Couple of hands where I feel I have the opportunity to stab and/or 2-barrel, but still relatively inexperienced @ PLO in these spots. H#1 I was somewhat torn, as it was still 5-way, people tend to x/call too much generally despite looking weak, and the 9d is a really nice pivot-card to take a free card on. H#2 I should probably just be raising this hand preflop myself, but was experimenting w/ limp/calling from EP. I'm mostly curious about whether I should semibluff these flops/turns, and how I should plan for turns/rivers if called. Thanks.

H#1

Hero ($300, CO): Q J T 7

EP limps $2, EP2 l $2, EP3 r $15, MP c $15, Hero c $15, BTN/SB/BB fold, EP/EP2 call

Flop ($68): 9 4 2

checked to hero, Hero ???

H#2

Hero ($240, MP): K Q J T

2 x limps, Hero limps $2, HJ r $15, CO/BTN/SB/BB fold, limpers call, Hero calls

Flop ($57): 3 3 2

checked around

Turn: 8

x, x, Hero ???

i check back h1. just too many turn cards that improve you. and you're not really ahead of anything here multiway.

think h2 really depends on what HJ is checking back with. if he's checking back flop with overpairs he's calling your turn bet almost 100%. people won't give you credit for a 3 or a 2, nor will they credit you for 88. i do like betting as 3rd person and 1 left to act in these spots, but i'd need a higher pair on board or a flush OTF, etc.

Thanks Kisada.

H1: Bet $45

I think H1 is a nice spot to stab. This can be profitable not because you'll take it down that often, although that will happen, but because you can barrel the turn and sometimes even river and win nice pots without having to make a hand.

Obviously reads matter a ton as does your table image, a ton. Don't overuse the 3 barrel without having the goods somewhat often. But still, in live $2-2 80% of opponents are playing their hand at Level 0, and since they're underdogs to make a hand they want to stack off with, you'll win a lot of handsome pots.

If you get it HU or 3 handed, and you haven't been overusing this play, I'd be inclined to barrel almost any turn card, not just one that improves equity; I expect people to call flop and fold turn quite liberally.

On a diamond flush turn you can bet 1/2 pot and fold to a XR. On an 8 or probably a heart you can stack off. On a black seven, use your judgment but probably fold.

Facing a lead on a diamond you have a really hard decision. I'd probably call turn and fold river. It's too obvious a bluffing card, but a smaller flush or set isn't vbetting two streets and after a turn bluff gets called they'll think, "If he called the turn he'll probably call the river too. No sense throwing good money after bad!"

(Obviously this is super-exploitable so be careful you don't do this all the time against the same player base.)


Bet a lot of river cards if the turn's called, too. I'm finding it surprising how often people will get to the river but not call a decent bet. Make sure you leave enough in the effective stack!

I'll come back for H2. BTW I use the word barrel differently than this.

H2: Bet $40 and if called once plan to bet $70 on all rivers.

I agree that JJ-AA aren't folding for one 2/3 pot bet but they are for two, usually. Again, don't go too wild depending on image but most of your opponents are just playing their hand. AA is a $40 more hand, not a $110 more hand in their eyes.