Midsized Pots

[Genitruc]

For as long as I've been playing online, my biggest edge has been in the midsized pots (something like 30-40bb's). Maybe I've just run well, but I've usually been able to negotiate the spots where there's a preflop raise and 2 streets of postflop betting really well.

Over the past while I've been getting absolutely destroyed in these spots. I've also been losing all of the big pots but whatever.

Just played another disgusting session and if anybody feels like it, I'd love for ppl to just glance over these midsized pots and let me know if they see anything that is obviously meh. Not too worried about detailed replies, any feedback at all is cool.

1)

Villain is running 24/7. The guy calling in mid-position was 48/18 so I figured he’d protect me from getting bluffed too much when both villain and I missed :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:51:51 ET 2008
Table Table 128206 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 2: waard111 ( $136.05 USD )
Seat 4: Blufferkeeee ( $242.41 USD )
Seat 5: Paulm04 ( $237.20 USD )
Seat 6: HERO ( $258.35 USD )
Seat 1: Wuschelmaus ( $209 USD )
Seat 3: Malte2348 ( $99 USD )
Wuschelmaus posts small blind :$1 USD].
waard111 posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
Malte2348 folds.
Blufferkeeee raises :$7 USD]
Paulm04 calls :$7 USD]
HERO calls :$7 USD]
Wuschelmaus folds.
waard111 folds.
** Dealing Flop **
Blufferkeeee bets :$12 USD]
Paulm04 folds.
HERO calls :$12 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
Blufferkeeee checks.
HERO checks.
** Dealing River **
Blufferkeeee checks.
HERO bets :$24 USD]

2)

Here villain calling flop was 45/11 donk :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 14:58:44 ET 2008
Table Table 125553 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: alrob03 ( $213.60 USD )
Seat 2: Dzonib ( $19.43 USD )
Seat 3: wholthe ( $127.30 USD )
Seat 4: seigers ( $247.20 USD )
Seat 5: HERO ( $204 USD )
seigers posts small blind :$1 USD].
HERO posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
alrob03 calls :$2 USD]
Dzonib folds.
wholthe calls :$2 USD]
seigers calls :$1 USD]
HERO checks.
** Dealing Flop **
seigers checks.
HERO bets :$4 USD]
alrob03 calls :$4 USD]
wholthe calls :$4 USD]
seigers folds.
** Dealing Turn **
HERO bets :$12 USD]
alrob03 calls :$12 USD]
wholthe calls :$12 USD]
** Dealing River **
HERO checks.

3)

Villain here was 25/12 and we had no history but I’d been pretty aggro at the table in general, had shown down a cpl bluffs :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:11:32 ET 2008
Table Table 125553 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: alrob03 ( $194.64 USD )
Seat 3: wholthe ( $206.45 USD )
Seat 4: seigers ( $206 USD )
Seat 5: HERO ( $231.85 USD )
Seat 2: Pushmann ( $199 USD )
Seat 6: NutsOverNuts ( $200 USD )
wholthe posts small blind :$1 USD].
seigers posts big blind :$2 USD].
NutsOverNuts is sitting out
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
HERO raises :$8 USD]
alrob03 folds.
Pushmann folds.
wholthe folds.
seigers calls :$6 USD]
** Dealing Flop **
seigers checks.
HERO bets :$14 USD]
seigers calls :$14 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
seigers checks.
HERO checks.
** Dealing River **
seigers bets :$21 USD]
HERO calls :$21 USD]

4)

Here villain was 15/11/4. Seemed pretty aggro but not spewy postflop. He might think I’m a donk after I 3-bet allin vs a maniac in an earlier hand with a midstrength hand on a drawy flop :

200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:18:27 ET 2008
Table Table 125918 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 6: stevem7171 ( $0 USD )
Seat 1: HERO ( $323.62 USD )
Seat 5: RSVC88 ( $227.75 USD )
Seat 3: Flushdraw1511 ( $285.60 USD )
Seat 4: SwtHomeChcgo ( $200 USD )
Seat 2: runningwell2 ( $200 USD )
HERO posts small blind :$1 USD].
stevem7171 has left the table.
runningwell2 is sitting out
Flushdraw1511 posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
SwtHomeChcgo folds.
runningwell2 has left the table.
RSVC88 folds.
HERO raises :$7 USD]
Flushdraw1511 calls :$6 USD]
** Dealing Flop **
HERO checks.
Flushdraw1511 bets :$11 USD]
HERO calls :$11 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
HERO checks.
Flushdraw1511 bets :$21 USD]
HERO calls :$21 USD]
** Dealing River **
HERO checks.

5)

Villain here is 31/3/0.4. We have no history.

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:26:35 ET 2008
Table Jackpot #1306470 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 4: thopan ( $130.87 USD )
Seat 2: HERO ( $226.80 USD )
Seat 6: JAY_AM ( $203.50 USD )
Seat 5: argilzar1 ( $620.63 USD )
Seat 1: KPOKO3ABP ( $203 USD )
Seat 3: tsuaf3lana ( $200 USD )
JAY_AM posts small blind :$1 USD].
KPOKO3ABP posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
HERO raises :$8 USD]
thopan calls :$8 USD]
argilzar1 folds.
JAY_AM folds.
KPOKO3ABP folds.
** Dealing Flop **
HERO bets :$15 USD]
thopan calls :$15 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
HERO bets :$45 USD]

6)

Here the original raiser was a terrible 72/22/3 villain who would constantly make random raises pre, call every reraise and minbet into 3-bettors and usually fold. Also he overvalues any pair. The 3-bettor is 16/12/4. I thought for awhile before calling the flop :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:11:23 ET 2008
Table Jackpot #1306154 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 2: FullTimeDonk ( $974.76 USD )
Seat 3: v_terranova ( $290.15 USD )
Seat 5: Kirill97 ( $269 USD )
Seat 6: expertmove23 ( $266 USD )
Seat 1: HERO ( $202.90 USD )
Seat 4: Partyplay777 ( $76.98 USD )
FullTimeDonk posts small blind :$1 USD].
Partyplay777 posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
Kirill97 raises :$8 USD]
expertmove23 raises :$24 USD]
HERO calls :$24 USD]
FullTimeDonk folds.
Partyplay777 folds.
Kirill97 calls :$16 USD]
** Dealing Flop **
Kirill97 checks.
expertmove23 bets :$54 USD]
HERO calls :$54 USD]
Kirill97 folds.
** Dealing Turn **
expertmove23 bets :$125 USD]
HERO folds.

7)

Here villain is 14/11/3 over a big sample. Maybe this hand is really a sign that running bad has fucked with my head, I dunno :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:24:49 ET 2008
Table Table 133801 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Qommarbahz ( $293.25 USD )
Seat 2: chriscbx1977 ( $162.08 USD )
Seat 4: th9090 ( $189.15 USD )
Seat 5: PokerOwnzMe ( $203 USD )
Seat 6: HERO ( $197 USD )
Seat 3: NutsOverNuts ( $202.15 USD )
th9090 posts small blind :$1 USD].
PokerOwnzMe posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
HERO raises :$8 USD]
Qommarbahz folds.
chriscbx1977 folds.
NutsOverNuts folds.
th9090 calls :$7 USD]
PokerOwnzMe folds.
** Dealing Flop **
th9090 checks.
HERO checks.
** Dealing Turn **
th9090 bets :$16 USD]
HERO calls :$16 USD]
** Dealing River **
th9090 bets :$34 USD]
HERO calls :$34 USD]

8)

Villain is 43/18, has been limp-calling a ton and trapping, overplaying… basically doing very random things postflop :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:02:42 ET 2008
Table Table 125918 (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 2: Vincanius ( $32.15 USD )
Seat 6: stevem7171 ( $132.95 USD )
Seat 1: HERO ( $214.45 USD )
Seat 5: RSVC88 ( $207 USD )
Seat 4: TheKelp ( $225.75 USD )
Seat 3: Flushdraw1511 ( $195 USD )
RSVC88 posts small blind :$1 USD].
stevem7171 posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
HERO raises :$8 USD]
Vincanius folds.
Flushdraw1511 did not respond in time
Flushdraw1511 folds.
TheKelp folds.
RSVC88 folds.
stevem7171 calls :$6 USD]
** Dealing Flop **
stevem7171 checks.
HERO bets :$12 USD]
stevem7171 calls :$12 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
stevem7171 bets :$14 USD]
HERO calls :$14 USD]
** Dealing River **
stevem7171 bets :$22 USD]
HERO calls :$22 USD]

9)

Here villain was splashy pre (47/24) but seemed o.k. postflop, besides a hand where he slowplayed top set into 3 ppl as the preflop raiser and luckboxed the turn when an even bigger donk make 2 pair and gave him 150bb’s :

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 15:51:04 ET 2008
Table Jackpot #1308122 (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Kirill97 ( $189.30 USD )
Seat 4: Dominator98 ( $217.35 USD )
Seat 5: poulsenDK333 ( $608.35 USD )
Seat 2: HERO ( $277.40 USD )
Seat 3: THISISPARTA ( $403.45 USD )
Seat 6: adapt_filter ( $307.30 USD )
poulsenDK333 posts small blind :$1 USD].
adapt_filter posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
Kirill97 folds.
HERO raises :$8 USD]
THISISPARTA folds.
Dominator98 folds.
poulsenDK333 calls :$7 USD]
adapt_filter folds.
** Dealing Flop ** :Jc:
poulsenDK333 checks.
HERO bets :$16 USD]
poulsenDK333 calls :$16 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
poulsenDK333 checks.
HERO checks.
** Dealing River **
poulsenDK333 bets :$24 USD]
HERO calls :$24 USD]

10)

Last one : villain is 25/11 and hasn’t tangled with me yet. I’m running pretty aggro at this table (28/22), raising lots of limpers and shit.

$200 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 28, 14:40:43 ET 2008
Table Table 125918 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 2: Vincanius ( $31.80 USD )
Seat 6: stevem7171 ( $153.65 USD )
Seat 1: HERO ( $201.65 USD )
Seat 3: catohs ( $121.30 USD )
Seat 5: RSVC88 ( $200 USD )
Seat 4: TheKelp ( $209.05 USD )
catohs posts small blind :$1 USD].
TheKelp posts big blind :$2 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to HERO
RSVC88 folds.
stevem7171 folds.
HERO raises :$8 USD]
Vincanius folds.
catohs folds.
TheKelp calls :$6 USD]
** Dealing Flop **
TheKelp checks.
HERO bets :$14 USD]
TheKelp calls :$14 USD]
** Dealing Turn **
TheKelp bets :$30 USD]
HERO folds.

Thanks to anybody who got through these.

[nutsinho]

my default is to play all of these approximately the same except i would usually b/f turn in hand 1.

[minSim]

I'll give you my thoughts, but weigh them as you wish as you are a better player then me.

Hand 1: I'd probably fold this preflop, though with the reasoning you gave I'm ok with calling. In general I still think RIO is too bad to make calling with AJ profitable. I don't think you'll be profitabel against villain one in a vacuum with this hand.
Possibly because you're IP on the bad player you can make this +EV.
River is really thin against a 24/7 with his line imo, as I expect him to have a worse J about never. Maybe he'll sometimes make a hero call with TT or something. I don't know if he's calling often enough against the times he'll bluff raise you or calls/raise you with a better hand, where you'll have to fold.
Tbh I think it's too thin.

Nutsinho, are you mainly betting turn to get value from 99 and TT because they have a gutshot? Or protection/value from AK?

Hand 2: I don't know how light people call these flops at your stakes. But I likely c/f turn and as played I c/f river.
What's your river plan?

Hand 3: I play the same. Did you intend to double barrel any turn you didn't hit?

Hand 4: I'm torn between your line and betting flop. B/f flop is pretty gross tho so against a (semi)tricky opponent you'll have to find a call sometimes. On the other side your hand is face up now.
I think in general I like a flop bet more because you'll get called by worse a lot.

Hand 5: I like and I intend to bet a lot of rivers.

Hand 6: Fine.

Hand 7: Isn't villains preflop calling range OOP about 22-TT, with sometimes a JJ or AQs? And against that range on this flop we should bet? (I'm not sure myself)

Hand 8: yeah with these odds and the busted FD I'm calling.

Hand 9: I'm not sure on villains range on the turn. What do you put him on?
Depending on that, I think there's value in a turn bet.

Hand 10: Fine.
(I actually have no idea what range to give villain, but with that betsizing I just feel you're not ahead often enough.)

[mcatdog]

Hand 9: I'm not sure on villains range on the turn. What do you put him on?
Depending on that, I think there's value in a turn bet.

What we put him on right now doesn't matter nearly as much as how we think he'll react to a turn bet. Some weak-tight players will be like "Welp, there's an ace, I guess my jack is no good anymore" and fold 100% of the hands that we beat, which means you should bluff 100% in this spot and check most of your good hands (I'd probably still bet AJ or better though).

[Fnord]

I don't like hand #2. In aggressive games I think checking the flop is a far better play.

[Genitruc]

I don't like hand #2. In aggressive games I think checking the flop is a far better play.

agreed

i effed up the read when posting. i said "villain" was a fishy 45/11 player but in fact both guys were loose and passive

thx for the replies everyone, I feel kind of lame cluttering the forums with pretty uninteresting content but I figure it's better to keep posting through this rough period.

Hopefully when I break out of this I can get you all back with mind-blowing soul-reading posts of epic grandeur.

[Fnord]

A lot of passive limpers will still auto-bet the button when checked to in limped pots. The way most of ya play, it's easy money.