It's in turn, but the decision closing the action would be the same if I act last.

As played, though, I'm trying to think about how the fact that I knowingly checked in turn might widen button's range, and should widen my calling range. All I know is he's not a complete drooler. And I'm trained to think Q9o is a garbage hand.

Against a suspected kill exploiter, I called UTG, in a 3-way pot with T8o after having checked my option (and called him down on Q83-x-x FTW).

I started checking dark when posting the kill UTG. This way, I'm providing cover for the hands I'd rather not raise, some of which are nice to play for 1 bet. But perhaps I could do better, especially if I know about the frequency with which others are exploiting the kill-check.

Oh damn. reading comprehension fail. I thought UTG opened, HJ 3b.

I also read it that way at first, but then seeing that the LAG "raises" in HJ corrected that. A-J is a monster against LAGs. A-10 less so, but I think should be played.

I think acting in turn requires one to calm down a lot with respect to posting kills in early position. You really are going to get at least callers, and maybe 3-bettors, in position a lot. Typical players tend to not like folding QJ in the cut-off to 2 bets. So you don't get to isolate. Instead, you end up in a bloated pot out of position with a range that includes a lot of dominated hands.

Much better IMO to check a ton of your range (whereas you might raise it late position). Indeed, when I am acting first with a kill, I sometimes check in the dark-- I just figure I need to raise a fairly tight range and the amount of information I am giving away by not raising is just not worth it.

Here's one I tanked(for like 7 seconds) and felt really foolish doing so..curious what other think.


Mid stakes, loose passive(ish) table.

ep open limps,ep2 limps mp1 raises(normal range) , 2 cold callers. I'm in SB with black 77. I ?

I mean 7 ways, you can't really go wrong. You're getting about the right price for set mining. Your capped range by cold calling gives up info, but that seems like the same info you give up by 3 betting and then donk checking the flop when you don't flop a set.

There are already 6 people with money in the pot and three of those have two bets in. It is going to be 4 ways always. It is more likely going to be 6-7 ways no matter what. Thinning the field isn't a concern or an opportunity. Also, leaking info multiway has to be less of a concern. Flop a set and get all the monies like 80% of the time.

Call. Even if I was on the button, I wouldn't consider 3betting this hand.

That what I was trying to say. If there was a way to lessen the field to 3 I'd 3! bet pre, but since it's likely to just go off 6 ways...

$1/$2 online FR. Fairly early in an anonymous session, but so far most flops are seeing 3 people, occasionally 2, rarely 4 or more but it does happen. Very few limped pots - either someone raises or the BB gets a walk. So far haven't seen anyone do anything ridiculous or fishy.

UTG+2 raises, MP coldcalls, SB 3-bets, we are in the BB with JJ.

Obvious answer: do not fold

Better answer: I'd go ahead and cap. Cold caller makes it more slam dunky. Give me TT or AQs here and it's closer, given your read of "tight table".

Open UTG. Two absolute stations call and a maniac three bets. Reasonable player takes three on the button with what I assume is a set mine in a brewing huge pot. Somewhat aggro older player calls SB. Justifiable to cap 100% of my range here?

--Better to put BTN on a full range of hands instead of just PPs. He can still have Big ace / SC hands.

--I'd think twice about the bottom of your UTG range -- ATo/AJo, JKo, 77 ? -- but don't hate your plan.

I don't think he's getting involved with dominated unsuited hands. Suited hands more likely. But I'm in pretty good shape against that particular range.

FWIW I'd much rather cap 77 than AJo here.

I'm curious, tell me more.

Not that I'd be thrilled to cap either, but 77 in a 6 way pot has pure set value. It's simply a function of what hand i'd rather have in a brewing megapot, 77 or AJo. I doubt I'm alone when I say the former.

Agree that 77 is a better cap than AJo. With 77, if you miss, you almost always have a live 2-outer. Bloating the pot lets you profitably float the flop for 1 SB. Same with suited hands; bloating the pot lets us float the flop more often to realize out BDFD equity. With AJo, I don't mind the pot being smaller. The equity edge PF is only slight. Bloated pot means other hands are more likely to realise their equity against us.

i open around 13% from UTG in a 9 handed game. i've given your opponents ranges based on your reads. i think those ranges are reasonable. vs. those ranges i have 21.5% with my entire UTG range. the BTN has 18% and the rest of the field has between 14-16%. based solely on equity you could justify capping your entire range. doesn't mean you should though.

I fold ATo and KJo UTG..too tight?

no, not too tight.

Just for my man proto, Ted Forrest caps 77 here. Speaking from experience...

I've heard Ted Forrest is attempting to grind Borg 20.

We're UTG+2 at a 9-handed table with JTs. UTG and UTG+1 fold. It's still early in an anonymous session but the way HJ, CO and BTN have been playing so far we can expect one of them to raise if we limp. What do we do with JTs here?

Raizitup1time IMO.

It could just be memory bias, but I feel like with this particular hand, if I raise it I'm going to get one late-position coldcaller and one blind along for the ride, so I'm stuck in the middle with an easily-dominated hand with no showdown value unimproved, and vulnerable when either card pairs. That's why I'm often so tempted to limp it - I'm more likely to get the 5- or 6-way pot I want, even if I have to pay two bets to see the flop.

Yet it's a top 11% hand, therefore it would be nitty as *$#@ to not play it at all.

With this particular hand, if I raise and only get 1 or 2 callers, what am I hoping is going to happen once the flop comes, i.e. I flop top pair on a dry board and don't face aggression, I flop a strong draw with odds to chase, one or more overcards to my JT flop making it easy to get away from my hand etc?

What else should I be thinking about?

This is a pretty standard raise given the description of your game. If your not raising this then your open raising range is going to be too tight and predictable. If you raise and get several callers, that's ok since you'll have good equity MW with this hand. If you raise and are left with two players that's ok because now you have the chance to take it down on the flop or potentially barrel your way through the hand. If you just limp and call a raise you will be the one forced to make a hand in most situations.

Raising can gain you position.
Raising can win you the blinds.
Raising can allow you to see a 4 card flop
Raising can allow you to take a free turn card

In other words, raising gives you many more opportunities to win the hand than just limping.