any merit or spew?

Don't really know about this one. I don't do this too often, but every now and then. I wasn't sure if both of us were in for a long session, but if we were then he was going to be either 3-betting me a lot, or doing a lot of flat calling in position.

I am running 20/19 at the moment on this table. He has been slightly laggy, not too out of line post flop. He took a big pot off of me when he called my button raise from the SB w/ QJs and flopped an OESD+FD on a K high flop. He led, I raised, he reraised, I pushed AA. 9 hit the river to sink me. That was our only other run in.

He is probably 3-betting pretty tight, I am assuming TT/JJ+ and some AK's/AQ's in there as well. My calling range is pretty well all PP's. Not a lot of AK's in there.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($42.50)
BB ($107)
UTG ($24.05)
UTG+1 ($40.40)
Hero ($101.70)
MP2 ($165.80)
MP3 ($46.65)
CO ($47)
Button ($114.70)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 2, 2.
2 folds, Hero raises to $3, MP2 raises to $10, 5 folds, Hero calls $7.

Flop: ($21.50) 8, 4, 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $10, Hero raises to $30

FWIW I plan on pushing all turns.

Any chance this is anything but spew, or does it have some merit as an occasional play?

I could understand it if you already had history with the player, but if you get called here, the equity gained from getting paid off later on is just not enough to risk this. I vote spew.

I don't like to do that in a 3-bet pot with this board perfect for overpairs. Seems that you're gamboling that he's 3-betting AK/AQ here, which is only some of his 3-betting range.

Also with you running fairly laggy at this table, he might be less inclined to take you seriously here & continue with TT+

I like this play vs a habitual c-better in a raised pot, but in this situation I run for the hills. Maybe I'm being too much of a pussy, IDK...

Originally Posted by d0zer

I don't like to do that in a 3-bet pot with this board perfect for overpairs. Seems that you're gamboling that he's 3-betting AK/AQ here, which is only some of his 3-betting range.

To be fair, i actually do this a lot, just usually not with 22. Maybe TT, JJ, AK or some kind of str8 or flush draw. The idea is that when I push the turn I'm better than 5% if called yet I still lose credibility and get paid when I have the goods next time.

His half pot cbet looks weak. I don't see anything wrong with attacking it, but I think you need to bet more. You are giving him 3:1 odds to call with the half of his range that you are trying to fold out. I would bet more on the flop to force him to make a pot committing call. This accomplishes the same thing as a small flop raise/big turn bet while saving half your stack if he's willing to felt his hand.

In general, I would much rather wait until I have a SC with a piece of the flop before making a move like this in a 3-bet pot, since he is probably willing to stack off with half his range here.

Originally Posted by dev

I could understand it if you already had history with the player

I'll elaborate on this.

Nearly any one single move could be justified. What matters in this hand is one of two things:

1) history with villain and/or your table image

2) future with table ie. building image

This move is fine, you just have to have better discipline than your opponents, and a better than average history data bank stored upstairs.

Originally Posted by BankItDrew

2) future with table ie. building image

You can accomplish this without bluffing your stack.

Last I checked HUDBots won't even notice because bluffing off your stack here won't have a big effect on any stats they track.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Originally Posted by BankItDrew

2) future with table ie. building image

You can accomplish this without bluffing your stack.

Last I checked HUDBots won't even notice because bluffing off your stack here won't have a big effect on any stats they track.

I take it from your response that you think this is more unnecessary spew than meritorious play.

I think this play sucks...

If I had high over pair, I would have folded to you...

That's why i think this play sucks.....