How best to play this?

[Knytestorme]

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ Hero (10 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+2 ($2.46)
MP1 ($24.75)
MP2 ($80.99)
MP3 ($20.35)
CO ($14.15)
Button ($22.65)
SB ($16.10)
Hero ($13.53)
UTG ($51.22)
UTG+1 ($34.99)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, J. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 3 folds, MP3 raises to $0.5, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25.

Flop: ($1.60) K, 4, J (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP3 checks.

Turn: ($1.60) K (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, MP3 checks.

River: ($1.60) K (3 players)
Hero bets $1.5, UTG+1 folds, MP3 folds.

Final Pot: $3.10

Results in white below:
Hero has Kd Js (four of a kind, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $3.10.

[jackvance]

Basically you hope someone has something.. which sadly wasn't the case here. 2p turned boat rivered quads is awesome, but without any hand to pay you, such a waste..

[Knytestorme]

yeah, essentially was hoping someone was slowplaying something, river bet was more in desperation for a raise so I could come over the top but didn't want to put anything smaller out as it wouldn't be my usual pattern and possibly suspect.

[givememyleg]

Lead the flop.

[Knytestorme]

You think the lead is the best option?

I can sort of see the reason, since if I get no action there then I'll get none later on but what about someone playing something like JT who would be worried about the K on the flop but may play back at me with the board pair on the turn.

They may think no K out there and put something into me, but can definatly see the reason for leading the flop for sure.

[jackvance]

It depends on how the table plays etc. If they're all a passive bunch, I'll probably lead out here. If however they show some aggression and initiative, then I'll slowplay it. Leading out isn't always better.. it kinda depends.. maybe you fold out people who were gonna pay you off on a later street. Ofcourse when they all really hit nothing, you're not getting value no matter what you do.

[givememyleg]

You think the lead is the best option?

Yes.

1 - It builds the pot
2 - There is a lot of drawing hands on this flop. You don't have the nuts, yet (that came later ). Let the draws call.
3 - Don't play your big hands so passively.

If you check and check and check and check, how can you expect to make any money? If you check this flop, which I don't recommend, you have to at least lead the turn.

[givememyleg]

It depends on how the table plays etc. If they're all a passive bunch, I'll probably lead out here. If however they show some aggression and initiative, then I'll slowplay it. Leading out isn't always better.. it kinda depends.. maybe you fold out people who were gonna pay you off on a later street. Ofcourse when they all really hit nothing, you're not getting value no matter what you do.

Of course in poker everything is always situational. However, I still think in this situation leading out is better. Villians are not building the pot for Hero, so it is his job.

[Knytestorme]

Thinking about it, and my play lately, I think you are right..I have been playing my hands too weak.

Have had a couple losing days the last days, notice I have been playing my hands slow since then (actually caused me to get busted on a set slow playing it against a straight, etc) trying to trap people for big pay-offs rather than just accumulating chips with the best hand.

I need to stop it, and think this hand is symptamatic of my bad play lately.

[Renton]

I lead the flop, check the turn (maybe check raise, sometimes just check call) and value bet the river.

Oh ya and I hope someone has a big pocket pair. Hoping someone has a pair is a big part of my strategy in this situation.

[Miffed22001]

i bet every street.
Checking the turn is sooooooo obvious.

[Bear Bones]

I definitely lead the flop for 2/3 to pot on this hand. With 2 hollywoods and 2 to the flush on board - a king, flush draw or nut straight draw is going to chase at this level. A check raise is also okay with bad position, but you have to get some money in the middle on the turn. You would be in a tough spot if a rag club fell on the turn and there was a lot of action.

[Renton]

i bet every street.
Checking the turn is sooooooo obvious.

yep its almost as obvious as betting the flop repping top pair and then betting the pair top card turn repping trips.


this is .10/.25 miff

the bet flop c/r turn cliche works wonders at these stakes

[andy-akb]

Bet flop, check turn, bet river is the "standard" line at these levels, and Id say thats probably the line Id take.

I really dont like checking this flop, how would you have played this if the turn brought something like the Ten of clubs?