1/2 NLH, full ring, Hero $250, Villain $200 is new.

Hero in EP w/ 99 raises to $12, folded to Villain who 3bets to $25, Hero calls.

Flop ($53) 852
Hero checks, Villain bets $30, Hero calls.

Turn ($113) 7
Hero checks, Villain bets $50, Hero calls.

River ($213) 3
Hero checks, Villain AI $95, then says Hero must have 99. Hero?

Hero's play too passive? Does Villain show up w/ AK here or a higher pp? Pls critique.

I don't think this guy ever has AK here. Too bad you have no reads.
I would've bet/fold the flop. Live 3 betting ranges are generally super tight. Plus you are raising in EP and that plays a factor if he has any clue.

It looks like he is just straight value towning you and the way you played it that's about exactly where I'd put you at as well.

As played fold river.

I think I would have raise/fold the flop and if the villain called check fold the turn.

Also what position did the 3bet come from?

No reads since that was one of the 1st hands he played. Villain was in LP.

You are never completely without reads. How old is he, what is he wearing, how are his chips stacked, how does he act at the table etc? If I'm up against an unknown villain here though, I'm just going to assume a range of JJ+, AK and call his small reraise, setmine, and then fold on this flop to his cbet.

IDK about the flop, but on the turn I think c/c is your worse option in nl. Are most Villians firing 2 bullets with AK with that type of board? Unlikely. So either donk bet or c/r ott as a semi-bluff. As played fold the river.

fold flop

One more thing. Raising 6 BB is too much as an EP open imo. So maybe repping a set of 7's would be impossible because you may not raise that much with smaller pairs. Thus he had a perfect read on you having 99.

About a pot size Reraise preflop from villain on early position raiser and you just called. That action plus check calling the turn is usually either a small to middle pair or ace x hand that missed.

The only information you have is the preflop Reraise from the villain. That and his pretty standard betsizing seems more like he wants your action.

This is a situation where if you felt you were ahead after the flop you should have 3 bet for info right there. With so many overs that kill your betting action on later streets I would have done that. It also fits in with your early position preflop raise and call. At least it defines your hand a little bigger and forces villain on a decision.

If he called my turn three bet then I'm just check folding the river.

As played I'm just going to fold the river. Because i respect the real preflop reraise coupled with the later 1/2 pot size bets. New lags at the table prefer to flash more coin and be bully then this approach.

If you got to showdown I'm guessing he has 99, 10 10, or JJ. Perhaps even a smaller pp that made a set.

Correction: meant if he called my FLOP 3bet then I'm check folding turn.

^^^ a flop re-raise isnt a 3bet.

The raise is fine. Live at this level don't look at pre flop raises the same way online players do. I beat this drum all the time on here, we need to be raising more pre in 1/2nl. OPs raise is fine...

As played c/r flop. If called c/f turn. If V rr then snap fold. 1/2nl pre 3bets are almost always QQ-AA, AK.

Got some great responses here. Thx ppl.

check raising seems bad....your raising to say 90 to win...83 + 90 so you need him to fold...52% of the time...(i suppose you could check raise smaller, min requieres about 42% flods.....)..

If his range is AK QQ+ he folds ak he has 16 combo of ak and 18 combo of qq+

so he folds 16/ 34 or 47% and that does not even discount ak wihch he might not 3 bet or cbet having missed....

A half pot donk bet seems to make more sence...say 25 into 53... need to work only 32% and is much more likely to work (even given that he might float)...

Without reads folding pre flop, or calling to set mine (close) and check folding is probably the best plan...

Yet another really tough situation because of no reads. I say take the safe route (c/f flop w/o set) until you get some reads on the guy. Are you new to the table too? If so I'd take the limp/mine line preflop too.

I agree that $12 is fine in a 1/2 game, that raise just doesn't phase anyone. I'm convinced that anyone who critiques these type of bet-sizing is just an online player posing. Dgiharris, keep beating that drum.

Nothing wrong with folding 99 preflop in EP.

Then what is a 3bet on the flop?

Given no reads, would it be better to 4bet pf or c/r on flop? I guess the latter?

Readless, a 4-bet pre is a total spew. The real question IMO is flop b/f or c/r.

i think id rather fold turn folding flop is too weak if villain could be c-betting

I'm folding to the cbet on the flop, it's too thin for me