Back in Vancouver, 1/2 is the only game running at Edgewater. Game is pretty wild, and most stacks are 3-500 BB deep.

V1: Tanned 30 year old white guy, a mix of station and aggromaniac. First hand with him he limped, TAG raised to $12, I squeezed to $40 from SB, both call (he had $300). Flop 995ss, I cbet he calls, and then I shut down on 7s and 9x and he shows 44. He also raised to $16 utg with 4 callers, V2 goes all in for $88, he calls and so do two others. Flop is J75ddd and he ships for $275, gets called, and wins with 5x6d. Clearly willing to get it in light.

V2: Late 40s Indian guy, always buys in for $100. Overvalues 1 pair/top pair type hands, and will overbet with them - saw him raise to $150 after UTG opened for $15 and he showed QQ.

Hero: Mid-20s. I've been pretty quiet since both Vs got here, and my stack hasn't changed much. The only big hand I played was with V1 where I squeezed and gave up after the flop (I didn't show).

V1 has ~600, V2 has ~240, I cover.

The hand:

Straddle is on, folds to me in CO and I make it $25 with KhKc. V2 calls otb and V1 calls from BB.

Flop: 5c6s7s

V1 checks, I check, V2 bets $115, V1 calls. I jam???

I would just raise on the flop. Whenever I c-bet on a flop that low, I always get called since they think I missed and am c-betting.

I think the check-raise is too strong and will fold out most smaller pocket pairs, overcards, and single pair hands. Plus, by shoving you give better odds to draws since they'll get to see both streets if they call. Also, when you jam, your hand is totally face up as QQ-AA, though you'll still get called by some of the draws.

I think it's fine. With straddle, you're playing 120bb eff vs 1 guy and 50bb eff with the other guy. I think getting it in with 1 pair on this board vs V1 description is fine, however; Why did you check the flop?

I wouldve liked to see a flop bet but yes im jamming or folding based on my read. But given how V2s stack size, im leaning towards jam.

This is a bit of a tough spot. Good post.

I think you should have c-bet on the flop. You knew V2 likes to do this so by checking on the flop you put yourself in a bad spot for this very sceanrio to go down and now we are in a weird pinch of a decision. By betting the flop, he may push on you, at which point you can see what V1 does and go from there. Against V2 we are fine getting it in here given the low SPR. Against V1 we need to be careful. We are probably ahead but losing 3 buy ins on this flop would be disastrous. Id bet out on this flop...probably $80-$100. The check OTF was a critical error IMO.

As played, jeesh...idk. tough one definitely. Now you are gambling. I probably check raise enough to get V2 AI. If V1 goes over top, I fold. If a spade or another straigh card comes its real bad. How savvy is V1? Like is he going to be putting you on a hand or he is just playing his cards? How deep of a thinker is he? This hand has come down to nuances like this IMO and very difficult to navigate. I dont want to be putting 3 buyins into this pot with an overpair against V1.

I would have c-bet vs. these guys. As played, it might be weak, but I actually think I fold here and let them think I had AKo. This board is so ugly and so in their ranges.

IMO a bet here is better against these particular Vs in a vacuum, BUT V2 snapcalled pre and I felt he would stab if checked to. I obviously didn't expect him to bet so huge, but was planning to commit to his stack and x/r to put him all in (felt it was better to gii otf rather than bet and get called in both spots and then deal with ugly turns/rivers).

V1 has clearly shown he is here to gamble, so we can't give him too much credit. I was actually very happy when he called the $115, because I think he has a lot of 1 pair hands and weak draws. If he calls the jam I expect to be in pretty good shape, and if he folds then I pick up the dead money.

AP, If V1 folds would you commit to V2's stack?

Probably not. He's the one who overbet with QQ. What's he doing here? Just a terrible flop for KK against these Vs, even just V2 with this bet.

I would bet here unless you KNOW villain will bet when you check to him. I have no problem getting it in with these villains. V2 seems to look at his hand+board and if he has top pair+ he is in, so his range is definitely behind yours, especially after flatting bad aggros mondo bet. bad aggro guy isn't folding much of anything, and there is a ton of value to be had. GII

v1 range is, everything?

V2 range is draws, 88-QQ, top pairs

If your goal is to make the maximum amount of money, check-raising isn't the way to do it.

Here, V2's problem is he over-values overpairs. V1's problem is he calls too much. Easiest way to exploit either one of these people is to bet the living daylights out of KK. Bet it early and often.

The flop check-raise is an important play in limit; however it has very little utility in no-limit.

That lesson cost me a bundle of money, you get it for free. Enjoy!

It's not really a play I've used before (being the PFR and then x/r flop) but given my reads that V2 would bet and we could get the money in on the flop I would like to think it's ok. I think we'll get called lighter than usual in this spot particularly, because it looks more like a combo draw/AXss than a made hand IMO.

Results:

why did we check the flop?

and v2 bets 115 into 75? that is really weird.

I am not thrilled about getting it in on this flop but as played I think your jam is fine. But I would not check this flop , ever.