Hero (covers) is early 30s WG reg, winning LAG image. Known in this room as one of the most aggressive players, and I've generally done very well in this room. Hero has been very active pre with 3betting but has generally had the goods.

V ($850ish): late 30s/early 40s WG, slightly loose pre, prefers to be the aggressor and I think he goes ABC when facing aggression.

HH of note if table was paying attention (v for thread head was not involved): UTG straddle on for $6, 6handed, young WG opened UTG+1 to $20. One caller on BTN. Hero 3bet KK no diamond in BB to $100. UTG+1 calls, BTN folds. Flop Qd Jd x. Hero bet $100, V raise to $350 (leaving $500 more or so behind), Hero tank folds.

OTTH

V opens to $25 in MP. CO calls. Hero 3bets red JJ to $100. V calls, CO folds.


Flop ($225): K T T


V checks. Hero?

I think a check behind is a decent option here. We are in way ahead/way behind spot against all his Kx or Tx,we are deep and villain has shown that he can raise us in 3 bet pots due to the hh you provided (even though he probably had it, but still).

If he is a type of player that converts to straight forward abc when he gets 3 bet like you mentioned, we get better information by checking behind to see what he does on the turn. If he bets, what sizing he chooses and those kind of considerations. We are not gonna be making any more money most of the time anyway with this kind of flop with JJ, so i am looking to try and get to showdown here,+ possibly getting some thin value on the turn or the river.

I'll assume you're on the button and that there is a straddle on (unless 8x is the standard open? We probably shouldn't even be 3betting JJ vs an 8x open hah but if he's doing 8x with still a "normal" range from MP then ya 3bet away!)

So with the straddle (or huge 8x open) you're not that deep effectively. Flop spot is pretty boring man. You can bet or you can check. Both are fine; it depends how you wanna construct it. Personally I'd bet my whole range 1/3 pot.

I like Petrucci's line with some thought. Use our position to gather more info and potentially do a delayed c-bet and gain value on a later street. Only hand we MIGHT fold out that we are behind is specifically QQ, so more of V's flatting range has us beat.

Is the straddle on? If not then I don't like the 3-bet vs 8x open(unless that's his standard size for entire range); if so then I like your 3-bet and the sizing.

As for the flop ... the more I think about it the more I like a c-bet, maybe ~$80 into the $220 pot.

Does anyone like checking back AA/AK here and going for two streets?

I don't think this villain is the same villain as the other 3-bet pot HH. I'm a huge proponent of checking back flops for deception/pot control/balance, but I just feel JJ is a bit vulnerable here and I'd rather choose hands where I'm not fearing overcards falling on the turn. Maybe AA/AK are better candidates for a check-back? I think if we fire a 1/3 c-bet here and villain calls we gain a lot of information and we're not playing a guessing game on the turn/river if he leads into us. Who knows, with that sizing he might even peel one off with 99/88/AQ. Thoughts?

Yes sorry, UTG straddle is on for $6, and this V is not the same V as the one in the HH. Posted HH because V is competent enough to pay attention to hands he's not in, but I have no clue whether he was following that hand closely. It had occurred maybe an orbit prior.

I typically just call preflop, but I'm passive like that. I don't think it's necessary to 3bet when we're so deep, would hate getting reraised (likely having to fold and passing up on all our setming equity), we're in position and can play postflop poker, there's relatively little money in the pot, JJ is going to see so many flops it hates and then what, etc. But that's me and plus I suck at deepstack.

I probably check back the flop. Is he really raise/calling AQ/AJ OOP? AJ combos are discounted. So with that in mind, we're mostly WA/WB here, imo, unless our plan is to fold out QQ with one bet.

GcluelessNLnoobG

I dont think a modest sized C-bet is bad here. Like, i just think check back is even better. Flop check doesent really give us any info, because vast majority of villains is checking their entire range to the preflop aggressor and especially in 3 bet pot.

If villain checks again on the turn, i am much more comfortable betting because he have told us alot more about his hand strength.

I might check back AK/AA some portion of the time too, especially against trickier villains.

Grunch

I bet 85. Charge any AQ, AJs, QJs, underpairs.
Folding to a raise OTF or a turn donk.

Fair enough. I just feel like I'd rather bet myself for my own price with a chance to take the pot down right now than check back and have to face a bet of villain's sizing choice on the turn. Obv if he checks to us on brick turn we feel very comfortable betting, but that won't always be the case. I actually feel like there are viable arguments for both checking and betting flop here.

And yes, against stabby villains I like a flop check-back sometimes with AA/AK, especially this deep where we are unlikely to get three streets of value.

+1. Petrucci on fire in this thread.

I used to cbet 1/3 with range here, but I think check w/ range is better since V is likely to play face up on turn by betting Kx or Tx and checking otherwise. A 1/3 bet could also allow V to steal on river if he peels with broadway gutters and it goes check/check on turn.

I like a flop check. You block AJ and AQ getting there gives you a boat so there are no draws you can get value from. Check and reevaluate on some turns.

Checking is fine except we're supposed to be this stud, winning LAG. Obvious move for a LAG is to bet out. Only hand that is checking this flop that has any strength is KK. Nobody is buying a LAG has KK. Check and you might as well give up on the hand.

Not sure if V is aware of Hero winning LAG image, so ...

I like a check since a large part of our 3-b preflop range is AK which would check back a good part of the time; going for value OTT/OTR. Unlikely V has a TX hand, and board is relatively drawless save for 4 combos of QJs.

Betting has no FE vs. QQ, folds lower pps. Does charge a hand like AQ to realize backdoor equity.