Long-time lurker, first post.

3/5 live, stack sizes vary form 40BB to 400BB

Pre-flop: I hold KsQx UTG+2 and I raise to $30. Five people at this generally loose table call and I jokingly complain that nobody respects my raises. Super tight blinds fold and I check the flop blind.

Flop ($152): 68Qsss. Checked to a tight MP who bets $120.

Fold, fold, fold, and it's down to me with one person after who looks like he's folding. Bettor has $200 behind and I have him covered.


What's my line of action here? I don't think I can fold... but Poker Stove has me anywhere from 30% to 60% based on what range I put Villain on. It's probably closer to the 30% than the 60%.

So the question is this: do I call or shove? And if I do call, what do I do for non-spade turns?

why on earth would you check flop?

This now puts hero in a super tough spot. And i would have to say that if i messed up like this, i prolly would fold. I have nothing to go on now, am OOP and im not going to compound mistake after mistake.

Please don't ever check the flop blind, especially as the preflop aggressor. I can't imagine why in the world you would do that.

Assume you call the flop. If a blank comes on the turn, and villain shoves (after you presumably check), are you calling? It looks like you have to: $200 to see $600 with top pair and 2nd nut flush draw. If you're calling down already, might as well shove. You might have the slightest fold equity. Also, if he has a baby flush or a set, you get paid off if you shove and the turn brings a spade, while you may not get paid if you just call. All these reasons lead to shove >> call.

Welcome. Your avatar looks like a cross between John Juanda and Zulu from Star Trek. I'm sure it's some celebrity I've never heard of tho.

As mentioned, you don't want to check flop blind, especially being the aggressor in early position. At this point I shove tho with these stack sizes. There's already $270 in the pot and villain has $200 behind. It's close tho. You have zero fold equity here.

Ship

That's not getting paid off, that's called 'getting lucky'.

As for the hand, with zero reads I might just shrug and ship, but if the guy gives me the inclination he's rock-solid then a fold isn't terrible.

Don't check blind. As played, I'm not folding so you might as well shove since you might not get paid if a spade hits.

Thanks for all the input.

I neglected to mention that this was one of this "friendly" live games where everyone was rich and/or drunk enough to always straddle and check the flop blind. I didn't want to be the one nit that didn't check blind and be the party-pooper that everyone targets.

I ended up shoving because I put a lot of As in Villain's range (is this too optimistic?) and he showed bottom set before I sucked out.

It's not bad at all based on gameflow, I think the general point people were trying to get across is that this is a shove/fold spot, not a shove/call spot.

shove. He could have a flush draw, set, TPxK, etc etc. Your equity vs his range is close enough to justify a call and it is more +EV then folding and definitely more +EV then calling.

You can play "friendly" poker or play smart poker, but you can't do both. One makes you money and the other doesn't. Personally, I like to make money.

In that scenario humoring them and checking blind IS making money, DUCY?

Raising KQo in EP is a great way to go broke IMO