hey all

my first year of cash i focused alot on preflop hand selection and patience. this was profitable....But.... i realized my postflop game was poop. looking to improve, so i left some open ended hands below. Looking for feedback please!!

i will follow up tomorrow with how they played out and results.

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Both hands against same V. 30's WG. Both of us relatively new to table. $300 effective. So far seen V bet turn/river when checked to twice in LP. Got called and showed 6-high. OTTH

{{Hand#1}}: V opens EP $15. Hero calls LP with JJ. Blinds fold.

Flop => [$30] K43r

V bets $20. Hero calls.

Turn => [$68] K438r

V bets $35. Hero ???



{{Hand#2}}: H opens EP $12 with ATss. V calls LP. Blinds fold.

Flop => [$26] Ks85xx

H checks. V bets $15. H ???

Hand 1: Knowing little about villain's play I would give this up on the turn. Hero represented calling with KX on the flop and villain continued. Villain will have a bluff sometimes but hero has no idea how often yet and calling is clearly the best option only against the most aggressive bluffy types.

Hand 2: Generally ATs shouldn't be opened in EP. If table is particularly tight it can be workable once you have a read on opponents but it's too marginal from way OOP against unknowns. On the flop either c-bet yourself or check/fold. Villain can easily be taking a stab because you checked but you don't have anything to play back at him with.

H1:

I'm cool with preflop/flop.

Against this guy, I'm probably considering calling the turn and evaluating river. Not the greatest of spots.


H2:

I think ATs plays much better as a limp in EP than a raise, especially with this guy in LP having position on us (always be aware of who is in LP and lean towards not building big pots OOP to difficult / non-ABC players especially with mediocre hands), imo.

I probably lean more towards a cbet and just hope that wins it and we can move on. Checking obviously lets him bet worse, but then what's our plan on later streets when we likely remain UI? It just continually builds a bigger and bigger pot for him to continue stealing. As played, I probably just give up now because I don't think things are going to get any easier; against one-and-done-ers we can more consider a call here.

GcluelessNLnoobG

Thank you QJ and GG for your input >>

{{Hand#1}}

Turn => [$68] K438r

V bets $35. Hero calls.

River => [$138] K4389

V checks. Hero checks.

<< V refuses to show so I flip and am good. I thought about folding because I did not want to face a 3rd barrel, but I suppose it comes down to live reads at that point? >>




{{Hand#2}}

Flop => [$26] Ks85xx

H checks. V bets $15. Hero raises $52. V folds.

<< Figured he would give me credit for K or better, but if called, I can barrel on any A or spade. Check/call T. But do we just check/give up on the rest of the deck? Maybe better to not get into this spot to face these questions...but against the player figured we could navigate with some success >>

Hand 1 I think I'm good with a fold. Generally when we have a bluff catching hand we have to find folds on each street, so in a vacuum I think JJ is a flop call/turn fold vs this bet sizing.

Hand 2 I'm usually c-betting this flop. You did mention he likes to bet when checked to a lot, so if I do check this flop, it's not to fold to a $15 bet. I'd probably call and look to x/r any turn card that I pick up some semi-bluff equity on (any spade, Q or J), and probably call down a T or A.

Against most players (especially really poor players who we are concerned about keeping happy and at the table) I'm fine with tabling our hand first in H1 even though we don't have to. Against dicks (and someone who doesn't want to show even though it is clearly their turn and we're stalling are dicks) / players we're not too concerned about keeping happy or at the table / those we'd like to collect info on / etc., I'd make him show first in as pleasant as way as possible (likely laughing and smiling and saying "ha, either muck or show, I don't want to show my hand either!").

While the check/raise worked in H2, it's pretty much just bluffing with the best hand mostly (building way too big a pot OOP) and these small wins will likely be obliterated by the big losses when he calls in position.

GcluelessNLnoobG

Hand 1 I probably play it the same as you 3 out of 4 times, and fold OTT the other time.

Hand 2, this is a good flop to be CBetting on, however checking is fine as well. The check raise is a strange line though and seems kind of bluffy vs. this opponent. There's no reason to c/r any big hand, as the board is relatively dry.
I know the C/R worked, but against a more savvy opponent, you may find yourself OOP on the turn in a bloated pot.

Unless I'm playing a Loose Aggro Donk, I can't think of many scenarios where I would C/R a flop HU. I dunno maybe with some 12 out combo draw?