could you give me your thoughts on these hands

[LuckySlevin]

They are from my last session and all are ones which I'm a bit dubious about so I'd love to hear your thoughts !


1. AQ - did I bet right at the end or should I be betting less for value here? how do I decide how much to bet for value on the river?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($1.60)
SB ($1.02)
Hero (BB) ($5.97)
UTG ($5.06)
MP1 ($1)
MP2 ($5.07)
CO ($5)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, Q
4 folds, Button calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.10, Button calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.21) A, 4, 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.16, Button calls $0.16

Turn: ($0.53) A (2 players)
Hero bets $0.40, Button calls $0.40

River: ($1.33) K (2 players)
Hero bets $1, 1 fold

Total pot: $1.33 | Rake: $0.05

2. Playing Queens into an Ace flop and ace turn. The guy was running at 80/20 over 120 hands - i'd stacked him once earlier in the session and he just seemed to be calling almost anything. How did I play this? How should I have played this? On review I think I should have checked the turn.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($2.29)
Hero (CO) ($5.29)
Button ($5.06)
SB ($1.01)
BB ($5)
UTG ($5)
MP1 ($3.50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q, Q
2 folds, MP2 calls $0.02, Hero raises to $0.10, 3 folds, MP2 calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.23) 10, A, 9 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $0.20, MP2 calls $0.20

Turn: ($0.63) A (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $0.40, MP2 calls $0.40

River: ($1.43) 7 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $1.43 | Rake: $0.05

3. Playing AK into UTG opener who flat calls my 3bet OOP. Didn't have any reads on this.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($1.69)
MP3 ($4.56)
CO ($2.97)
Hero (Button) ($2.05)
SB ($4.81)
BB ($0.87)
UTG ($2.03)
UTG+1 ($4.69)
MP1 ($3.36)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, A
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $0.06, 4 folds, Hero raises to $0.21, 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.15

Flop: ($0.45) 9, J, 5 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $0.30, UTG+1 calls $0.30

Turn: ($1.05) 9 (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.16, Hero calls $0.16

River: ($1.37) Q (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.46, Hero folds

Total pot: $1.37 | Rake: $0.05

4. Playing TC9C to minraise from button (I thought he may be stealing the blinds) but with hindsight, should I have folded pre?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($5.08)
MP ($2.97)
CO ($3.42)
Button ($3.42)
SB ($4.83)
Hero (BB) ($2.14)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 10, 9
3 folds, Button raises to $0.04, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.02

Flop: ($0.09) 5, 10, A (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.06, Hero calls $0.06

Turn: ($0.21) Q (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.02, Hero calls $0.02

River: ($0.25) K (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.10, Hero folds

Total pot: $0.25 | Rake: $0

5. KK into an AA flop, am I right to let the extra ace influence my desicision to bet into this flop, I thought the chances he had an ace were smaller because of this.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($0.77)
UTG+1 ($3.51)
MP1 ($0.93)
Hero (MP2) ($2.18)
MP3 ($5.19)
CO ($1.56)
Button ($3.84)
SB ($5.54)
BB ($4.99)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K, K
UTG calls $0.02, 2 folds, Hero raises to $0.10, 5 folds, UTG calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.23) A, A, 2 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.19, 1 fold

Total pot: $0.23 | Rake: $0

6. Was I ok to call this cbet on non bway flop?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($5.20)
MP ($3.30)
CO ($2.82)
Button ($5.04)
SB ($0.94)
Hero (BB) ($2.14)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, Q
1 fold, MP calls $0.02, 1 fold, Button calls $0.02, SB calls $0.01, Hero raises to $0.12, MP calls $0.10, Button calls $0.10, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.38) 6, 7, 3 (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button bets $0.10, Hero calls $0.10, 1 fold

Turn: ($0.58) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

River: ($0.58) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

Total pot: $0.58 | Rake: $0

7. Ace weak kicker. Should I have bet the ace, I put out a value bet at the end, was that the right play also? thanks.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (7 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($3.90)
SB ($1.60)
Hero (BB) ($7.46)
UTG ($0.97)
MP1 ($0.98)
MP2 ($1.58)
CO ($1.67)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8, A
4 folds, Button calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.05) 6, 3, 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

Turn: ($0.05) A (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

River: ($0.05) 7 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.02, Button raises to $3.88 (All-In), Hero folds

Total pot: $0.09 | Rake: $0

Thanks!

[a500lbgorilla]

Hand 1: Mmmm the amount of sexy this hand displays is akin to the average wesrman post. I'm getting kinda turned on!
Hand 2: This is especially delicious especially against the opponent as described. I think a really thin river valuebet woulda made me faint. This makes me frown! "On review I think I should have checked the turn. "
Hand 3: This gets to cbetting and cbet sizing in 3 bet pots. I would option to check behind and be preparing myself emotionally to let the pot go. If I did have a reason to cbet this flop, I would make ti smaller. If he folds for 0.30, he'll fold for 0.25! I would always fold the turn.
Hand 4: It's a small leak to defend in this fashion. You could have 3-bet and made me proud! Even that would be a little thin but the playability of this hand is high. I always check raise this flop! Show him who's stealing my blinds! You have 45% equity against a range of all aces (excluding AA).
Hand 5: very sound logic, would you cbet AdAc2s (lacks the flush draw)
Hand 6: This is just an ugly flop for you. Some worse hands will continue, but there are no good cards for you to see and realizing the equity of AQ involves either what you think is bluffing or a graceful check-down scenario. So I'm just quits-ville!
Hand 7: I may lead this turn sometimes just to see how my opponent reacts, river is an ez fold and I would have bet 0.4 for a little bit more value from any pair.


Overall, I'm very impressed!

[Ragnar4]

I agree with just about everything that Rillas says here..

Although, couldn't we check to induce in hand one?

[a500lbgorilla]

we could but we shouldnt!

[LuckySlevin]

thanks really appreciate your time tytyty!

[Ragnar4]

we could but we shouldnt!

Why not. we got 0 value out of the original line, and to be honest, I'll bet we couldn't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river. Why not give a bad opponent a chance to bluff when we can call just about everything except a massive stupid overbet?

[a500lbgorilla]

we could but we shouldnt!

Why not. we got 0 value out of the original line, and to be honest, I'll bet we couldn't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river. Why not give a bad opponent a chance to bluff when we can call just about everything except a massive stupid overbet?

please explain the deeper thinking which lead to the following:

"we get 0 value out of the original line"
"ill bet we cound't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river."

[oskar]

Very nice. Could this possibly be the end of inside jokes at your expense in the Community forum?

I'm probably flatting 9T too there, but I check-raise the crap out of that flop. If you play it you should probably raise quite a number of flops, and be careful with calling down if you hit a pair. If you just check/call or give up if you miss, the call preflop is likely -EV. If only slightly.

Otherwise this looks really solid to me.

[a500lbgorilla]

oskar said it better than me with reference to the Tc9c hand

[speedcake]

Ol' Slevin is improving. Nh's sir

[jyms]

Ol' Slevin is improving. Nh's sir

Wonder if he would mention what he has done this week to make that happen

[daven]

you play better, and sticking to stakes you're rolled for. nice work.

[jyms]

[LuckySlevin]

Thanks for the comments guys nice to know I'm doing something right =) Yeah I joined GS on Monday and so far have made some great strides. I'm really applying myself to being a student now, that mindset helps alot. But of course so does GS, in no small way. I've watched about 3 videos now and really worked hard to put what I've been taught into my sessions. I've also had the benefit of reading some GS articles. I'm just making sure I apply what I'm learning and forget my old ways. I posted those hands as I wasn't sure about them - so it's a nice surprise to have that feedback.

I'm playing the best I've ever played this week. I've played about ten sessions so far and won 9 and currently at 36BB/100 over 2700 hands at 2nl.

If it wasn't for FTR I would have quit poker a long time ago or just continued to donk my money away, and if it wasn't for GS I'd still be a 2nl fish, I have alot to thank you guys for!

[Ragnar4]

we could but we shouldnt!

Why not. we got 0 value out of the original line, and to be honest, I'll bet we couldn't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river. Why not give a bad opponent a chance to bluff when we can call just about everything except a massive stupid overbet?

please explain the deeper thinking which lead to the following:

"we get 0 value out of the original line"
"ill bet we cound't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river."

We got 0 dollars vaule at the river with our bet. I don't think opp would call 25 cents at river here either. The deeper thinking is this: Our opponent has probably given up at the river with the intent to fold because he missed, meaning he wouldn't call anything, maybe a minbet. It looks to me like opponent missed a draw, and you don't call showdowns with busted draws. But you can bluff showdowns with missed draws.
If opp can't call a bet, but could be persuaded to bluff, why isn't checking to induce a good play?

[flomo]

ty gs

[speedcake]

Ol' Slevin is improving. Nh's sir

Wonder if he would mention what he has done this week to make that happen

heh, I didn't want to let the cat out the bag. it's his tale to tell. :P

We got 0 dollars vaule at the river with our bet. I don't think opp would call 25 cents at river here either. The deeper thinking is this: Our opponent has probably given up at the river with the intent to fold because he missed, meaning he wouldn't call anything, maybe a minbet. It looks to me like opponent missed a draw, and you don't call showdowns with busted draws. But you can bluff showdowns with missed draws.
If opp can't call a bet, but could be persuaded to bluff, why isn't checking to induce a good play?

OK, say your opponent didn't hit his hand half of the time and currently has 0 showdown value
the other half of the time he has Ax and is willing to call a pot-sized bet, but is too afraid you have a better kicker to bet after you check (I've seen people check down flushes on paired boards, so this is definitely realistic and common)

how often does the villain have to bluff his no showdown value hands with a pot sized bet to make checking the river better than value-towning him the times he has trips?

[oskar]

I think Hand 1 doesn't really invite a bluff. He could have all kinds of underpairs that have showdown value - so he doesn't need to bluff, but he will pay the river with them. If he has a flushdraw - what can he put you on that you would lay down if he bets?

There are other situations where I would check to induce a bluff, like a 568 QA board - I would check-call the river there a lot with middle pairs.
On less obvious boards I probably want a read that the opponent likely has a draw, and is capable of bluffing if I show weakness.

[jackvance]

1. You can bet $0.40 or closer to pot here like you did $1, but if he's on the flush draw he's folding anyway

2. I probably check the flop and bet on the turn or even the river.

3. Not much you can do here I think, shitty spots happen

4. Raise over him preflop sometimes, or as played raise the flop bet, or if you call then the rest is fine

5. It's fine but sometimes just check flop to let him hit some second pair or be more prone to disbelief when you bet the turn

6. An 1/4 pot cbet makes me want to raise it but I think it's fine as played

7. I'll often put in a raise here preflop, otherwise looks fine

[a500lbgorilla]

we could but we shouldnt!

Why not. we got 0 value out of the original line, and to be honest, I'll bet we couldn't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river. Why not give a bad opponent a chance to bluff when we can call just about everything except a massive stupid overbet?

please explain the deeper thinking which lead to the following:

"we get 0 value out of the original line"
"ill bet we cound't even get more than like .25 cents value on this river."

We got 0 dollars vaule at the river with our bet. I don't think opp would call 25 cents at river here either. The deeper thinking is this: Our opponent has probably given up at the river with the intent to fold because he missed, meaning he wouldn't call anything, maybe a minbet. It looks to me like opponent missed a draw, and you don't call showdowns with busted draws. But you can bluff showdowns with missed draws.
If opp can't call a bet, but could be persuaded to bluff, why isn't checking to induce a good play?

Thinking about it incorrectly because you now the guy folded the river!

[oskar]

soulread.

[nutsinho]

ragnar- you are being extremely results oriented. seriously. he will very frequently be willing to call a river bet.

However, given that the draws missed and villain is likely to bet/call any if he has an ace, not call much if he has 7x or the like, and frequently bluff a missed draw, the correct play is to check/raise this river.

[Fnord]

1-5 are fine.
6 just fold the flop.
7 I usually be the flop, it's fine as played.

[nutsinho]

1-5 are fine.
6 just fold the flop.
7 I usually be the flop, it's fine as played.

I agree with this except in 5 you should be betting half-potish or checking. Betting near full pot in position with KK on AAx is very silly.

Also LOL at folding T9cc to a button minraise.

[Fnord]

I agree with this except in 5 you should be betting half-potish or checking.

Fair enough. For online micro stakes betting bigger than you would in a game for more money is a reasonable adjustment.