|
||
|
||
|
Server Time: 12/2/2008 7:23:49 AM PACIFIC |
 Double semibluff or take the free card?, Andrew Wells, 22. Sep 2003 18:48 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Here is a 6-12 hand from today's hold'em game where it looked like I had the right conditions to outplay someone, even though I knew I did not have the best hand. I was satisfied with the way I played it even though I didn't get this pot, but there were a few alternatives. Since I'm sure that there'll be some disagreement about how I handled this one, let's see if it's worth debating. An early position player opens for a raise. He tends to play scared when we are both in the pot, consequently I have very good control of the situation regardless of position. He also tilts easily, but is not doing so today as he is not stuck. Since he has not yet grasped the importance of position and I've played many hours with him, his raise could be as weak as QTs or 55. I'm also in early position with TsTc and make it three bets looking to isolate. At this table, the rest of the field is not going to cold call three bets, but there may be some hitchhikers with big unsuited cards at the two level. Regardless, if I'm playing this hand I'm reraising before the flop. It's not a passive game, but it's not real aggresssive either. Everyone folds to the big blind who caps it. That's obviously not what I wanted to see. The initial raiser reluctantly calls (he's not an actor, it's genuine concern). The big blind is a fairly good observant player, and he surely knows I have a real hand. He probably also spotted the other players discomfort and realizes that the first raise was weak. This is also one of those players who likes to show someone next to him how well he plays. I've sat beside him before when he gives such free information on his laydowns. It's easy to get him to do this by showing him a hand like AJs that misses the flop early in the session. Now he'll reciprocate and show most of his "tough" laydows the rest of the day. He's just looking for some empathy and positive feedback that he's a smart fellow, which I'm going supply. Anyhow the flop comes down Ad 9c 7s, he makes the expected bet and I'm sure I'm behind. The other player mucks, but gives me some time to think. I figure I'm looking at AA AK AQs KK QQ or JJ here. I believe he will call a raise with KK or QQ, then play "book" poker and check/fold to a bet on the turn. He may or may not three bet top set, but will checkraise the turn if that's where he's at. I do think he's going to take any hand with an ace all the way this time though, because he did the capping. With 13 bets in the (raked) pot and position, I'm going to see if I can win it. If the other player didn't fold to the flop bet, I'd have to let them contest it. If my opponent didn't have the capability of making a lay down on the turn with a wired pair, the dealer would be shuffling up by now too. He calls my raise and checks to the 6h on the turn. I believe I have six solid outs unless he started with rockets. I can also take the "free card" and muck on the river if I miss. I doubt I'm going to get checkraised if he has AK, he simply doesn't do that beyond the flop without a powerful hand. I'm almost certain to get paid off for a bet on the river if I make the straight or set regardless. I bet the turn getting 8:1 that he would muck less than top pair, rather than just try to hit one of my six outs. The 4d on the river was checked down, and (no surprise) AhKh wins it. | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: Double semibluff or take the free card?, grant pittman, 22. Sep 2003 21:41 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Andrew this situation comes up often in a game and it's a great hand to look at. I like your read on the hand from start to finish. I will,depending on my opponent, put him to the test on the flop. You will often be looking at JJ QQ KK as a holding for your opponent as you have stated. The real decision for you in this hand comes after the flop. You need to accurately assess the type of player you are up against. I believe in this situation you should only bluff one type of player and that is the type that is very tight and afraid to put his money in without a "lock hand". All other players you should likely pass this hand since they will either suspect this move by you or they won't have a clue what you are doing and won't care either!!!! They are going to call you down with their pair no matter what. Pick your spots accurately for bluffs especially when it is likely to cost you multiple bets. Just a thought. GRANT PITTMAN | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: Double semibluff or take the free card?, Mark Gregorich, 22. Sep 2003 21:59 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| I agree that occasionally making a situational raise here is a good play. Assuming this player would only cap with AA, AK, KK, QQ, or JJ, there are 15 combos of AA or AK available. However, there are 18 possibilities of the other hands (which, depending on your opponent, you may be able to raise him off). So, based on what's already in the pot, it makes sense to make this play a fair amount of the time if your opponent is capable of laying down a big pair when an ace hits the board. If you raise the flop, I think your turn bet is virtually mandatory (even though you have enough outs to call a checkraise), as most players will "take one off" with KK, QQ, or JJ when they're raised on the flop. Checking the river is good - most big pair holders are content to go down with the ship if they've called the turn bet. Mark | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: Double semibluff or take the free card?, Andrew Wells, 22. Sep 2003 22:31 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| Given that he's on the big blind and is probably good enough to recognize that I'm three betting for isolation, I think I have to extend his possible holding a bit beyond the very best hands. I can see him capping with AQs, and maybe getting out of line with KQs or AJs. Though I don't expect much else except maybe a cold call with AK instead of a cap, and perhaps the case tens or 99. One thing I didn't consider at the table was what he might have possibly checkraised with on the flop since it was still three handed at that point. So perhaps not all those possible hands are now equally likely. There's also the possibility he isn't going to lay down KK or QQ to a bet on the turn anyway, just that he's capable of doing so. So what you're saying is that I either have to invest another two big bets after the flop or give it up there. I'm not calling on the flop and I'm gone if he reraises me, so I'm inclined to agree with you on that aspect. Here I picked up the gut shot draw on the turn, which I thought gave me some choice. No way I'm doing anything on the river except fold. | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| Re: Double semibluff or take the free card?, Andrew Wells, 22. Sep 2003 22:44 | ||
| View ( Message | Thread ) | Return to Thread List | |
| I had position and isolation, just not the player I was originally looking to take pocket tens against. However I know both of them well, and thought this was the right type of opponent to try something. I might have just mucked if I wasn't given an extra five seconds to think about setting up a play. His hand is more defined than mine, so I also have the advantage of being harder to read when the flop comes down. I think that most players (whether or not they will take a pair to showdown) will read me for aces and likely AK with the way I played it, instead of a semibluff on the turn. I give you credit for much more experience, and could read this as a possible move where a typical "book" player trying to play smart would not. | ||
| Return to Thread List | ||
| POKER FORUM HOME | POKER FORUM | LINK TO US | ARCHIVE | ONLINE POKER | Copyright 2002, United Poker Forum |
|
Getting Started |
UPF Tournaments |
Poker News, Views, Rules |
Poker Strategy & Psychology |
Money and Bankroll Poker Bonuses & Promotions | World Series of Poker (WSOP) | Play Online Poker | Poker Odds & Statistics | Tournament Poker | Poker Books, Videos & Learning Tools Looking for a Poker Game | Poker Bad Beats | Not Quite Poker | Quizzes and Polls | Forum Suggestions & Bugs |
|
|
|
|
Interesting Links: Online Poker | Free Poker Games | United Poker Network |
|