Quote Originally Posted by pocketfours
Quote Originally Posted by griffey24
Quote Originally Posted by pocketfours
Hand 1: I would only take this line against a pretty horrible and spewy player. I think either raise flop or fold turn. I prefer the latter.
P4's, this is a spot I rarely rarely rarely ever raise the flop. Isn't this a definite wa/wb spot on the flop? I can't really see why I would want to raise here and just make him stop barreling into me, especially since thats what he had been doing.

I'd like to hear why raising this flop would be optimal though, especially considering I rarely do it. I'd raise air here or KJ before I raised AJ.
I did say I PREFER to call, but I also like a raise because:

1. Many players cbet their entire range on Ace high flops and only about 25% of his range actually contains an ace (guessing he opens utg something like ATo+, A9s+) AND only half of that has you beat.

2. Stuff like 67s, 56s, QT, QJ, KQ all have 5 outs to beat you (even more if you count runner outs) so it's not a strictly wa/wb situation either.

3. I like to raise this flop with a balanced range (sets, two pair, top pair, middle pair and bluffs) instead of a polarized one (sets, two pair and bluffs). This makes it more difficult for my opponent to figure my hand on later streets (this is good for both my calling range and my raising range).

4. I don't like to always call or always raise in a certain spot with any hand. So top pair is included in both my raising range and my calling range here. Almost always calling with top pair in this spot seems to me like a pretty serious leak.

5. Raising makes your style of play more aggressive and intimidating, which is generally considered better. Forces villain to play the guessing game.

Need more?
haha.. good reply sir.. good reply!

Yah, I should have been more specific. I almost always call in this spot primarily against this opponent, or opponents like him who I believe will barrel on me. I would balance my range here by flatting pretty much my entire range against him (66, AQ etc...).

Though I do agree in generally I should be raising some strong top pair hands here to merge my range a little better.

I do think thats a leak of mine at the moment, raising a far too polarized range and not adding in more strong marginal hands that may or may not be ahead.