Hey all,

I have been thinking about this hand quite a bit, and I think I should have played it differently. Eager to hear thoughts. This was live at a local card room.

Hero UTG +1 with KQ

Villain on Button.

To note this is on the 2nd blind level, villain has accumulated a decent stack already just from winning a few decent sized pots, none to showdown. Through what effectively seemed like just over-betting so ridiculously at the early stage that no one wanted to bust first. I'm just estimating stacks here.

Starting stacks: 10,000

Hero: Around 15,000

Villain: Around 25,000

Hero opens UTG +1 for 650

Folds to Villain: Flats

Heads up.


Flop comes K82

Hero bets about 950, Villain reraises to 2100, Hero calls.

Turn comes 3

Hero checks. Villain bets about 2700. Hero calls.

River: J

Hero checks, Villain bets 17,000. Hero Folds.


Reflecting on this, I think I should have check raised the turn. Or potentially just gone all in right there with the 2nd nut flush draw (on turn). Now thinking about this, I really expect his button range to be quite wide, especially after just "bossing" people around with his stack in the beginning. I'm curious to hear your thoughts of what you put him on. Realistically, I think either KJ, K10, K9 or even 89. I think this guy is the type of player who would be 3-betting 88s on the button. A part of me is leaning towards actually calling the river over bet. Thanks and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.


-Boris

Hey Man, this is the kid from Dartmouth. I had to make up a new account. I think you played this hand standard in my opinion. I prefer check-calling the turn over check shoving (with the intention of check calling river on good rivers). Shoving doesn't accomplish much in a vacuum ( may be might fold Ak, though I doubt it). If it is a rando who is just a station, then I like check shoving for value because there are some bad rivers that might kill action. Other than that, I think it was a standard play, and the check fold at the end is fine for sure. I am thinking he probably had JJ ( if he is a weirdo) or KJ, with occasional air in his range. He might have a flopped set of course but he seems like an unstable player who just likes betting so it kind of widens his range. Much of the decision against players like that depends on live reads though because they give up a lot of info on how crazy they are playing.

Seeing how this is early in the tournament with low blinds and presumably no antes i would consider folding this pre especially since we have potentially agro play who has the button

I'm interested to see what people think of checking the flop and basically bluff catching all the way against this opponent when we are deep?

Given what you said about villain so far, he has taken this kinda line already, right? Im not a live player, so I have no idea what people do this with live. But online, against someone whom Ive seen betting heavily multiple times, Im calling this one for sure.

I can see why this hand has been bothering you, pretty sick line by villain. The problem is you dont really know how this player is playing yet. My main comment will be that the flop is drier than a Nun's chuff so villain shouldnt generally be raising for value on this flop as he is likely folding out all worse hands. The turn and river are effectively bricks so I can see why you want to call the river over bet. All seems very bluffy to me but then you do get some ferrets turning up with sets or two pair with these crazy lines. I just dont buy it and cant work out what he is representing. In game it is difficult for sure but villains line makes no sense (to me) whatsoever.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies. EK, good to see you, thanks for the thoughts. Definitely think the line is probably alright that I took, but one thing I think is interesting is what Pokerbot said about checking flop and just bluff catching. That definitely could have been an interesting line to take. Kurt, I definitely agree, so think maybe what Pokerbot said about x/calling to bluff catch might be good against a player like that. Biggest problem is that it was also 2nd blind level, and who knows, maybe this guy is tricky enough to overjam two pair + here because he saw someone on Poker After Dark do it once.

-Boris

I really like the idea of bluff catching. However, it depends on the player type. If the player is a passive type of player, you don't want to give up hands with equity a free card. If the player is capable of stabbing though, his range will contain a lot of hands that have not much equity against you to make it a profitable check call all the way.

Since we suspect that he is laggy/spewy i think bluff catching is fine.

We could be wrong in our assumptions and he may have us beat all the way with AK, 22, 88

I don't think giving free cards is that dangerous on this board since there are no straight or flush draws plus with have the backdoor to boot

Don't think he would raise 88-22 on that flop. I do like the check calling line tho

Hey,

I think checking river allows him to make that bet.
OP, as described you should bet call river vs villain , sometimes it's okay to make mistakes and play better vs him next time.

I think villain will size his sets bigger ott and will value bet sets otr instead of going for your whole stack.

what were the blinds at?