If you're going $30, then you mine as well limp. We're looking to iso.

Bigger pre. I would default to check call flop though sometimes I’ll throw in a cr if I have reads (like an abc player betting small for information)

Looks like I went a little different direction than others on the flop. I agree that in general this is going to be a better flop for the range of the BU calling from the straddle, but I still decided to cbet since (1) it's a good flop for our exact hand, and (2) without a flush draw on the board there aren't as many hands that I'll want to bluff with or that he'll have to continue with. Since it is a wet board though I still went large ($70).

Probably not a huge mistake but I'm convinced after some more thought that checking is still better here.

Action continued
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$1/3 with a $10 button straddle. We have ~$900.

Preflop:
BU straddle $10
BB completes
Folds to us in the HJ with KJhh.

We raise to $40, BU calls, BB folds.

Flop ($90): Th9c8d (~$450 effective)
I bet $70, BU calls.

Turn ($240): Th9c8d9h (~$380 behind)
Action?
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Interesting turn card for several reasons. We pick up extra equity with the heart, but the board pairs obviously. There's about 1.5x pot left.

I'm interested in what you'd do on this turn and (assuming there's still money behind) what you'd plan to do on different rivers: (1) we make a flush, (2) we make a straight, (3) we make top pair, (4) we brick out. Remember there's only $380 behind.

I don’t slow down is because I think V capped his range with the flop call. I would strongly suspect V to raise flopped sets, two pairs and straights. So not too worried that he filled up

I’m barrelling but stacks are awkward to leave a decent size river bet and any FE. I don’t think an overbet jam is bad at all. Maximizes FE and we have decent equity if called (if my assumption he has no boats is accurate).

If V will likely bet, I don’t mind a CRAI either but this gives him better odds to call with Tx hands.

This is an example of why playing OOP can be so hard. However, it is what it is. Time to start narrowing Villain's range. Tells, speed and how V has been putting chips in the pot could easily affect the ranging.

Villain's range: Straight draws (Jx & 7x), overcards and Tx top my list, with T9 & 98 remaining combos. I suppose sets are possible, but I've seen nothing to point me in that direction, so it's discounted for now.

For Hero's combos, 9 hearts, 6 for the straight (1 for absolute nuts), 3 K's. The J is probably too dirty to be an out. Add that up to get about 33% equity, discount for dirty outs and 25% equity (I'm using table math, not exact).

I want more information and am torn on how to get it. Bet, or check? Probably going to check.

The $70 on the flop and effective stacks has set you up on an awkward spot now. I think check, $150 and shove are all likely about equal EV.

On the river if you hit a straight or flush then $150 half the time and shove the rest unless it's the 8h. If you catch a king then $150 half the time and check/call half the time. If you catch a jack then check/evaluate. It is a situation where you want to see a showdown but it is dirty often enough you don't want to pay a lot.

If you brick then mostly check/fold. The only way you can bluff is if you checked turn and villain checked behind. Then you can sometimes make a risky shove bluff but it is very villain dependent.

I really don't like flop at all. I'm checking, but with how much we bet, his range is so narrow that I don't think we have much fold equity (if any.) I would check here and hope for a check back.

I agree with sixsevenoff. Flop bet is too big. I'd prefer a check to this bet, although a half pot bet or so would have been OK. I'm checking now.

$30 pre is a pot sweetener. I'm surprised it went heads up.

Not really, besides Hero made it $40, others suggested more (which is a different conversation). With $20 in the pot, Hero's $10 call amount makes $30. That makes the raise to $40 a PSB (actually a touch more when you take out the drop).

I've never heard anyone legitimately say making a PSB preflop was going to make you go broke.

Not broke in a single hand, but still just making things huge on early streets where **** is so wide leads to flip-like spots and marginal stack offs. It’s a great way to take away your edge if you have one bc it takes options away too quickly. Trying to make money, not put in $110 w KQ on T989 which is happening bc of nonsensical sizing choices. Broke incoming.

Why trying to iso? Dealing w two blinds and a limp at this point pre. Let them call if they wanna play w us.

Well, I think it depends on stack depth and how the game is playing. I just don't think you're adjusting to the straddle and stacks. Besides, most of us know when to downbet, or check a street, which can compensate for bloated pots (among other things).

I was always of the impression we wanted to get stacks in when we believe we have the best of it. A larger preflop bet makes that easier.

$40 is 3 BB + 1 per limper — is that really “nonsensical”? Happy to disagree about whether we should have just overlimped, but that is an extremely standard preflop sizing.

Same on flop. Happy to discuss whether this should be cbet, but for the range we’re going to cbet on T98r, about 3/4 pot is very standard, no?

$40 is not bad, but $30 would be silly. I like $50 or $60 pre because it really helps narrow their ranges, and if button is defending straddle wide, I want more money in.

3/4 is not standard at all for me in this situation. My c-bet here is about half because this should hit him more than it hit us.

KJs is gonna make money no matter what the SPR is. I don't think our postflop edge is bigger than this hand's preflop edge such that we are afraid of making the pot "too big." We want to play a big pot against wide ranges and who cares if it leads to some marginal stackoffs? As if we won't have marginal stackoffs anyway.

Do you make it $10 over limpers in unstraddled pots?

Lol nobody wants to get beyond PF sizing in this PAHWM.

Well, it's an interesting point and seems to have an impact on the exact flop action. I woke up last night thinking about it. I still like Hero's sizing, but I can see where smaller could make the flop easier to play. Smaller could have also brought the BB in, making the pot larger. Larger bets could have taken the pot right there and defiantly change the SPR.

It's worth exploring.

Sounds like this may be a large dollar amount issue for you more than anything. Would you have a problem cbetting $14 at 1/2?

This spot for me (not really knowing gameflow) 30 accomplishes everything I need. Perhaps they flick in even wider, I have more room to punish (or limit losses) post, I think we also had an early limper here which is often a high chance for backraise and can still call a 3b, perhaps if they make it 90 as opposed to something that looks more like 50/165 and then we fold. Those last couple pieces are far less important but it all still matters bc I want them calling wide and playing pots with me now that we’re dealing with blind hands and a limper. I also don’t want to ‘play a big pot against wide ranges’ until I have a board to make that determination on, racing toward the bottom sizing here benefits everything I have in mind against this group.

But usually if you make it $30, everyone calls and now you are against two/three players with wider ranges instead of one, still with a big pot. I am actually shocked the BB folded for $30 more. I mean, if you want to play against three opponents with KJs and a $120 pot, then go for it.

And $50 might just get them all to fold, which is fine with me.

My 1/3 game often goes limp, limp, limp, $30, call, call, call, call w/o a straddle!

pre - should be 45-60. higher sizing encourages button fold by a sticky straddler, which is important.

as played, my first instinct is to check the turn vs unknown. im not sure a jam has much FE here, so likely calling a reasonable bet sizing? tough spot, flop sizing makes this extra difficult.

Anyway, on the turn, as played, I prefer a check. Mostly for pot control.

Imagine hoping they fold

So, winning ~$20 uncontested w/ KJs in a 1/3 game doesn't appeal to you? I will take it all day.