1-2 NL Holdem

V1, UTG, middle aged Eastern European, seems like a loose player, but in the big pots he got involved in he has showed the goods. Definitely no maniac but has high VPIP. Has won a few pots already and has about 600 in front.

V2 , Cutoff, Middle aged Asian, seems tight to me. Has about 300 in front.

Hero picks up Ad-Qs in the Big blind with about 200 in front.

V1 limps, V2 limps, small blind and all other players fold.

Hero bets $13 to open, V1 calls and so does V2.

($40)

Flop comes:

Ah-Kc-Jc.

I figure this is a pretty good spot for Ace queen but there is a lot of danger. 2 pair is possible, straight and some combo of flush and pair or flush and straight draw.

Hero is first to act as the BB and should bet how much?

What is a normal open in that game? I'd usually open that, plus 1 BB for each limper and one for being OOP. So in my old 1/2 game where $12 was the normal open, I'd make it $18 pre.

AP, on that flop I like either a large c-bet (at least 3/4 pot) as a b/f or a check as a c/c. If I check and it checks through, I'll bet most turns, though if it completes a lot of draws, it's likely a b/f.

I would say that the range of 8-20 is a normal open and has repped a wide range of hands with the average being around 15.

Pre is too small IMO if standard open sizes are to $10 or $15. I’d open to $15 or $20 factoring in the limps.
Don’t open to non-multiple of 5 dollar amounts like 12,13, etc, in general. Makes more work for the dealer if they have to make change for players who call with $5 chips. Slows the game down.
Check flop mostly.
In general we should be doing a lot of checking from OOP, especially with a marginal hand like AQ on this board that is just hoping to see a cheap showdown.

Like others said. Size up pre. Maybe $20+. As played, I'd bet flop for ~$30. Any Ax combo is going to call, FDs will call, maybe some Kx hands call for that much too. If we start betting larger, I can see some of those FDs and weaker pairs folding. I'm not sure why people are getting MUBSy already. This is a great flop for our range as well as specific holding. For the times we are beat, we're not going to lose any more with bet/fold lines vs check/calling.

Preflop: Raise should be the standard raise plus two limps, so if the standard raise is 12, preflop should be 16.

Flop: AQ is one of the best starting hands, also a trouble hand because it can be tough to play out of position. (As an OMC, in a tight-aggressive game, I fold AQ UTG). I agree this is a wet flop that's good for you given the passive preflop action. Yes, because the Vs limped-called pre, the vast majority of the time they have medium-low Axs, pairs or suited connectors. I don't see these players limp-calling with AJ+ or KJ. The only hand you really fear is QT, and if a V has that, you're going to lose some money.

A half pot bet gives V2 almost the correct pots on any draw if V1 calls, so you need bet on the high side, around 30, maybe a pot-sized bet since you're happy to take the pot down now. Fold to a raise. If a V calls, check a club on the turn, and fold to a bet. It sucks playing out of position, but people at 1-2 generally don't bluff, especially open-limpers. Bet the turn on a brick, fold to a raise. If a V calls your bet on the turn, check the river unless you hit a T or a Q. On the river, I think it's a sigh-fold to a bet.

Agree pre is too small. I bet $30 on flop. Make them pay a little for another card and maybe they will call w/ a worse A. I'm not sure I fold to a raise unless you think they never raise a draw. Maybe fold to a raise from V2 -- just not sure about V1.

Turn depends on too much -- you should have an idea of what to do depending on flop action and turn card, but I'm not typing it all out

Raise pre $25-$30, $13 is way too small...We are just bloating a pot oop when we do this because people don't often limp-fold to $13.

I would just bet $15 otf and bet bigger on the turn when the flush isn't completed, middle or bottom cards don't pair, and four to a straight doesn't come.

Ok so I bet $25 on the flop. Both players called. Turn is the 7s

Hero?

(Please put pot on each street and it helps if you put the entire hand if you want a PAWM.)

So, pot is like $110, and you have ~$160 behind? I'd bet pretty big and let them know you are committed -- maybe $60 - $70. Otherwise, just check

pre is fine. a pot sized raise is $9 so I would go with a dealer friendly $10. Also you are not opening, because two players have limped. You are just raising.


I like a small flop bet here. $10 to $15. Something that can be easily called by hands that we beat.

I would probably bet $80 ott, SPR is awkward, but I don't want to get a hero fold from weak Ax. We have to shove flush completing rivers though.

Agree that SPR is awkward. For me, the key read is how often will Vs, probably V1 more than V2, bet when checked to OTT? If I’m expecting them to bet, then I’d x/jam. If not, I’d consider jamming here to deny equity. It’s a pretty gross spot tbh. A big problem with our spot is that we have a pair and a gut shot but the board is super coordinated and almost half the deck (e.g. any club, K, Q, or J will make us hate our hand.

Ultimately, I think I much prefer checking turn and reevaluating river if it checks through. The problem with jamming is that hands we’re beating probably can’t call, but I think betting small is the worst option because it pot commits us like a jam but without the fold equity.