Hi all,

2/5. Fairly active table. There is a raise every orbit. I'm pretty new to 2/5 so unfortunately can't identify who's who. A couple squeeze spots came up and I'm wondering if I played them correctly. I bought in for the min $300. Hero should be perceived to be tightest at table. In all examples Vs have hero covered.

1. EP player raising about 35% of hands makes it $30. MP and BTN call. Hero has KQo in BB and $300 behind. Hero? Pot $90.

2. UTG middle aged Asian (few reads, has raised a couple times in the hour he's been here) makes it $20. Four callers. Hero in BB has A9dd and $500 behind. Hero? Pot $100.

3. MP fairly active MAWG makes it $20, BTN calls, SB 3! $100 (haven't seen him 3! once this session in a couple hours), hero in BB has QQ and $270 behind. Hero? Pot $140.

Thanks,
DT

1) Mediocre spot but probably slightly +EV.
2) Hell no. Shove of be folding this spot although people will often overcall with the price you’re getting.
3) 54 bigs pre. Probably just shoving and going with it but not the best spot.

Grunch:
1) Fold. Guy might be opening a lot, but still give some credit for where, and MP should be strong here too. Chances of getting through three sucks, and if called you are likely playing a dominated hand OOP in a low SPR pot.

2) Fold. All of the above, but more so.

3) Shove. Seems like a no-brainer.

1. If EP is really opening 35% of hands from all positions then shoving is best. But it's only marginally profitable. If EP has a tighter range from EP then from LP then a fold is better.

2. Squeeze is OK some of the time. This is an ABC squeeze spot where you can't squeeze every time it comes up or you are squeezing too often.

3. This is a shove for value but it isn't huge value after the tight SB 3 bet. Unless SB is super tight he should have enough AK/JJ to balance the times you run into AA/KK.

For a person who just moved to 2/5, Id fold all 3 of these. There are much more important basic things to be working on than high variance spots that may or may not be slightly +EV.

If you squeeze these type of spots and lose them, you wont be at 2/5 very long and will never get the chance to build from the basics that you need to play 2/5 as your main long term game.

If you squeeze these and win them, you will get out of the gates hot and think you know what you're doing which will result in you getting your ass handed to you at some point when you are over confidant and have never learned the basics.

These are plays that when done correctly can add a little to your win rate and make you a lot more dangerous to play against, but for now you shouldnt even be thinking about them IMO.

We should be squeezing the least often from the big blind because closing the action has a lot of value.

1. Shove
2. Call
3. Shove

Results:

1. hero made it $100 with KQo. everyone folded.

2. hero made it $100 with A9dd. initial raiser jammed. Hero folded.... hero decides never to 3! squeeze a relatively tight EP opener ever again.

3. hero jammed with QQ, got snapped off by SB but made quad Qs. deck probably saved me.

What should I be focusing on instead of looking for squeeze opportunities?

I like being dangerous to play against. That's encouragement!

Hand reading is #1, and you make more off that as stacks get deeper.

If you are playing 60bb deep at a loose, active table then you should be playing your hands just for straight up value rather than looking for bluffing spots.

Hand 1: With $90 in the pot and you having a stack of $300 you can just shove pretty wide as increasing your stack by 30% if they do ever all fold is such a huge overlay for the times you are called. KQ probably still marginal but any big aces and pairs can go in for sure.

Hand 2: 100bb deep and having to put in 3bb to close the action 5 way it's a call for any suited ace.

Hand 3: 54bb deep QQ has to go in. Given you are on the BB and the 2 players in for $20 will fold alot then again the ~$50 overlay on $270 is pretty significant.

2. Don't be results oriented OP. You can obviously call here but I think a squeeze will be more profitable given your tight image.

There is no reason for you to think you were ever behind with QQ when you get snapped off given your stack size.

Fold 1

Call 2

Raise 3

Because ep opener is active hand 1 is closer but sizing and hero having a somewhat short stack make this meh yo me

grunch

Hand 1: I don't mind a jam pre or a fold. Probably dislike calling the most even with best relative position. Would be fine with a call with KQs.

Hand 2: I would probably flat call and proceed postflop. Awkward stack size to either raise/fold or raise/call pre.

Hand 3: I'd jam it all it. Can't really see folding or calling there. Probably find a fold TT-/AQ or so. JJ/AQs would be rough ones.

1) Snap fold. We have KQo, and play the rest of the hand oop. Even if villain is opening 35% we are close to a flip some of the time and crushed most of the time. Squeezing here is silly, unless you beast post flop.

2) This one is close imo between call/fold. Especially if you're not in your element at $2/$5. I'd lean towards calling A9s, folding would be okay., raising A5s-A2s.

3) fist pump ship >>> Fold. Never flatting here. Ever.

I missed that we'd chipped up for hand 2. in that case...
This.

Did you get to see his hand in #3?

Folding is definitely fine and arguably the best play most of the time, but we have 60BBs and the pot is 24BBs before hero's raise, so shoving seems natural here if we squeeze, so postflop play is irrelevant.

I must have misread the stack sizes. Valid point.

Grunch

H1 i would fold but shove should be slightly +EV. Dont 3b like $130 or something, fold or shove

H2 100% std call, never ever squeezing

H3 shove but not thrilled

No he mucked and left the table in a hurry.

1.Fold. You have only 60 big blinds and a hand that doesn't play too well in a multi way pot. Why are you deciding to squeeze here? Are you jamming? If you're willing to take high variance lines, then you shouldn't let your stack get to 50 big blinds during a session or you're playing too high. Did you have success with light 3betting in 1/2? If not, I don't think it's the right time to start experimenting at a higher level where you can get wiped out quick.

2. Snap call. UTG a rather snug player only raised twice in an hour isn't someone you wanna get it in with if he 5bets and his range should be strong. You have a great multi way hand with 5 people already in the pot.

3. If you're thinking about folding here and not jamming 50 big blinds you're not ready to move up in stakes . Insta jam