PLO 5/10, Live cash game, 8 handed, buy in 500, rake 2%. Hero (500) posts the straddle 20,
3 fold, CO (300) raises to 40, Villain (500) on the BTN calls, he is a regular, tight professional; SB and BB fold, Hero Js7h5s5h completes to 40; 3 see the flop (135) which is 7d4h3c. All check.
The turn is Jd, Hero bets 100, CO folds, Villain calls. The pot is 335
The river is Qh, Hero checks, Villain bets 200, Hero? Any comment on how Hero played his hand so far? Maybe hero blocking top set and straights should bet the flop?

First, gotta point out the way you wrote out the hand history deserves major props. Very clean man.

As for the hand my thoughts:

Preflop: Yep
Flop: I would strongly consider leading here ourselves. This flop is very good for our range compared to co and bu. We have very strong blockers and want to utilize them immediately to build not only pressure now but on future streets as well. Flop is often going to check around, which isn't what we want given. We get to deny heaps of equity as well.

Turn: unsure tbh at this spr. If I'm betting I'm prob just potting and going for max equity denial. I like that you did bet big if you chose to bet. Again not entirely sure on check or bet as can see merrits for both.

River: 1ish spr we need about sub 30% vs his range. I'm calling. We unblock diamonds which missed and QJ will be a very limited part of villain's range. Also sort of a weird sizing from villain. Would think he'd want to bet full pot here with his value range. Villain should have a reasonable bluff freq here as well given how capped our range is now by the river. Once we check river we now remove 56,JJ and probably 44 and 33 as well from our range, capping the top at J7. Addional fold eq if he thinks you overfold the river as well.

Interesting. Which one is easier to read, Js7h5s5h or J755? I'm probably old and dumb but if I struggle to understand the hand and the board I just don't bother, even if all the information is presented.

If someone be kind enough to explain to me how to use these suits symbols, i will be more than happy to oblige

They are under smileys. Or you can write for example : spade : without the spaces.

TY Amok :Just to check it works AAAA

Preflop: Fold.

Flop: Lead out 2/3 pot with top pair, 55 straight blockers and a board that hits you more than CO / BTN.

Turn: Fine.

River: I think you can lead 1/3 pot here as a sort of thin value / blocking bet. It's unlikely he has 56 with this action so I'm not sure why why we would consider anything other than calling. Yes, he has QJ here a lot, but that's poker. You are basically at the top of your range with the action of this hand.

No for sure, the format you provided is easier to read. I was mainly comparing to the thousands of unbelievably poorly written HH's lol. Agree with you though the one you provided is far better.

River plays better as a large bet that can fold 2p and sets some times than xc imo.

Probably ok to fold now. Villain shouldn't really be betting light here, and it's not like you have a huge number of natural semi-bluff on the turn. You should have much more xc than xf.

River sizing from villain also looks like a value bet. Probably a spot where it's safe for Hero to overfold vs. most opponents.

Like others have said - flop is a good candidate to lead.

I called and lost to villain’s hand q864
Villain and I often discuss hands (honestly, if such thing exists in poker). When later I asked, he said he would have called a full bet on the turn, and he would have checked if the river was a diamond.

As played I like x/c on river you’re rly only blocking value, I can’t think of many better x/c candidates tbh and you’ll be over folding if u don’t defend hands like these.

I like leading flop 1/2 pot though, I honestly don’t know the what the play is on this turn if someone calls though

Interesting hand where both players are capped and I think it shows the importance to randomize a lot of spots like this with your river value

don't see anything but a call OTR here, your hand only blocks value and unblocks all bluffs.

I'm Donking here a lot on Flop with pair, gutter and blockers. Prob 80, depends on history and table dynamics. I don't like getting shoved on with pair in my hand but it might be too late by then and get called a Spewtard!

Donking allows for Turn control of betting, which you just pot it here and take it down (results orientated) instead of getting sucked out on. There's no River decision to be made if you take an aggressive line.

Not so sure about PF, but certainly can't say I've never played this combo. GL

Hero played alright, though betting the flop with middle set could have been better. Betting turn when hitting top set was good. On the river, facing a bet from Villain, it's tough. Villain looks strong, possibly with a straight. Considering a fold might be wise unless you have a read suggesting otherwise.

Interesting game setup. Everybody is very short stacked for live cash which I'm not used to (and haven't even seen). Never heard of a 2% rake. Would it be correct to assume that this is a home game and the rake is uncapped? Anyway on the hand.

I hate to be the preflop police but I don't like the call before the flop (although my advice might be more applicable to deep stacks of 150 to 400 big blinds (or straddle multiples). I consider small pairs (under 7's) to be worse than worthless unless accompanied by other good hand features (e.g., AA through QQ with a small pair) or a rundown (e.g. 7655 with the pair at the bottom but the rundown is too small if the bottom pair is 33 or 22). The hand is very disconnected and the fact that there are two suits barely helps (I think of small suits as blockers to an opponents better flush draws or backdoor outs. But as mentioned I play deeper and most pots are four to seven way on the flop so perhaps flush nut peddling isn't as important playing so short. I don't think this is close (but might be for short stack) and would appreciate comments assuming we are playing deeper.

On the flop I'd bet close to full pot with such a connected rainbow board blocking top set and blocking straights. This should fold out over pairs and most one pair hands with weak draws. Obviously fold to a raise and be careful if called.

As played the turn bet is fine. As someone else mentioned you are near the top of your range based on your check through on the flop.

On the river it's close but I lean to folding unless the "tight professional" has a lot of bluff in him.


PS Also appreciate a well formatted hand. I used to surf and post quite often on 2plus2 way back in the day before smart phones (under another name) and it seemed using a browser to post most people took great care to get it right and make it easy to understand. That seems to be lost with phone posting.