I mean tbh i dont know how many people are 3-betting this aggressively at .5/1, but pretty much if you're in position in a spot where you would be willing to 4bet AK and get all in pre, and there is enough garbage in the 3-bettors range, then you are basically conceding that you will lose your stack in a few spots where you wold have taken it down pf by 4betting in exchange for the c-bets you pick up and the times you stack someone with a weaker A or K when you both flop a pair.

Calling the 3bet pre is fine, just CRAI pretty much any flop.

checking flop is fine but since you 4bet pre id just go ahead and bet here. bet sizing is a bit big on the flop i think since you have the A, meaning he will basically never have a flush draw

It's still the en vogue thing to do so all the tagfish and 2+2 lurkers 3bet constantly, at least on FTP

FTP people 3bet like crazy.

on the constant 3 bet guys:

I will mix it up, but one effective way I've found stops them doing it every 5 hands is to 4 bet them (nl100) $38-40 and see what happens. No matter what happens in the rest of the hand they rarely 3 bet again if I'm the pfr. Calling a 3 bet pf isn't nearly as effective stopping them.

Can I cbet this flop? I'd usually check with AK on a whiffed board 4 to the flop but this seemed like a decent spot to cbet given the opponents. Button stats seemed decent so I doubt he'll try anything without a monster. SB is short so I should have decent equity vs most of his range. UTG is a lagfish who I just pushed off a pot earlier. His pf range is really wide and he's very capable of making some ******ed move.

Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

CO: $561.90
BTN: $360.40
SB: $70.70
BB: $191
UTG: $200
Hero (MP): $295.50

Pre-Flop: K A dealt to Hero (MP)
UTG calls $2, Hero raises to $9, CO folds, BTN calls $9, SB calls $8, BB folds, UTG calls $7

Flop: ($38) 4 3 5 (4 Players)

Right.

You listen up, and you listen up right ****ing now.
I need help beating cashgames.
It's IMPOSSIBLE to beat .25/.50 at Stars.
I have no ****ing clue.

I need a coach, perhaps in exchange for coaching one of yous in SNGs.
Seriously, I assume that all my opponents at microstakes are ******ed, yet they are running circles around me.

Please please please help me not lose money at cashgames.

Can I post a camtasia vid of me losing money at cashgames or something?

Like the biggest eight pots at my tables today, I lost money in every single one (two only from blinds, but still...).

Here, have a look:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

BB ($100.20)
Hero ($47.80)
MP ($12.85)
Button ($82.50)
SB ($56.10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 7, 7.
Hero raises to $2, MP calls $2, Button calls $2, 2 folds.

Flop: ($6.75) 2, 7, 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $4.5, MP folds, Button calls $4.50.

Turn: ($15.75) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $11, Button calls $11.

River: ($37.75) J (2 players)
Hero bets $30.3 (All-In), Button calls $30.30.

Final Pot: $98.35

Results in white below:
Hero has 7s 7d (three of a kind, sevens).
Button has 6h 7h (flush, jack high).
Outcome:

This hand is just ******ed, I was on major tilt:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($9.80)
MP ($59.05)
CO ($76.25)
Hero ($35)
SB ($36.55)
BB ($28)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $35, 1 fold, BB calls $27.50 (All-In), UTG calls $9.30 (All-In).

Flop: ($66.05) , , (3 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($66.05) (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($66.05) (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $66.05

Results in white below:
BB has Kc Kd (one pair, kings).
UTG doesn't show.
Hero has Qs Qh (one pair, queens).
Outcome: BB wins $66.05.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

CO ($90.60)
Hero ($50)
SB ($59.25)
BB ($49.10)
UTG ($50)
MP ($43.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
3 folds, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, BB raises to $5, Hero calls $3.

Flop: ($10.25) , , (2 players)
BB bets $5.5, Hero calls $5.50.

Turn: ($21.25) (2 players)

Final Pot: $21.25

Results in white below:
BB doesn't show.
Hero doesn't show.
Outcome:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

SB ($49.50)
BB ($31.85)
UTG ($36.10)
MP ($49.25)
CO ($115.45)
Hero ($48.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
3 folds, Hero raises to $2, 1 fold, BB calls $1.50.

Flop: ($4.25) , , (2 players)
BB bets $3, Hero calls $3.

Turn: ($10.25) (2 players)
BB bets $5.5, Hero calls $5.50.

River: ($21.25) (2 players)
BB bets $7, Hero calls $7.

Final Pot: $35.25

Results in white below:
BB has Td 9d (one pair, tens).
Hero has Th 8d (one pair, tens).
Outcome: BB wins $35.25.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($9.80)
MP ($59.05)
Button ($62.65)
Hero ($49.50)
BB ($37.05)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
2 folds, Button raises to $1.5, Hero calls $1.25, 1 fold.

Flop: ($3.50) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $2.5, Hero calls $2.50.

Turn: ($8.50) (2 players)
Hero bets $4.5, Button calls $4.50.

River: ($17.50) (2 players)
Hero bets $6, Button raises to $12, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $29.50

Results in white below:
Button doesn't show.
Outcome: Button wins $29.50.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($50)
MP ($31.85)
Button ($43.35)
SB ($95.25)
Hero ($61.55)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
3 folds, SB raises to $2, Hero calls $1.50.

Flop: ($4) , , (2 players)
SB bets $3, Hero calls $3.

Turn: ($10) (2 players)
SB bets $7, Hero calls $7.

River: ($24) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $24

Results in white below:
SB has 9c 8s (two pair, nines and fives).
Hero has 6h 6s (two pair, sixes and fives).
Outcome: SB wins $24.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

Button ($58.05)
SB ($41)
BB ($50.65)
UTG ($44.25)
MP ($84.20)
Hero ($50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
UTG raises to $1.5, MP calls $1.50, Hero raises to $6, 3 folds, UTG calls $4.50, MP folds.

Flop: ($14.25) , , (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $8, UTG calls $8.

Turn: ($30.25) (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

River: ($30.25) (2 players)
UTG bets $11, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $30.25

Results in white below:
UTG doesn't show.
Outcome: UTG wins $30.25.

Let's finish off with my big winner:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

BB ($54.95)
UTG ($39.85)
MP ($36)
CO ($49)
Button ($87.25)
Hero ($52.25)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
UTG calls $0.50, 3 folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) , , (3 players)
Hero bets $1.5, BB calls $1.50, UTG calls $1.50.

Turn: ($6) (3 players)
Hero bets $3, BB calls $3, UTG calls $3.

River: ($15) (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks.

Final Pot: $15

Results in white below:
Hero has Jh Kd (three of a kind, jacks).
BB doesn't show.
UTG doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $15.

Jd9d hand was messed up, he checks turn, I bet $12, he raises all-in.

Some comments.. Don't have time for every hand gotta go to work soon.
With the set of sevens I pot both flop and turn
I'd never call Q8s oop
with the 66 I 3 bet pf or raise the flop
KK hand is fine I guess
I bet river with the trip Jacks, also I bet at least 4.5 on turn.. potting flop and 1/2 turn seems inconsistent
holla

eury - In general it looks like youre sizing your bets like you are playing in a sng. When you are deeper, you want to bet and raise bigger to cut down your opponents implied odds and build bigger pots when you get a good hand.

Also, reads are very important in cash games. I'll comment on the hands where the reads aren't as critical.

777 - bet more on flop and turn. Stacking off is fine.

QQ - dont tilt. I probably stack off vs most opponents on this board anyway, but preflop is silly.

J9s - fold the flop.

Q8s - this hand sucks oop vs a raise. Just fold preflop. You can sometimes 3 bet in specific situations, but as a default, just fold.

KJo - Bet more on the turn and bet the river. I'll stack off if I'm beat here.

i don't think this is a remotely profitable bet, DD. 543 into 3 villains ew.

There are a lot of options, and though it sounds a bit cliche-ish, I'd "mix it up" here.

Calling the 3bet is fine pre, as is 4betting. There are merits to both. Your hand is better disguised when you call and may be better from a range-balancing perspective (not that that is terribly important at NL50, but still). On the other hand, a nit 3bet your UTG raise from 2nd pos, so he probably has a big hand that he'll have a hard time getting away from postflop (on good boards esp) so nothing wrong with getting more money in. This is especially true since you're OOP.

CRAI is fine on the flop, as is c/cing, as is betting. Given the board texture and the fact that you have the As, I'd lean towards check/calling actually. If you're up against AK/AA/KK it probably doesn't make a ton of difference what you do, but I think check/calling maximizes the value you get out of QQ/JJ although again, it probably doesn't make a TON of difference whether you call or raise after the check because that king is very likely to be a scare card for those hands and you'll have a hard time getting a 2nd bet out of villain.

Bet size is prob a touch on the big size considering his range.

Also, please don't mistake the 2nd paragraph for pot control. It isn't.

Futuredoc,

You keep mentioning that people have to 3bet loosely to call and semi-bluff-shove flop. Since now we have the opportunity to see what their exact 3bet%... what is "loose enough" in %s?

Couple of thoughts here...

I do think TT-KK make up a big big part of his range, BUT - from his perspective, your line should look bluffy I think. No one ever gives anyone credit for quads, and from having played with you a bit I'd discount AA and big aces 'cause I know you're repopping those most of the time on the button vs. a CO open. Honestly, I think you've done a decent job repping a missed draw, hearts or 45s. So even though it's hard for him to have a "strong" hand, I think it's even harder for you to. Soooo, idk. I hate to give up on a good bluff, but I don't think this is the turn or river you need to pull it off. There are a lot of scare cards that could have come on either street that would make me like it more, but unfortunately they didn't.

Silver lining though - your bet sizing is beautiful.

Last thing - I think it's a sick value line if you have Ax. But what makes me not like it as a bluff makes me like it for value with a hand that a lot of people would probably not 3barrel with.

eury,
77 is standard.
QQ don't tilt
J9s fold the flop people don't three bet that light and it's a bad board to float on since nobody folds a pair.
T8 hand is fine.
Q8s fold pre. Check fold river he can have so many two pairs and straights and rarely calls worse.
66 hand s fine with reads.
KK hand I would check back the flop there aren't many bad turns and you are getting at most two bets out of worse.
KJ hand bet more on turn bet river.

A big problem seems to be that you never have reads and you don't have good reasoning for taking certain lines. Why did you 1/2 pot the turn with KJ? Why did you check the river? Why did you bet the turn with q8s? Why did you bet the turn with KK?

Lets make it this way...

6players, NL100, 100xBB stacks
UTG folds
UTG+1 folds
CO folds
Hero raises to $4 A K
SB raises to $14
BB folds
Hero calls

Flop 5 8 9 ($30)
SB bets $20
Hero raises to $86 (all-in)

Villain is a TAG whose 3bet% from the blinds is X
How high does the X have to be in order this move to be good?

Thanks for the comments, I guess I really need to think things through more thoroughly.
Like...even the concept of attaining a good read on someone feels so distant. I'm so used to just look preflop numbers and thereby basically decide if someone is either regular/passive ******/aggressive ******.

karp,

man i just don't see the need for it.

That stuff about bet sizing is interesting.
Do you guys feel it's generally a good idea to bet bigger in relation to the pot in cashgames compared to in STTs?

wiggs, futuredoc, please discuss on this

karp,
The hands he will fold you are beating it such a drawy board people won't fold pairs.
Eurythmech sngs you are usually 75/50bbs deep in cash you want to try to be able to shove the river 100bbs so your bet sizing should reflect that.

i think most people would rather just 4b to 34ish and call a shove with that particular hand vs. a villain that's nuts agro pf out of the blinds.