To fire the second barrel or not?

[mcatdog]

This is a blind battle against a multitabler at 100NL on PokerStars. I've played against him a fair amount and his stats are 24/14/2. He's not horrible, but he's not very good either. He likes to underbet the pot and slow-play, but I've also seen him call the flop and give up on the turn on several occasions.

Thoughts on whether I should fire another barrel when the turn gives me a flush draw? I assume most good players would mix up their play in this spot, against a regular opponent. How often are you betting here?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (4 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($111.30)
Button ($62.45)
SB ($100.45)
Hero ($100)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, Q.
2 folds, SB raises to $3, Hero raises to $10, SB calls $7.

Flop: ($20) 8, 3, 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $14, SB calls $14.

Turn: ($48) 7 (2 players)
SB checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero ????

[gabe]

i think check behind is best since the pot was reraised and its common to wait for the turn to c/r a monster

[bdawg56kg]

I've also seen him call the flop and give up on the turn on several occasions.

In a reraised pot and in a blind battle, he is much more likely to call you down, given that he called your flop bet. This is a much different scenario than if you raised pf, c-bet and he c/c, and then you fire the 2nd barrel on the turn.

With that being said, checking here is pretty standard. The 7d is not any kind of scare card, and if he has an overpair or even a hand like A8dd or Axdd, he may c/r ai if you bet, which leaves you in a terrible spot.

[dsaxton]

I'd probably bet $30 against a tight opponent who is capable of folding.

It's highly unlikely that he's slow-playing a strong hand with this flop after he raised preflop.

[alias2211]

i think check behind is best since the pot was reraised and its common to wait for the turn to c/r a monster

it's a small range of hands that you're trying to fold here. something like 44-55-66, A8s. 99-1010-jj probably don't fold and are hoping for cheap showdown. so in other words, you're probably behind and villain doesn't have many hands that he will fold that he wouldn't fold w/ the flop bet. when you're in a spot like that, hope to improve for free by checking and catching Q,J or diamond and then bet for value.

[mcatdog]

Thanks guys, I should have considered the fact that people are a lot more call-happy in blind battles. I bet $30 and felt pot-committed to call his check-raise all-in, he showed 8 7 and got a nice little note next to his name.

[gabe]

what did the note say?

[mcatdog]

That he won't fold if you come over the top of him preflop even if he's raising with a garbage hand, and to play premium hands really fast against him.

[dsaxton]

Loose aggressive calling stations are definitely the strangest breed of poker player.

[Toadstool]

In those situations I am more likely to fire a 2nd barrel, if my hand is completely worthless. Also, when you get called on a flop lke that, you can put them on a pair of 8's the majority of the time, and sometimes a lower PP or a set. I will usually fire a 2nd barrel if the turn brings a card higher than a 9, as they would be hard pushed to call if the turn didnt help them (unless they had a set) if they call the turn bet, then it is a very bad idea to bet the river (unless it helped you) anyway, the 7 is unlikely to scare him, and he probably wont fold if you bet, so best to take the free card. He is far more likely to have something here as he check called OOP on an almost drawless flop - this means he has something.

on a side note LAGG's that overvalue hands seem to be becoming fairly common.

[mcatdog]

Loose aggressive calling stations are definitely the strangest breed of poker player.

Are you referring to me, or my opponent?

[dsaxton]

Loose aggressive calling stations are definitely the strangest breed of poker player.

Are you referring to me, or my opponent?

The guy with 7-8 offsuit.

[dalecooper]

I play frequently in a live game with a guy like that. Raises almost any two if he feels like it, including what seems to be his favorite hand, a face card with a dangler low card (probably not even suited). If you re-raise him he calls every time unless you really bring the thunder. If you raise first pre-flop, he calls with the same range he raises with, which is everything except for the absolute worst garbage - and he even likes to call with 72o just to be perverse. Post-flop he bets any time you check, and calls 75% of the time if you bet. Overall, he pays me off a lot, but when he's hitting he's hugely frustrating.