History/Table dynamics: 2/5 NLHE, 9 handed, I have just transferred from another table with about ~$1300. I have most of the table covered, but there are a few players with stacks of $900-$1200. I have been at the table for 2 orbits and have not played a single hand (folded both my blinds both orbits due to a straddle). A player that I have much history with has been straddling to $10 from all positions every hand (common for him). But, he is in the BB this hand, so no straddle.

Villain 1 BB (~$700)
Age: 40s
Sex: M
Ethnicity: White
Reads/Tendencies: I have played many hours and big pots with this player. He is your basic reg-fish/whale. He straddles almost every hand and will see a flop with ATC unless the price is outrageous. He tends to peel the flop really light, but will fold OTT and OTR unless he improves. He respects my bets for the most part, but doesn't really hand read well and can get sticky in certain situations. When I come to the table he often makes comments to the likes of "Uh-oh, here comes the professional". He's a good guy though and we often joke at the table.

Villain 2 BTN (~$1100)
Age: 40s
Sex: F
Ethnicity: White
Reads/Tendencies: I have played with this player probably about 5-10 times in the past. She is semi-competent and plays a pretty TAG style. She doesn't get super attached to hands and is capable of laying down to aggression. She definitely views me as a strong player.

Hero MP ($1300) is dealt: A9
Age: 20s
Sex: M
Ethnicity: White

Pre-flop:
Folds to Hero who raises to $20, CO calls, V2 OTB calls, SB calls, V1 in the BB calls.

Flop ($93): 542
SB checks, V1 checks, Hero bets $55, CO folds, V2 calls, SB folds, V1 calls.

Okay, so here we are OTF in a 5-way pot. I wouldn't always bet the flop here with ace high, but I do have a gutter, two overs, and a back door nut flush draw. This is also the first hand I have played since arriving at the table. All of these factors combined led me to make a cbet. The plan is to barrel most diamond turns (maybe check 6d), over cards like a K or Q, a 9, and maybe an A depending on the action.

Turn ($258): J
V1 checks, Hero bets $145...

Well, looks like I got just about the best turn card I can hope for, time to stick to my plan and fire another bet to put pressure on hands like 66-TT as well as other pair/straight draw type hands. Thoughts on my plan/sizing is appreciated!

I don't agree with betting the turn.

You stated V1 will give up if he hasn't improved significantly which can merit the bet OTT, but V2 is behind. What is her range here?

I think a PP of some sort is the biggest part of her range either a set or an OP to the flop. Is she the type to flat with JJ? I think the only hand that calls you OTT is a hand that will raise you. Playing large pots OOP is something I want to avoid. I c/c the turn and re-evaluate the river.

Also, you have V1 in the pot who could also be looking for a check/raise OTT if he has anything to continue the hand with. I don't see any hands that flat OTT except maybe 33. I don't want to get raised off my hand here because if someone does have a big piece you will get paid on the river after you know if you make your hand.

i make it bigger preflop especially if the table has been adopting a $30 or $35 pf raise size, seems like a good flop + turn to at least double barrel, but you may be committing yourself to triple barrel (depending on V1's tenancies)

I wold probably shut down OTR if V2 doesn't fold to our turn bet

its a great 2nd barrelling card. V2 will fold alot of her range, which is probably wide given the situation, and V1 will probably fold his ATo.

3 barreling can be good if either calls again, but a K or Q are probably the best cards to do so on. will either of them ever fold 99? The only way you're in trouble vs V2 is if she's slow playing a set b/c of V1.

I think this is a fine spot for a 2nd barrel. We have fold equity AND picked up hand equity.

Although I rarely have the balls to 3-barrel in-game, this may be an opportunity, esp if it goes HU to the river. The only river card I would slow down on is an ace. Showdown value against lower pairs (which won't call an ace river bet) but an ace could have binked a villain who is calling with 33, a big ace (overs and a gutshot) or Ax that paired the flop.

V2's range here is probably something like 22-99, maybe TT (including sets, although I think she might raise a set on the flop). Suited connectors including 23s, 34s, 45s, 65s and 67s. possibly some Ax combos like A2-A5. I think she would tend to 3bet JJ+ before the flop and probably isn't just calling with overs OTF.

I think I can get her to fold a good portion of the range with my second barrel, considering that my value range beats all one pair type hands that are in her range. Although I will say I was somewhat worried that she would get sticky with one of the pair/draw type hands and I would just have to shut down OTR. I also think that the fact that I am betting into two players makes my bet look even stronger.

As for V1 slow playing a monster, it is definitely possibly, but given his style he has WAAAAAAAY more just air/bottom pair/naked straight draws that he will fold in his range than strong made hands. I just can't really justify not betting the turn for that reason.

I think this is absolutely the wrong thinking. You need to put your villains on hands and or ranges and play accordingly.

As played OTT fold to raise OTR c/f and b/c if you hit

OTF I dont like the bet 5way your never getting all folds. An A23456 OTT
OTT I like a $200-Pot size bet to see how committed they are. 3/5pot is going to get a floater too often.

NH.

I think these spots are a great example of the difference between live and online. Online, against tougher opponents, the technical aspect of the barreling are far more important but live you can really just judge whether a fish is going to fold or call down in spots like this. That is hard to convey on a forum but something that come naturally to good live players.

Lol. Your subsequent post did nothing of the sort. Potting "to see how committed they are" is flawed thinking on numerous levels.

While I didn't specify Vs ranges, my response implies that I feel we have hand and FE against them based on the board and action thus far.

I'm not sure it is. The following statement is true: The best turn cards to barrel are cards that either increase Hero's equity in the pot, or are more helpful to Hero's perceived range than Villains.

The Jd definitely increases my equity in the pot, no questions there. It also helps my perceived range more than villains. If you saw someone not play a hand for 2-3 orbits and then raise from relatively EP, what types of hands would you include in their range? I would think mostly PP's 88+, strong Ax hands like AT+, and a number of broadway combo's.

Now if someone who had been fairly active at the table simply flatted a raise before the flop, and then called a bet on a 5 high rainbow board, you would tend to think that their range is mostly low cards that have connected with the board in some way, or a PP bigger than the board, but not premium, due to the flat call before the flop.

In this case the J should do essentially nothing for their hand except make it weaker.


Anyway, V2 behind me tank folded. V1 called. The river was the 8d (I run good). V1 then donked out for $150. I pushed obviously, he called, and I just tabled my hand. Upon re-checking his cards, he says "Wow, I misread my hand". I say "Well, ace high wasn't good was it?", to which he doesn't respond. In retrospect, I believe V1 had 78, but thought he had 67. V2 also stated that she folded the best hand OTT.

The way I read your bet of $20 preflop is that you have a decent but not great hand (a lot of players show up with a QJ type of hand here). Even with you not playing a hand in 2 rounds (or rather, especially because you haven't played a hand in 2 rounds) I don't see how I could resist three-betting you from the blinds and taking down a sizeable pot. If you don't have the guts to put a real raise in with A9 then I recommend folding or open limping this hand.

This is a horrible flop to barrel. Live donks don't throw away overpairs and many don't throw away an ace here. The turn is a very good card for you so a bet there is not bad.

A $20 open with no limpers at 2/5 is pretty standard. Sure sometimes the "consensus" raise is a touch higher but I don't know why you would have such a problem with this PF raise size.

Just curious about your plan for a non-diamond river?

I would have probably only bet $100 OTT and then another valu-ish $100 on a blank river (assuming one caller OTT). On the other hand, if a diamond hits and I'm checked to, I shove - too many idiots watch "overbets are polarizing" crap on TV and call down with any pair.

Great double barrel spot.

This is the type of spot where I would fire 3 barrels. I'm going to fire diamond/K/Q/8/7/T OTR. This type of villain is going to show up with a pair+draw so often and will peel flop/turn and fold river imo.