Blinds 1200/2400/400 on day 1 of the MSPT Regional @ Canterbury Park

MP (~70K) raises to 5,700
Folds to hero (65K) who calls in SB with A 3
BB (~100K) calls

Flop: Q 9 Qx

Checks around

Turn: Ax

Checks around

River: Jx

Hero checks
BB bets 15K
MP tanks for a few minutes and eventually throws in a crying call
Hero ???

I decided to check the turn to control the size of the pot, especially out of position. Thoughts on having the best bluffcatcher in this spot?

Just me, or this is an easy fold and OP is leveling to much?

I really don't like the preflop call in the small blind facing an MP raise with A3s at all. It's an awkward stack size, though, where it's a little too big to 3-bet jam, so I can see maybe either folding or 3-betting to something like 17K being ok. Personally would fold pre here.

As played flop is fine. I do think checking turn OOP is fine as a rule three-ways with weak top pair hands that checked through flop. I think there might be some merit to leading based on our SPR but it will suck if we get jammed on. (initially thought leading was an option but I'd like it better IP)

On the river I think we need to call, as we're calling 15K to win a pot of something like 63K.

We can safely discount nut hands that slowplayed, as it's impossible for me to think AQ, Q9 or 99 are checking twice. If MP has a nut somehow he's certainly not tank calling river (and is almost certainly betting turn), if he has AK he's likely betting turn, so I think MP's range is at most AJs and even that would possibly bet turn for value. If BB has a Q he's almost certainly betting turn for value and protection and if he had AK he almost certainly 3-bets pre. I guess KT is always a possibility for the BB, but if he has that hand then so be it.

I just think we'll be chopping with another Ax hand (or two) often enough to justify the call, plus if we fold top pair here we're folding too many of our hands. A3 is certainly going to be one of the better hands we will have in this spot (that checked two streets).

Jesus why do tournament people love calling Axs pre. It's not good, and especially not from SB. River, whatever I'm folding. Too many straights around and don't really think MP calls with Jx too often here.

yea easy fold pre

as played seeing we chop or lose I would not overcall river

V1 thinks he can only win by betting, V2 tank calls with bluff catcher, hero calls with better bluff catcher.

It's not a crazy line and if you aren't calling here ever, you need to work on your ranges. Just trying to see how often we are right and if we are getting the right price to call.


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LOL "tournament people" than why the hell are you in this thread? This is a tournament strategy discussion board. Tournaments are a different animal with finite chips and rising blind levels.

I 3-bet this hand a % of the time as well. Sometimes just call OP to control the size of the spot and see what line opponent takes post flop.

If your only line here is 3-bet or fold, I think you are making a mistake.


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You are folding A3 suited to a single raise 100% of the time.


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On the long run it's a bad call, as well as preflop (but I already said that )
Obv it's a 300$ mtt so people are making bad calls/bets, but still.


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I think the pf call is bad because you are putting in 7% of your stack (4,500 VPIP in this hand) and run the very real risk of BB 3!. That's too much to invest with this hand in this position. Initiating the action or even calling from the BB closing the action are preferable to your pf line.

I guess you imply we should 3bet some of A9s-A2s vs mp otherwise Id feel robbed.

I agree I dont like calling just bc hand looks cute but as a part of well thought strategy vs specific opponent tendencies it should be fine to at least call some this hands sometimes.

I think we absolutely should have some calls here - our strategy should not just to be 3-bet/fold our entire range. But A3s facing an MP open is simply not good enough as a call the vast majority of the time. We just won't realize our equity OOP often enough to justify it vs. standard MP range. We'll have better Axs hands and suited connectors that we can comfortably call.

I see it from tournament players all the time, and never in cash games. You can keep calling Axs in these situations if you want, but it's not going to make money. The ace plays terrible, the kicker plays terrible and you can only really semibluff if you hit a flushdraw or a wheel draw. I'd rather call KJo pre than A3s.

You can 3bet some of them but honestly I'd rather fold A3s than anything else. Rather 3bet two offsuit broadways than Axs.

I think preflop call is fine. Whether or not you play this depends on your playing style. If you are willing to try and steal some pots on certain boards then I am fine with this. It's not great to play this hand if you play fit or fold on the flop.

I think this is a flop that MP1 should be betting. So I think reads on them is a bit important here. Is MP1 a dodo or is he competent? What does MP1 check this flop with that is calling the river? Does he check back this flop with TT, JT? Is He calling with a small pocket pair and just putting BB on air?

I think a call on the river is reasonable. I think you should be leading the river. To either push someone else off a chop or get value from a J or a 9.

pre is w/e - fold, call, bet depending on OR/BB/gameflow/spotifygoodshuffle%
bet/fold river