there is some similarity between two hands from my home game so i hope it's ok i'm posting them in one thread.

my image is of a competent, sometimes aggressive, player. i cover my opponents.
game was 7 handed, both hands were at the beginning of the session.


Hand 1:

0.5/1 NL

UTG+1 (135)
Hero (BTN)

Hero is dealt 89.

UTG+1 raises to 5, folds, Hero raises to 15, folds, UTG+1 calls 15

UTG+1 and i play a lot together, know each other well and play aggressively when HU. his opening range and continuation range are quite wide. i 3bet in order either to steal the pot right there or to play pot in position with the initiative and use the advantage i think i have in post flop play.

Flop (25) 8,9,10

UTG+1 checks, Hero bets 20, UTG+1 raises to 60, Hero ??

UTG+1 can do this move with a lot of hands. i'm pretty confident i have the best hand and i'm looking to extract the maximum value. i'm debating between calling and hoping he shoves the turn or shoving right now by myself. only hands he might call me with that i have beat are JJ/QQ (he would probably 4bet pre KK/AA) or some kind of combo draw. problem with just calling to induce is that i won't like most of the turn cards.


Hand 2

0.5/1 NL

MP (200)
Hero (CO)

Hero is dealt A8.

folds, MP raises to 5, folds, Hero calls, folds

i think playing suited aces when i'm deep is +EV especially if there were additional callers and MP is tight and straight forward.

Flop (10) 8,9,A

MP bets 5, Hero raises to 15, MP raises to 45, Hero ??

because my image is relative loose i think there is a good chance she will be doing this with AK/AQ. if i push she might call me with that believing i'm on a draw. she would probably play a set the same way though.


would appreciate comments on PF, flop, and plans for next streets. thanks!

bumping hoping this thread gets some love.

Hand 1:

I'm not a fan of 3betting this hand preflop. As played, this is another one of those spots where you're either drawing to 4 outs or fading a ton of stuff. Given stack sizes and what's already in pot I'd go ahead and shove here but I'm wouldn't be thrilled about it.


Hand 2:

If you think she'd 3-bet AK/AQ here then go ahead and jam; if she shows up with a set of 9's oh well. If you're going to play for stacks now's the time to get it in as there are way too many scare cards that can show up on the turn.

Tom1975 pretty much summed it up.

Hand 1:
I'd just push probably. Way ahead or way behind. Given the history between the two of you, his raise could be a lot of things. Push and kick a puppy when he flips over a set or straight.

Hand 2:
Same deal, all in. If your image is loose, they are probably assuming you have junk, and they might have only MP, or TP, and this is a good time to stand up to you (obv not).

The hands are pretty much the same thing. Two pair, facing a raise when you bet the flop and the board is pretty draw heavy (more so hand 1). Same deal with both, way ahead or way behind. All in seems like the only option unless the players are like uber tight.

This. Super wet boards.

Hand 1: I believe you shove here. I think you are ahead of most hands. I doubt he has QJ, I believe he would have only called. A set would worry me more but to it sounds like hes making this raise to find out where he is at. More than likley a pair of 10s or overpair. Possibly Jx of clubs.

Hand 2: Shove as well. Smells like AK/AQ.