$50 OTB ante 5/10 live game

hand one:
hero MP A5dd open 50 ($1600)
cutoff flat
sb, good agro pro 3b 220 (covers)
hero 4b 550
sb call

flop aj8hhd
sb check
hero ?
jam/diff sizing/ xback?

went with jam and thought was somewhat standard spot if 4b, but live friend argued otherwise



same game 5/10 nl 50 ante on btn

utg limp
hero utg2 ajss ($3000) open 65
sb good agro pro (same guy from last hand covers) 3b 220
bb huge whale who covers calls
i call

flop t23ss
sb continues 250
bb calls
hero calls

turn ax
checks through
river kx
sb check
bb leads 500
hero?


i went with the call, but wonder if should xback turn, and thoughts on river call off as played

Thoughts? thx

First hand check. You can make an argument to bet your whole range small but I like to mix in some xb. Also this specific hand is great to xb

Second hand I like the x/b on turn. Betting can't be terrible either as a we're probably not folding out the whales xsxs hands so just don't size too big if you bet. River is bleh. Getting a great price in a spot where he's like never bluffing and we don't beat any of his value bets; and there's still the other villain left to act who could definitely have 3 combos of QJs and maybe some QJo and also KK. I'd like to think I'd fold but in game I'd call and regret it.

First hand 4b is fineish but the hand probably fits better in a calling range. Ur supposed to be just betting ur whole range for like 25% pot here
Hand 2 I like betting it's just a higher ev play then you u can usually get a lot of checks ott and u can take a free showdown. Also if u improve you get to play bigger pot

Hand 1: It`s more likely to get paid by a worse hand if you bet flop like 250ish.

Hand 2: I like a shove on the flop.. Pot is like 1.2k and the Pro seems kinda weak with this sizing given that a whale is in the mix.

Calling flop for this price is fine, but he could bomb turns that we don`t like. I rather just get it in here.

As played:

I like the check back. A small bet (500ish) seems good as well.

River is an easy call.

+1

1. Additionally I feel shoving being the worst option (other being x/c and a small c-bet). It's pretty bad.

2. As said, raising puts the pro in a bit awkward spot. It's not impossible that he/she does a huge mistake folding a big pair here. You're probably slightly ahead of the fish. It's easy to think that you're deep here but the pre action essentially makes it more like 150 bb 3-bet spot than 300 bb.


If the pro bets the turn and the fish folds, you're in a relatively bad spot.

1. SPR 1 - don't mind shoving. Small bet is definitely not my choice at this SPR. We simply can't bet fold anything. So betting whole range makes no sense. Shove or check back.

2. Definitely betting turn. 3 bettor can have wheel aces that go for x/c. Whale can have flush draws that don't fold OR wheel aces or any number of tx that get sticky. We willhave flush draws that want to bluff. A weaker Ace could check back. AJss is a slam dunk value bet when checked to. Calling off a shove. As played calling river. Worse for value is easily possible from a whale.

Hand #1: Given that you opened so large preflop I think 4bet bluffing is bad. As played check back the flop, shoving is a massive mistake.

Hand #2: Fold pre AINEC. Turn can go either way. At first I thought fold river, but there's a decent chance bb could be turning QQ/JJ into a bluff so I guess call.

Also pretty sure every other comment in this thread is a level except the first guy.