I've rarely played in tough aggressive games so not certain about this one that I played the other night.

6-handed 100/200 at the Bellagio, pretty sure everybody except me and only person that has open limped is a pro. He's gone from the table at the moment, game is fast and aggressive, we never see the turn.

Cutoff opens, button 3bets. I have TT in SB and decide to just call? I know I'm likely ahead but I'm out of position and I want to see if there's additional raising from these two. Then BB 4bets and the other 2 call.

Flop is 9-high rainbow, BB bets all call. Turn is a blank, I ck/call after the other 2 fold. River is a J, I ck/call again.

Thoughts on all streets especially preflop are welcome.

Raise pre and start betting

I hope you didn't lose to some kind of jack

Been following your trip report, good stuff.... This post sounds like scared money sitting at the table?

Agreed. Have to cap it up preflop. As played, have to put a raise in on the flop. As played after that, have to call it on the river.

OP, no shame in sitting out if the game isn't to your liking, too.

To expand, I'd probably give TT a good 40% against your two committed opponents. Moreover, CO may fold some of his junk like A4o, which creates dead money in the pot. Also a good thing. But I know you know this.

I mean I'd cap pre as well, but that hands not really that bad. As played, post flop is fine.

You don't like putting in a raise here?

Then again, I think I've an established history on here of being a bit over-aggro in MW spots

Bellagio has a 5-bet cap, no?

No, not at all scared money, but as I stated, 6 handed and very aggressive is not a game I have any experience with.

Absolutely! In fact I did take my 40/80 seat when it became available, no need for me to play in a game that tough.

Yes, that's right.


So what is BB's raising range here?
I'd guess 88+, AQ+, ATs+(?).

Should he have a cold calling range here?

I would given the 5 bet cap, and getting 5 to 1.


fwiw pre, i'd 4bet 10s

I don't like capping your range in the sb like that

1) I'd exclude ATs. I'm with you otherwise.

2) At 9:2 immediate in a game w/ wide ranges, I'd say yes. I'm not folding hands like JTs in this spot.

i didn't expect to read "we don't see the turn" since usually in tough/agro games, there is more calling down w/ Ahigh so usually the agro-ness tends to thin out by the river but the turn still involves checkraises and raising. obv this is because flop peels become correct getting 8.5:1 so folding is a mistake often times w/ 6 overs. so if people are just flat out open raising, calling, then check folding, that can't be right.

i thought bellagio had a 5b cap? if so, i'd 4b the sb for sure w/ TT here.

post flop, i can see arguments for betting the turn, but as is hand seems to be fine. especially if you can't fold to a raise and are seen as tight/not going to the river etc.

Yeah, I was a little surprised by this as well, but the reality is we'd only been playing 6-handed for a few orbits. Not sure about my table image, I'd been pretty aggressive as I'd picked up some premium hands. The hand immediately prior to this one the button opened, SB 3-bet and I 4-bet AK, flop came Kxx 2-tone, I had the A of trump and they both folded to my cbet.

Anyhow, thanks for your input:

I don't mind not raising pre but you HAVE to raise the flop.

You want me to craise/fold to 3bet? If he flats the raise then bet/fold? I'm hating my position fiercely in this spot...

If you are capable of c/r the flop and folding to a 3 then you should c/r the turn instead. Granted, you only beat A9, 88 and lower but at least give your chance the best chance of winning. Thin out the field and then re-evaluate.

Yes, I hate the position but they know you aren't doing this with A9.

If you c/r the flop why would you want to fold getting at least 23:1?

Yes. The Bellagio has a 5-bet cap.

Best wishes,
mason

Hi quantph:

If you're going to play, and you should, there is value in getting the big blind out and this should dominate your decision, so you should 4-bet preflop.

Given that you only called preflop check calling all the streets seems okay to me since the other two players both folded on the turn, and unless he's nut, there should be no hand that the big blind would fold to a raise on the turn that you would want him to fold (and this includes two overcards).

On the river, you're most likely beat, but given the size of the pot the call is probably correct.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi jdr:

This is a good point. It's my experience that these games can vary a lot, especially since it only rarely goes.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi quantph:

Limit hold 'em, even at limits much lower than $100-$200 has become a much more aggressive game than it was even a few years ago. But the game does tend to be even more aggressive the higher the limit.

The following is my opinion, but if the big blind didn't raise with any hand that would be my preference. He won't knock anyone out and he'll have some playing advantages with his strongest hands.

However, that's not the way most of these people will play. But I think for the typical player in this game, your above range is probably a little too wide for them to four bet out of the big blind. But this can definitely vary depending on the player.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi jdr:

I know this is highly debatable but I consider getting 9-to-2 with jack-ten suited from the big blind a close play at best. Part of the problem is that if you flop a draw it can be expensive to go to the river trying to complete your hand, and the call from the small blind can be quite negative for you if he also has either a jack or a ten.

Best wishes,
Mason

Hi Spirit:

I disagree. What has happened here is that the pot is big and if you can figure out a way to win it quickly or to increase your probability of winning, then that should dictate your strategy. Raising the flop should not accomplish this.

However, if the other two players would have both called the turn bet, then check-raising the turn becomes a viable option since it might get one or two folds, and that would increase your chance of winning. But given the way the hand actually got played with the other two players both folding the turn, the check raise was probably not necessary.

Best wishes,
Mason