Tuesday I played a 50 man live turbo tournament. This hand happened when we were 3-handed, all players had shallow stacks (btw 12-15 bb). 1st place payed US7500.

Hero: 200k stack Q3s
Villain: 250k stack

Villain in the btn limps for 16k. SB folds, hero checks

Flop: 2-3-7 rainbow

Hero checks, Villain bets 16k. Hero calls.

Turn: 8

Hero Checks, villain bets 16k. Hero decides to call ( I put him in two broadway cards)

River: 2

Hero checks, villain bets 26k. Hero calls.

Villain wins pot with QQ


What do u guys think about this call? Should have folded to turn bet? Since he just limped pre flop, I put him on high cards that didn't connect, also i thought his 16k bet on the turn was way more toward weakness than strength. I had seen him raise pre flop with AQ and AJ, hadn't seen him limp before.. I ended up finishing 3rd.

Not sure you can put him on two broadway cards.

The reason I'll limp high pocket pairs is for this very reason.

I just don't think you can call down with a pair of 3's very easily. It's not very good equity against any hand even a broadway.

I think i prefer to throw this hand in the trash and the let the villain think he is getting away with something (if he actually is getting away with something, in this he case he has the goods) I understand the reasoning but I just can't justify the play. You've got to assume that he will limping high pairs at least some of the time.

If you really think he's just c-betting the flop with overs and you're going to check-call the turn, why not raise his post-flop c-bet? Villain is unlikely to call with two overs, and if he calls the raise, you'll see the turn and then slow the hell down or give up to a lead out bet. If Villain is worried about your check-raise after the flop, he may well check back on the turn and river if he's not super strong. As played, you get away from the hand cheaper.

I understand ur point, and i thought about check-raising the flop, but that would chase out bluffing hands likes unconnected overs and only get called by better, and if he reraised id have to fold. I think my pair of 3s has value.

You 3s have value but unless he has a specific tendency to 3 barrel small as a bluff in limped pots I think raising flop or folding turn/river is the best play. Atleast folding river.
Raising the flop gives you the information you want, if he calls your done if you don't improve. If he reraise your raise you safely fold since few players will turn a limped pot into a play for stacks with low equity.

If this was online in a low-buyin tournament and the opponent was bad then the line is fine. In a live tournament I wouldn't think his line is a bluff ever.

Doubt he ever has two broadway cards, as he's usually shoving those hands preflop. He either has bigger pairs or 98s, J9s, etc etc type hands. Doubt he's firing three streets on this dry of a board with worse either. Turn is an iffy call, but def think the river has to be a fold, even for the good price you're getting.

Could also argue check/jamming this board with your hand, which I would normally do. Little more difficult of a decision to make at a final table with ICM considerations tho.

Does the flop have one of our suits?

Looks fine.

I dont know.. Looking back and because of some coments, i think the best play is to checkraise small on the flop, and just give it up if he puts more money in the pot. The line i took is better w deeper stacks imo

In perhaps overly simplified terms, villain is either bluffing or value betting. When we have a bluff catcher we should take lines that let him bluff more often.

Yes, that was my plan. But i think that giving him credit for a value hand (given that he bet on all streets) makes more sense. Especially since i didnt have any history with this guy, so 3 barreling is less likely. I think the way i played the hand is valid, but the check raising flop line is better in this situation.

What does check raising achieve? Do worse hands call / Do better hands fold? I'd wager the answer to both questions is no.

I see what u mean, but raising the flop would protect my pair of 3s, and if he continues with the hand i can save my chips on the turn and river. I think the line i took of just calling is better when deepstacked/ or have some sort of info that villain will 3-barrrel. in this given situation i think check raise is best.