Both these hands happened within my first orbit at a new table, so relatively readless. The first hand is a super-simple pre checkup spot; I just want to tease out the theory behind our various options. The second hand is a basic line check.

In both hands, blinds are 75/150 and we're ten-handed. Still super-early in the tournament. 50 minute levels and (because it's Borgata) excellent structure, natch.

Hand #1

Most of the players at the table look like either loose-passive old guys or weak-tight old guys; the most notable exception is BTN, who's already 3bet once in the four hands I've seen and gives off a strong "thinking, aggro online player" vibe.

Effective stacks of 15k. Villain is a mid-thirties guy in a t-shirt. Last hand, he opened to 500 from UTG+1, and it folded around. Now he's UTG and opens to 500 again. We're next to act with AK.

What's best and why?


Hand #2

Two hands after Hand #1; blinds are still 75/150. Here are the relevant stacks:

Villain (CO): 30k
BTN: 20k
Hero (BB): 14k

This time Villain is a youngish guy with shades and a Giants jersey. I had him pegged as a competent player until his sizing pre on this hand. BTN is an older guy with 20k who hasn't played a hand in the short time I've been there.

Villain (CO) opens to 525. BTN flats pretty quickly. SB folds. I have TT in the BB and elect to call.

Flop: Q94 (1650 pot)

I check, Villain checks, BTN checks.

Turn: 5 (1650 pot)

I check, Villain tosses out a 1k chip, BTN folds, I call.

River: 5 (3650 pot)

I...?

Pretty basic, but there's room for some discussion on most/all streets, if only to see if there's a consensus "best" line at each point.

Hand 1 you could raise or call, there's probably little difference between the two. Hand 2 bet the turn, as played definitely check the river, you're going to have to soulread if he bets probably leaning toward a fold.

1. i'd flat generally, seeing as his 4betting range will have you crushed so not happy about getting it in pre. they'll probably flat a lot of 3bets though which is good. Todd if you're 3betting are you getting it in pre (not including cold 4bets)?

2. as Todd said, bet turn for value/protection. as played c/decide based on timing/sizing/lol live tells.

yeah this: hand 1 call or rr is fine i tend toward rr coz wtf i'm aggressive

hand 2 river is almost certainly a call tho if he bets it

I don't know why it didn't occur to me to bet the turn in Hand 2.

In Hand 1, I flatted my AK and an older player in MP flatted as well; both blinds folded. Flop is J96 (1725 pot) and Villain bets 1300 pretty quickly. Peel one here?

No.

no!

Just checking! I folded.

Results for Hand 2 in a bit, if no one has more thoughts.