Big Draws w/o Reads

I'm interested in how some of you would have played these hands. Coincidentally, all three of these hands happened right after either my opponent or I sat down. I realize that, without reads other the betting pattern, this is basically a technical exercise. Don't forget to take into account stack sizes.



Hand 1: Just sat down - no reads.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) converter

UTG ($21)
MP ($153.75)
Hero ($100)
Button ($99.50)
SB ($22.70)
BB ($43.85)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 6, 5.
1 folds, Hero (poster) checks, 2 folds, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.50) 8, A, 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3, BB raises to $6, Hero ????


Hand 2: MP has just sat down for the minimum buy-in and posted.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (5 handed) converter

Hero ($103.95)
UTG ($40)
MP ($40)
Button ($198.70)
SB ($17.80)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, J. UTG posts a blind of $1. MP posts a blind of $1.
UTG (poster) checks, MP (poster) checks, Button calls $1, SB raises to $3, Hero calls $2, UTG folds, MP calls $2, Button calls $2.

Flop: ($13) 2, K, T (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $7, MP raises to $14, Button folds, SB folds, Hero ???



Hand 3: Again, new table - no reads.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (6 handed) converter

CO ($34.25)
Button ($129.05)
SB ($80.50)
Hero ($99)
UTG ($87.40)
MP ($38.50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, A.
1 fold, MP calls $1, CO calls $1, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero raises to $4, MP folds, CO calls $3, SB calls $3.

Flop: ($13) Q, 5, 4 (3 players)
SB bets $9, Hero raises to $20, CO folds, SB raises to $76.5, Hero ???

First hand I would come back over the top and put him to the test, if he pushes you have 15 outs with two cards to come, making you the favorite in the hand. Be more than willing to get it all in with him there.

Second hand I would do the same, push the rest in since he is shortstacked and a normal reraise puts him all in anyways. Again, 15 outs with two cards to come would make you a favorite against almost everything except a set, only difference is that a set can redraw to a boat and leave toy drawing dead, either way I'm getting it all in here.

The third hand is a little different, but I would still call here. You have the nut flush draw and TPTK, pretty much the best flop you can ask for with Ace-Queen suited. He could easily have a hand like 67 hearts which puts you at a big favorite. A set is possible, but considering how everybody loves to sandbag I would call here expecting to be up against bottom two, a straight draw, etc.

Basically, for all three hands all the money is going in the middle.

3-bet to 15
3-bet to 37 or call, either works
call

raise to 3-4x PF, 3-bet to 15 is fine, he most likely has A
AI
hero gambles, 9-14 outs, 2-1 odds

Good spots which you have to get used to if you want to play more aggressive and improve your game.

Originally Posted by aislephive

Basically, for all three hands all the money is going in the middle.

In hand 1, with so little in the pot compared to the amount of money behind, I don't hate a call. A random idiot min-raiser won't turn-fuck you very often and will somtimes give away a free turn card.

Originally Posted by Fnord

In hand 1, with so little in the pot compared to the amount of money behind, I don't hate a call. A random idiot min-raiser won't turn-fuck you very often and will somtimes give away a free turn card.

I have to admit big draws are a weak spot for me. I would call here as Fnord says, but I'm starting to question myself a little. The reason being that I don't want my action drying up when my card hits the turn as a scare card for my opponent. Are the implied odds for a hand like this up front more? I guess that's what I'm saying.

Originally Posted by Rondavu

The reason being that I don't want my action drying up when my card hits the turn as a scare card for my opponent. Are the implied odds for a hand like this up front more?

Shania likes it when we sometimes actually have the scare card we're representing. Also, just calling allows us the chance to take the pot away when we catch air on the turn/river and are shown legit weakness.

I pushed on the first hand because I figured he had an A and thought there was a pretty good chance I had enough folding equity to push him off it. If not, I still had plenty of outs. The reason I didn't call was that if I missed on the turn, I had the possibility of facing a bet that I wouldn't quite have the pot odds to call with one card to come.

I pushed the second because I was out of position and any raise I make basically commits him to the hand anyways. A bigger raise putting him all-in might give me a little folding equity, but considering his stack size I don't think it gives me much.

The third hand was the hardest for me. I have no problem pushing this if I'm the one putting in the third raise, but I hate to be the one calling it. With ~2:1 pot odds though I figured the call was +EV against the range of hands he'd be pushing with.

If anyone was curious, in the first hand the guy had a set of 8's, but I caught the flush on the river (he was a 59.7% favorite). The second hand I was against top two pair and I again caught the flush on the river but it didn't matter because he filled on the turn (he was a 51.2% favorite). The third hand I was in the best shape out of the 3 being against bottom two pair, but the turn and river bricked for me and he took it down (I was a 50.9% favorite and we tie ~1% of the time).

When I started pushing big draws, I noticed a funny thing. No one was folding, well hardly ever. So I started pushing big made hands on draw heavy boards. That's been a far more profitable addition to my game...

Originally Posted by Fnord

When I started pushing big draws, I noticed a funny thing. No one was folding, well hardly ever. So I started pushing big made hands on draw heavy boards. That's been a far more profitable addition to my game...

Exactly. I typically tend to think I have more folding equity than I actually do. I'm sure a lot of that is due to the fact that I don't play higher than $100NL and many players are looking for reasons to put money into play, but it's true. The fact that you're willing to push on a draw certainly helps you get calls when you happen to have a made hand though.