Hey all, just getting back into playing, I was mpmpjuicem on here, when I was playing online, lost all that info so I had to create a new account...

The game is 1/3 with a $200 max buy in.

SB (250) gambler
BB (118) hero
Utg (75)
Utg + 1 (350)
Utg +2 55)
MP (170)
MP +1 (175) no reads
CO (450)
BTN (230)


Pretty soft table, lots of limping preflop, usually getting at least 2 callers when raising after limpers, this table loves to see flops! And generally fold on flop or turn. Generally people are playing there cards...

the SB is a gambler and isn't really hiding the fact, goes all the way to the river and then will fold if he doesn't catch his 2 pair, flush, etc...has happened multiple times.

MP +1 is newer to the table, he's Asian, but doesn't have the typical gambler vibe you see sometimes. He's been limping a lot and only raised one pot on the flop and took it down. He's been at the table for maybe a full orbit.

Utg calls,
Utg +1 folds
Utg+2 calls
MP calls
MP+1 calls
CO calls
BTN calls
SB calls
Hero AhQh checks option; I wanted to raise, but I knew the entire table would likely call. I didn't feel like bloating the pot oop and thought checking was best to hide if I hit the flop big. Bad or good thinking?

Flop (pot 24)

2h 4h 7d

SB bets $10
BB (hero) calls
Utg folds
Utg+1 folds
Utg+2 folds
Mp raises to $35
It folds back to me...

So my thinking is her I can't really call, to me it's fold or shove? I have roughly $100 left. I'm assuming I look like I'm drawing or just seeing where I'm at with my flop call. I don't feel like I'm getting payed off if I do hit a flush on the turn.

I'm thinking he's doing this with combo draws, sets, 88+ maybe even A7, or 76. All likely something he limped in with...I'm not terrible against that range so I'm thinking of shoving and hoping I have a little fold equity?

Any and all thought preflop and on the flop are greatly appreciated!! Thanks 2+2

You have 40BBs in a limped pot OOP. Pump it big (whatever will get 1 or 2 callers) and shove basically any flop.

AP, flatting flop donk is OK, as you want to keep dominated draws in, but this getting raised is a dream scenario. Shove all day with your NFD and overs. If you hit on turn, it's likely killing your action, and you are in great shape against his range.

You don't have much FE with your short stack here, but you have lots of pot equity.

Yeah, checking your option here is very bad. You can easily raise it to ~30-35 with a plan to shove any flop. I doubt the entire table is calling that. If they are, I hope you can handle variance, because this is a really profitable table.

As played, shove. You're fine against Villain's range, and if you flat you're likely going to c/f most turns.

Shove. your hands equity with fold equity, I think you're good to get it in.

So the consensis is to raise this pre? Should I be raising 88+ in this scenerio also? Since I'm just getting back into playing I should be comfortable stacking this off since my low bb? The game is a $200 max buy in, so in general I should be ok with getting it in with these types of hands?

If I did raise it up preflop to 30 or 35 am I calling a shove if someone limp re-raises?

Yes
Yes
Post? Yes, definitely. Shoving would actually be better post if we were deeper, though, due to more FE
Assuming we're talking about NFD +overs, Hell yes!
No. L/RR is usually KK/AA only in LLSNL.

You're not just getting it in it's the way that it goes in that makes it profitable. If you shove here you get fold equity also (basically it's a semi-bluff). Raising preflop makes the pot on the flop larger, which makes it easier, and more correct, to get the money in the middle. If you raise to 30 pre flop and somebody shoves that's a fold imho. Again the raise is to narrow your opponents range(gather info) and get the pot bigger so you can get the money in earlier.

That completely makes sense. I think the main reason I didn't want to raise preflop is I felt like I had to fold if it gets reraised (happened on a few occasions at this table already) ... I have a tendency to be on the nit side and am desperately trying to get that line of thinking out of my head.

Also saw you were from Seattle. I live in Washington also, thanks for the responses

Thank you too Garik!

When I talked about stacking off with these types I actually meant pre-flop. That was cleared up though that I should be folding those hands if it's reraised back to me...

In the hand I did shove the flop...probably not as fast as I should've, but i shoved

I like 24-30/fold pre and leaving 3/4 to a full PSB for the flop depending on how many callers you get. Your hand is very strong for 36 blinds and if you can't rebuy you may get very short by the time the obvious double up happens

We're only playing 40bbs here. The shorter we are, the more we fastplay TP hands because we're totally fine with stacking off postflop when we hit.

I would raise to $35 preflop. If that takes things down, fine, we just shipped 7bbs uncontested with A high. If anyone calls, my plan would be to shove any flop (perhaps slowplaying a super dry flop if I flop TP).

As played, I think I just call the flop. We have a fairly monster hand, but I think we're cool with everyone and their grandmother calling behind us and simply trying to hit our hand. I would then shove over the raise. We should have some FE added to our great hand equity; we're only doing poorly against sets and even then we're never drawing dead. Also, an orbit isn't much to base reads on, but this is the second time this guy has raised the flop in an orbit; that's actually a lot, so aggro would be a fair assumption.

GcluelessNLnoobG

2 reasons to raise PF ... PUNISH THE LIMPERS!! ... regardless of holdings. You also indicated that most are folding Flop anyway so get some dead chips in there as you have a very nice holding and may need those 'extra' chips in there to make a shove like this 'more reasonalbe' AP.

You didnt want to bloat the pot due to your stack size .. Thats exactly why you bloat the pot with this type of holding, so you dont have to make decisions on Flop or much less the Turn. It's fold or shove into a decent pot.

Please also top off ... at 1/3 (max $200??) the pots are bound to get 'big' often, so you want to take as much advantage when you do hit. GL

Everyone seems to want to raise here and I don't agree. At these stakes it makes much more sense to me to put chips in the middle when I know I have the advantage or can manipulate the advantage in spots where I know the opponent will make the most mistakes, and to me, that's after the flop.

The amount you have to raise pre to get to a spot you'd like, is more than AQ is worth to me. I like the check and putting yourself in a situation just like this, for one it greatly limits the amount of variance. The check pre is good to me, the flat call on the flop though is wrong, your checking here pre so you can build a big pot on a big flop for you. Then you flop one of the dream flops for your hand and you miss your opportunity to build the pot.

I know it is hurting me...but I not able to top off at this time. I'm just getting back into playing and don't have any where near a proper bankroll yet. When I play I am only bringing one buy in...it's almost like a "shot take" I guess...

I'm playing maybe once a week while I'm trying to get rolled properly...

^this fact is probably causing me to be a bit on the tentative side? I should be raising these situations by the sound of it and am being too passive in these spots...

I just don't have much too handle the variance at the present time. So if I can't play optimally should I consider not playing every week and just playing occasionally until I rolled?

If you only have one bullet then you have to go strickly by the math when you play. You are priced into a call here for the $25 with 2 overs and nut flush draw. Call and evaluate the Turn.

I generally bring 3 bullets to play with. I might take an extra chance or 2 on the first bullet but generally play quite snug with the 2nd and ultra-snug with the 3rd to try and grind my way back to even for the session.

How long are your sessions? You wouldve had $75 behind if you somehow were forced to fold on the Turn. That is plenty to fold your way to a PF all-in type of hand. What are you going to do with an Ace on the Turn? Someone may have Arag 2 pair now ...

One bullet is a tough road to take ... I would suggest having at least 2 bullets but that is a long time between sessions for you at that rate. GL

Don't play this game at all until you're properly rolled for it. It's not just that you can't play optimally, it's that you ARE going to bust at some point. That's just basic bankroll management...

I generally play 3 hours or so. The 3 sessions I've had to this point have been all 3+ hours, (I'm down $35 in all to date in those) I am getting off of work and driving 35 minutes to the casino. So by the time it gets to 1am or 2 am (depending I when I get a seat) I'm generally pretty tired and am not concentrating the best so I leave.

I've played 3 times in the last week in a 1/2 because I've been basically even. I have $400 in extra poker $ to this point, so that's why I generally only bring 1 buy in. I kinda don't wanna steam off a buy in if the 1st one goes quick. I used to play a lot live and was rolled. I generally brought 3 buy ins also...

I'm playing pretty tight and waiting for good spots, trying to avoid problem hands and get my $ in good...

Don't check your option PF. I think Big raise ($30 or so)>>>Jam>>>>>Small raise>>>>check.

You can't really do anything but jam here. Raiser is probably never folding, but we have enough EV against any reasonable range to get our smallish stack in given the pot size.

Disagree. If you are putting all your profits into your roll, you have a definitely non-zero chance of busting. Plus, you're replenishing your roll weekly anyway, so it isn't that big a deal if you bust. The opportunity cost of not playing is high. If you bust your "roll" 6 times and then stick, that will still get you to a realistic roll faster than just saving it up a BI a week.

I never looked at it like that all the profits do go into the roll...I guess I need to stop being afraid of going bust and play like I know I can.

Only playing only once a week is also letting me study a lot more which has really helped let me get my mind back into the poker mentality.

Thank you all for the info all!

Yeah, I didn't word my comment correctly. I meant that no matter how nitty someone plays, if he's always sitting with one BI, he'll sometimes lose it. I was operating under the assumption of keeping the poker roll and the life roll separate, but yes, the picture definitely changes if lots of life money can be transferred over.