still basically a flip. My flop plan was to get the stacks in if there was no A/K/J on the flop, and probably call down if its just a jack.
There is no standard open at this casino – sometimes its 6, sometimes its 13. Just depends on the table and who is currently there. This table was fluctuating between the extremes the whole time.

2) yeah ok, kinda what I figured. At this table yes I’m c-betting half(ish). Its a looser table, so I am getting stronger value from these bets, and also trying to charge the draws they are (religiously) chasing.

3) Agreed it’s tough, but I ain’t folding and I ain’t limping. I’ll look more at my C-bet size, but I hate betting the same amount twice in a row (open to $10, then c-bet $10). I think sizing it up here would be better. As played, I wonder if I could size the turn bet up to $45ish and get him out.

Thanks gents

[DeeKay]

Just to clarify one or two things… the only reason I’m not looking to call jam (first hand) is that instincts have me very concerned when I see small raises. To me its betting for action and that would really concern me, especially with Queens. Aces are very real and you have to proceed with caution (assuming you like money). Sometimes that can make you play too cautious when you have Kings and it turns out they have Queens, but if you can balance your hand analysis with your player read, then typically you can make the best situation happen. I’m not saying like play like one of those old guys at the table who shoves pre flop because he claims he’s tired of aces getting cracked, just saying that its ok to play the hand a little cautious if you smell something fishy.
Plus I only asked about the opening raise as what the typical raise was at the table. For me usually $10-$12 is the opening at 1-2… $7 seemed light but might be something someone would do with aces to make sure they get a caller. That’s all… of course every casino and table will play differently.
The pocket 10’s is always a tricky hand and quite frankly, everything was set up perfect for you (minus the river). I don’t suggest pushing up the c-bet or turn bet for a couple of reasons. If he has a 7, you want him to come along and you want to build the pot up so you can get paid off on the river. He very likely can put you on a big aces thinking ace high is a good hand there and that will pay you off nicely. But it is a terrific flop for him too and I don’t think he’s going anywhere unless you start sizing up and then he puts you on an over pair or semi-bluffing with an ace. I like the value betting because it should build up the pot and then on the river, a 60% pot bet should bring in a very nice pot.
Those are my thoughts… I could be wrong

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