First live tourney, 2nd hand AQ tpgk

[eugmac]

This is a 50 + 5 Euro 40-man live "big stack" tournament offered by the local card room. 10,000 starting stacks, first level 50-50.

I'm UTG with AQo. No reads on villain, as we've just started and I haven't played any poker with him ever.

I raise to 200, 2 callers, BU and BB (villain).

Flop comes


Villain checks, I bet 300 into a pot of 650. BU folds, Villain c/R to 600. I call (questionable?).

Turn comes


Villain checks. Hero?

edit: I'm UTG, not UTG+1.

[drmcboy]

I'm leaning to bet but I think it's super close with no reads.

[simpledude16]

cbet larger, as played b/f 1k on turn

[baudib]

I like b/f 1Kish

[grindinginnj]

I like check and call any river bet that doesn't complete flush. Up to pot size.

[eugmac]

I did bet 1100. b/f should have been the plan, but instead hero got min-raised to 2200 and went "waaaat you're repping like 4 combos of 77 and 22 FUUU" and hoped that villain took a very weird line with 2 diamonds or AJ and jammed. in retrospect, this seems really unlikely, and also I probably make Ax fold. probably the jam is pure spew. thoughts?

[chardrian]

I play more like you, eug, so the better play would be to just check back turn.

b/f sounds great, but it only is a good play if you can actually do the fold part.

[simpledude16]

I play more like you, eug, so the better play would be to just check back turn.

b/f sounds great, but it only is a good play if you can actually do the fold part.

that has to be the dumbest thing i have ever heard, just cause you cannot do the optimal play doesnt mean take a less optimal line, maybe learn how to play solid/well

[baudib]

Whoa! Chard is being modest and doesn't need to learn how to crush.

Most live players think they are supposed to check a boat. Letting him check-raise you twice is bad, he has a boat/quads 100%.

[chardrian]

Whoa! Chard is being modest and doesn't need to learn how to crush.

I rarely, if ever, get pms.

I also stand by what I said. Part of becoming a great player is learning not just what your opponents tendencies are, but recognizing your own tendencies as well. So if your bullshit/bluff radar goes off at a much higher rate than the average player (i.e. you think everyone is always trying to bluff you and you love making that impressive bluff catch), then the best play here is to check back turn and control the potsize... especially in a close situation like this one where we aren't really expecting to get a shitton of value by betting both turn and river.

[eugmac]

Thanks to all for the responses. chardrian's post is definitely interesting about adjusting to one's own tendencies, i'll have to sleep over that one, and consider checking behind turn in such spots in the future.

[donkbee]

I don't really agree with the adjusting to your tendencies thing. If a play is optimal but you can't do it because of your "tendencies", then you really should be working on fixing it because it's a leak.

[eugmac]

That's how i understood it too Courtney, but i guess identifying the tendency is in any case the first step, regardless of how one chooses to deal with it?

Looking at the big picture though, isn't it the "tendencies" that form the differences in individual playing style? Just throwing some stuff out there after a few glasses of wine...

[Sykedupp]

That's how i understood it too Courtney, but i guess identifying the tendency is in any case the first step, regardless of how one chooses to deal with it?

Looking at the big picture though, isn't it the "tendencies" that form the differences in individual playing style? Just throwing some stuff out there after a few glasses of wine...

Some tendencies are, like 3betting JJ pre-antes in MTTs vs flatting.... Not doing the best line postflop even though you know its probably the best line simply because you arent good enough generally isnt a tendency, its a leak IMO.

[TLR]

Flop: I like a bit larger c-bet, once he reraised and you called and did not 4bet I think I prefer to check turn behind as well, the likely hand range for villian at this point is boat or better, flush draws or weaker Ax

Checking does give him a free card to complete the flush if he is on a FD, but keeps the pot a bit smaller, and if he is on a FD he might be tempted to bluff the river if he misses, since we do not know villian we dont know what he will do with a weaker ace.

So I think I like a turn check

[joker131]

pot bet if he has trips or AK he will come back at you. with 10,000 starting stack . plenty off time to make up ,,,,,,,if he has no hand or if hes looking for the flush on the river, good players fold and dont fish

[Credsfan03]

Yeah I think that you are behind in this hand. I would bet more than 300 into the pot on the flop because then you have a better idea of where you are in the hand.

[Pascal]

Ignore both the posts above, betting to find out where you are is spew, potting turn is way too big, flop bet sizing is too small because it's live - I'd go for 450.

Definitely disagree with chard, if you're "bullshit/bluff radar goes off at a much higher rate" then that's a leak not a tendency and you just need to be more math-orientated and rely less on your live reads.

Turn seems like a good b/f, can go fairly small (like 1/3 pot) but make sure you don't peel even if it's cheap.

[jaxpaboo]

I like check and call any river bet that doesn't complete flush. Up to pot size.

+1. Induce a bluff or minimize your losses if beat. Smells like flush draw.