Ty for starting this thread Renton. I'll try to get things started out and contribute. And not suck too much along the way, although I'm not sure I played this hand all that well. For what it's worth, I was thrown off by the monotone flop because alot of the hands I would think fits into Range A (TPTK, Top Two, etc) aren't quite as strong because of the possible flush, so I'll try, but be prepared to correct alot.


PokerStars Game #19391598581: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/08/05 - 20:16:57 (ET)
Table 'Klotho V' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: StillMdv ($26.85 in chips)
Seat 2: MartinK1979 ($54.45 in chips)
Seat 3: envy113 ($51.50 in chips)
Seat 4: chas2148 ($24.50 in chips)
Seat 5: comeoncousin ($57.10 in chips)
Seat 6: karlitos82 ($64.10 in chips)
Seat 7: Cassiopeia7 ($7.50 in chips)
Seat 8: XxStacks60xX ($75.80 in chips)
Seat 9: blue inferno ($31.30 in chips)
comeoncousin: posts small blind $0.25
karlitos82: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to XxStacks60xX [5h 5c]
Cassiopeia7: folds
Cassiopeia7 leaves the table
XxStacks60xX: raises $1.50 to $2
blue inferno: folds
StillMdv: folds
MartinK1979: folds
envy113: folds
chas2148: folds
comeoncousin: calls $1.75
karlitos82: folds

Preflop is probably pretty marginal here from such early position. I usually just dump 22-55 from EP, but whatever. I didn't this time so sorry lol.

*** FLOP *** [2c 7c Ac]
comeoncousin: checks
XxStacks60xX: bets $3.50
comeoncousin: calls $3.50

After his check,I have my ranges broke down as such:
Range A: AA, 77, flush, KcXh, Ax(bet to build a pot. We can stand a raise with these hands.)
Range B: 88-KK (no club), 7x (exercise pot control so just check behind)
Range C: 55, 66, decent club (little showdown value so we bet hoping to take it down now or improve on the turn)
Range D: air without any value (check and expect to fold to aggression on later streets)

I think most of your weak aces with no redraw should get bumped over to B, as i believe you definitely can't stand a raise with them. Also, I believe that this is an atypical ABCD spot. You'll definitely be betting A and checking B, but its kinda grey how you should play C and D. I would prob just bet both C and D as a bluff the majority of the time. So in this case C and D are similar if not identical in value.

So using this logic our 55 falls into Range C. Therefore, we c-bet here hoping to take the pot down. I feel this will work a good percentage of the time given the A scare card on the board + the monotone flop.

*** TURN *** [2c 7c Ac] [5d]
comeoncousin: checks
XxStacks60xX: bets $7
comeoncousin: calls $7

The best possible turn card for us. If we were beat before to a flopped flush we just picked up 10 outs going into the river. Given his check I'm not giving him credit for a flopped flush yet. If he wakes up with a c/r, I have outs on the river now. So my ranges look like this now:
Range A: 77, AA, 55, flush (bet because he hasn't shown strength plus we have outs against a better hand)
Range B: Ax, decent club, (check behind again as on this scary of a board only better calls a bet, but we might win a showdown)
Range C: KcXh (We can bet again as we have nut potential here, even though our equity has been cut in half)
Range D: 66 (our steal attempt on the flop failed and now we give up wtih this hand)

Once again, this is kinda atypical. Because its a spot where you can bet strong hands and fold to a raise. So interestingly, your set of fives (just like AK) is in the B range, but you should BET your B range here, folding to a raise. Yes i believe if he c/r you, then you should fold your set unless you are getting proper odds to fill.

Also, this isn't a particularly good spot to barrel. So in this scenario, the way I see it, you should be

1. Betting A range hands and shoving to a raise.
2. Betting B range hands and folding to a raise (you expect mostly to get called so this is just fine.
3. Checking C range hands and hoping to improve.
4. Checking D range hands to give up.

This illustrates how the intended play with the four ranges isn't necessarily static. Sometimes you have to bet your D, sometimes you don't. And in this case its perfectly alright to bet decent made hands (B) and fold to a raise, just because theres a ton of value in betting them.


Given this range, our hand now falls into Range A (we bet and can call a raise). So we bet again here for value against all but a flopped flush or 77, AA.

*** RIVER *** [2c 7c Ac 5d] [4d]
comeoncousin: bets $12
XxStacks60xX: calls $12

Now villian wakes up with a bet on the river. I don't like this too much as it looks like a slowplayed flopped flush, and we didn't hit our fullhouse. So our now looks like this:
Range A: KcXc (the nuts. Raise for value trying to get more money in)
Range B: 77, AA, 55, AK (maybe?) (Hands that aren't behind too often so we call hoping to win the showdown.
Range C: I don't think I'm raising with anything here as a bluff
Range D: weak Ace, missed flush draw, (I think only better would c/c, c/c, b here so we can safely fold these hands.

Technically C range should be something like KcX, which would be playing 2 card omaha and in theory is the best holding to bluff with. However its prob not +ev vs this player.

So, given this range, we elect to just call with our set of fives.


So there's my first attempt. I may have done a few things wrong, as I have never written these entire ranges out like this. Am I correct in checking behind on the flop with hands like Ax? If so, at what kicker would you bet on this flop? Or check all behind hoping to induce a stab by villian on the turn? Any critism is welcome.

*Edit* - To make some sense (Maybe), and because I'm a donk and screwed up the first time. Next will be much better.