Hey there guys!
I'd come to think of how "unethical" donking bets are, and how many people aren't really using them. At least they aren't at the lower stakes that I play. I also know how annoying it is when you are getting donked into and can't really tell what it means.
Therefore I'd love to widen my game and learn more about donking. How would you for example construct a donking range on flop and turn in a pot where you're not the PFR?
I can guess that we donk with some nut hands plus super draws, but wouldn't they be as good to c/r? Why should we donk, and what hands?
Let the discussion flow!
And lastly, is there any good video on this topic anywhere?
Donking is pretty villain dependent play, there's a lot of levels to it.
I like to donk out flops that I missed but that I believe missed my opponent's PF raising range but that he can give me a lot of credit for hitting with my calling range.
Flops like 578r or 78Jr.
I also like to donk out against opponents who have a c-bet % that is near 100% or actually is 100% with all kinds of hands. The reason being that c-bet machines often get themselves into very familiar situations when they're allowed to keep control of aggression and can figure out optimal plays easily. Donking into them puts them in situations where they aren't sure what to do or have never been in before.
Donking can also get you into very profitable spots on boards where your opponents shove on the flop range is actually very wide and the range that beats your hand is very narrow, and he is likely to be able to put you on a draw instead of a strong made hand.
Something like an AsKs5d board where you have 5c5s and your opponent raised PF and is likely to have connected hard with the board. Donk, get raised, shove, get put on a flush draw and called by AcQs, gg WP.
Something like an AsKs5d board where you have 5c5s and your opponent raised PF and is likely to have connected hard with the board. Donk, get raised, shove, get put on a flush draw and called by AcQs, gg WP.
I'm not sure what stakes that works on but seems pretty bad to me... I think that's a situation where c/r is more beneficial rather than leading. I would feel lucky to have people who would raise AQ there on mid stakes+
Donking is kind of hard to balance, but it can be fun and profitable. It is way different HU vs. Multiway. Just doing it rarely for value and paying a lot of attention to how people react will give you a feeling for it. I like doing it vs unknown aggros on dry textures.
It seems to me that donking is better against weak-passives because that way you can be sure you don't lose value (and equity) from value hands. Also check-raise screams strength and could lose you money from value hands (while also giving you fold equity with semi-bluffs and other hands).
I'm not sure what stakes that works on but seems pretty bad to me... I think that's a situation where c/r is more beneficial rather than leading. I would feel lucky to have people who would raise AQ there on mid stakes+
