Yet another very live poker hand

[Fnord]

$5/$3 $300 max in Cali

UTG is an old man who just sat down. Saw him at the limit tables earlier and he seems kinda new to NLHE. He's not exactly clear that his 2 stacks of $2 chips (over the $300 they colored up for him) don't play. He's got around $350 in chips due to a spot where I called down $20 twice with TPNK vs his turned flush (limped pre-flop, no flop action.)

UTG+1 is a pretty chatty, awareish, street smart live player. Probably plays a tad loosish and passivish compared to his online counter-parts. He has well over $600.

I've just donked someone over with a couple kinda loose flop + turn calls, then provoked an even worse river call to get around $525 in chips.

We're 7 handed. The guys behind me aren't terribly loose maybe even tightish and straight forward. There is one soft spot in the blinds.

Anyway, now onto the actual hold'em part.

UTG calls.
UTG+1 raises to $25, I'm not too sure of his standards here but figure like 88+, AJ+, Suited Broadways.
I tank a bit with :Qc: :Qd: and announce a call.
Players behind me fold.
Blinds take the hint and fold.

3 to the frop, just over $75 in the pot.
:Jd:
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, I bet $50 intending to fold to most raises, UTG (old man) quickly calls, UTG+1 folds.

$175 in the pot
Turn is an air-ball
UTG checks, I bet an even stack of $100, UTG calls.

$375 in the pot, around $175 behind
River is a brick
UTG checks and I bet another $100 stack...

[spoonitnow]

Standard? :P

I've never played live btw.

[Fnord]

Standard? :P

When was the last time you TAniacs flat-called Queens?

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

[XTR1000]

why not just shove river?

clubs are folding anyway and any J is commited

[Fnord]

Ahhh, that's the other thing.

Betting less than $100 here is just giving up way too much balance.
Shoving for his entire stack has psychology to it. He might not want to or be able to re-buy. So I'm not just making a bet as we see it, I'm fucking with his ability to enjoy losing his money at a rate he's comfortable with. Shoving Ax/pp with $75 is kinda fun. Then again, this guy sucks so hard, it's kind of a shame to not get all of the money into the middle in a "fuck it, I'm showing down my fucking hand" heat of the moment call I've learned to just love. Once we get that far in thinking, I kinda regretted not betting more on the flop + turn.

[BrassPoker]

why not just shove river?

I agree that the only logical bet would be your remaining $175. There's $375 in the post so a bet of $175 isn't even half the pot.

[Jay67s]

In a live game there is something about putting someone "ALL IN". I think $100 has a much better than 2x chance to get called than does $175. Plus leaving him a little money, maybe he will rebuy instead of just saying the hell with it and leaving.

Also, flat calling with big Pocket Pairs Pre flop and calling all the way down to river is the new "in" thing @ 100nl on-line. (It drives me nuts)

[Fnord]

Also, flat calling with big Pocket Pairs Pre flop and calling all the way down to river is the new "in" thing @ 100nl on-line. (It drives me nuts)

Pretty reasonable adjustment when dealing with people who raise pre and bet/fold every street.

[wufwugy]

Probably played perfectly. Busting people live seems to be something you kinda don't wanna do.

[Fnord]

Busting people live seems to be something you kinda don't wanna do.

If he was stuck, already donked off half a buy, drunk or any number of other situations I expect vastly different all-in standards. Just sat down and up a bit with no re-buy in clear sight is someone who's more likely to get cold feet after we've ordered catering.

[bigslikk]

Standard? :P

I've never played live btw.

Really? It's more entertaining, but less profitable (slower, 1 table)

[Rondavu]

This post has a nice perspective on table dynamics, especially in the short term. I can definately advocate keeping the weakest player slightly alive, so that he can have a chance at sucking out the hard money and making it easier for you to obtain. At the same time it keeps the table slightly lighter and looser in the meantime.

An interesting question might be, would you do the same thing if you planned on playing live for 5 straight days at 12+ hours a pop?

[pgil]

how long is your typical live session?

[hecklerjoe]

i love live games. i'm definitely a better player live. for some reason, my mentals/analyticals are not all there for online.

your hand is a typical hand we see all too often live. got to love all the tourist that come play

[Fnord]

stuff

I don't see it as mercy, I just don't think he's got a $175 call in him but might have a $100 call.

[BankItDrew]

Looks good.

I prefer a re-popping preflop.
Nice sized bet on flop.
Bigger bet on turn.
Shove river.

[yuenjai]

if villain is fairly loose, i dont mind raising him pf. hes calling the whole way i doubt he has a J. maybe a smaller pair. shoving the river seems like a good idea in this spot. it adds the possibility of him calling thinking you missed a draw. the 100 is clearly a value bet so im not sure if hes gonna call with a smaller pair.

[Fnord]

Against a stronger player, the river is a clear shove. Anyway, he tanked and folded. Probably had a Jack.

Pre-flop: If I 3-ball here I put a lot of pressure on the raiser's hand and probably blow all the soft money out of the pot. Certainly +EV, although playing a big pot with a reasonable player who figures to have a reasonable hand for nearly 2 buy-ins isn't all that exciting as I think if all the money goes in without a flopped Queen I'm getting the worst of it. Not even sure if he makes the pre-flop auto-call. Just calling will certainly get UTG in and might also get the softie from the blinds. From there, use position to figure out where I'm at.

Flop: Combination probe/value bet. Want to see where I'm at and I would make this bet with a lot of hands.

Turn: Valuetown.

River: Valuetown.

In retrospect, I like $60, $120, shove a lot better. Meh.