I used to have virtually no flop c/r range as the PFR, but after a friend suggested looking into the play with certain hands on certain boards against certain villains, I have been really loving the play and think it's added a new complexity to my game.

I've long had a good c/c range as the PFR against decent or aggressive villains to protect my checking range.

I played the following 1/2 hand last week and am curious people's thoughts generally on the play and then specifically this situation.

V1 ($400): MAWG, seen him a lot at this poker room but few hours with him. Seems okay but not overly aggressive and perhaps rockish.

V2 ($275): 70ish WG, but aggressive and can be splashy. Loves to claim orphan flops. V1 seems aware of V2's tendencies.

Hero ($600): 30ish WG, should have a winning TAG image to both V1 and V2.


V1 limps, Hero raises KQ to $12, V2 calls OTB, blinds fold, V1 calls.

Flop ($35): T95 V1 checks, Hero checks, V2 bets $25, V1 calls, Hero raises to $110 with plan to jam all non-T turns.

Thoughts? Do you guys incorporate this into your game? I primarily am using the play right now as a semi-bluff as in the hand above, but if need be I could also add hands like 99 and 55 for balance I suppose. I like this play as a semi-bluff because even if it checks through good things can happen like when the flush comes in and no one expects that PFR to have flush since flop was checked.

Yes, certainly a valid strategy to incorporate. Just have to be careful on frequencies.

But yes it's the right idea to do this vs the V2 type you described.

I tend to use this strategy a lot when I have a really good value hand or draw on a board that does not favor the PFR. It works well against thinking/aggressive opponents but I would be wary of going for the check raise against passive fish.

For example, in a 2/5 game I raise 44 EP, standard reg BU calls, BB calls. Board 489dd. I shouldn’t hit this board very often with my EP range and standard 2/5 regs bet often when the PFR checks. This is a great situation for the c/r.


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I don't x/r as the pfr often. I usually find myself doing it more vs sticky table captain wannabes and people without a fold button. On this particular flop, I probably wouldn't x/r vs decent players because they'd know I don't have many strong value combos. 6 sets, 3 top-twos, most of which would certainly bet this board in the first place. Vs the players described, you probably get a lot of folds here and given our equity with FD 2 overs + gutter, the x/r isn't a bad play. If V1 calls though, I'm checking all turns that don't give us a flush or straight. We're deep and that player type never calls us flop without 2p+.

Good thoughts. With this specific hand and given that V1 knows V2 I thought his range was really weak because I thought he would be raising all two pair plus hands.

just bet the flop yourself imo.