We bought into a $1/$3 game for $100. We've been folding for maybe half an hour (so we've seen maybe 10 hands). We've seen the two villains in the hand limp and then call a raise a couple times. We saw one of them call a small flop bet and then fold the turn. We saw one of them call relatively small bets to the river and muck their hand when the better showed AQ with an ace on the board.

The two villains limp, we're in the CO with QQ and we raise to 8bb. Blinds fold, both villains call.

Flop is K93r. 3 players, pot is 24bb (taking the blinds out to approximate rake) and we have 25bb behind. Villains check to us.

When the one overcard to my pocket pair is an A and there are two or more other villains in the pot, I don't put another chip in the pot, pretty much ever. For me to even CONSIDER putting another chip in the pot in that case I'd have to be heads up and have clear reads the villain will call with worse (i.e. if the board has a lot of draws on it and he might call me with a flush or straight draw). Even then, even though I know the percentages I tend to be chickenish. I'm pretty sure that the probability that at least one villain got dealt at least one ace on any given hand is 73%, and based on my limited experience at 1/2 and 1/3 tables, if anyone HAS an ace they're seeing a flop with it unless somebody 3-bets. So I pretty much expect every time I see an ace on the flop somebody has one.

When the one overcard to my pocket pair is a Q or a J, (i.e. when I have TT or JJ) I pretty much pretend it's not even there when there are only 1 or 2 other villains in the pot. 3 or more villains and I probably still put the rest of my stack in but I don't feel good about it. Of course, board texture plays a part in the decision (the more draws are on it the more I believe I'll get called by a draw), I'm just trying to keep the conversation simple. But seriously, suppose the board in the above example is Q93r instead of K93r and I have JJ or TT - any 9, any pocket pair 88 or below, KJ, KT, JT, T8, and even AK, AJ and AT might call.

For me, when the one overcard is a K it's a difficult decision. 1/2 and 1/3 villains aren't as likely to automatically see a flop with a K as they are with an A but there's still a pretty good chance they're seeing one. Is it enough to automatically abandon ship? What should my thought process be with QQ or JJ when a K flops?


Hope the question made sense.

Checking back the flop isn’t giving up on the hand. By checking you give your opponent a chance to make a mistake with Kx by betting too small or checking the turn.

Bet 4bb like you would with your entire range on this dry king high flop that strongly favors you. You can definitely get called by worse and deny equity.

They can’t start attacking you, you still have monsters in your range and you could stack off with QQ against some villains (probably not these 2.)

With just a PSB left against these jokers, I just jam at this point.

One thing to realize is that not all PSBs are created equal. In a run-of-the-mill reasonably capped BI game, a $1000 PSB would only get called by better because of the hugenous of the $$$$. But a $75 PSB can go in pretty damn easy in most 1/3 NL games; I'd easily expect calls from any pair (and perhaps even some Ax) for this lol $ amount. Meanwhile we protect our equity when ahead (which we often are).

GcluelessshortstackingnoobG

Neither of these would be mistakes, imo (and is something I would consider against a likely underpair in order to entice a river call for remaining stacks).

Gnothatin',justsayin'G

+

Check the flop, fold to a turn jam.

If they check, check back the turn, and now comfortably play the river. If they check to you, jam/small valuebet. If someone jams or bets, evaluate and call.

Remember, you're playing against two opponents, so give their ranges some credit on a Kh board. They likely have a lot of hands that include a King.

Nice to see you again gobbledy! Keep rocking the footnotes Gyouknewwhathashtagswerebeforehashtagsknewwhathash tagswereG

I agree that this is a spot I would bet small. The limpers will call a small bet with hands like 9x, pocket pairs, and gutshots. I've seen people call in this spot with Ace high and a BDFD or even like 78s with a BDFD. I would not expect to get check-raised on this board.

I don't think jamming the flop for pot or checking back would be big mistakes. I definitely wouldn't be looking to completely abandon ship here though. I think this is a pretty good spot for you.