Hey all,

I am a PLO newcomer so please do not bash me and ridicule my play - trying to learn here. Here is a hand I would like advice on...

.25-.50 PLO online, 6 handed. Hero is UTG with 9 10 Q K double suited and a stack of about $70.

I open to $1.75 , UTG+1 calls, small blind pots to ~$7, I call, UTG + 1 calls.

Now we have about $22 in the pot.

Flop is 9 2 9 rainbow. I check with the intention of raising the Small blind (should I just donk here?).

To my surprise, UTG +1 bets about 1/2 pot, we'll say $11 to keep it round numbers. Small Blind folds, I call (should I pot here?).

Turn is another 2 - making the board 9 2 9 2 with no flush draws.

What does 2+2 do here?

Just x/c down, you are actually slightly behind his calling range of 9xxx and 22xx so need the added value of his bluffs/spazz.



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If he V pots turn and river it gets all in anyway though. If I pot turn am I getting any A9's to fold?

No you aren't.

On a 9292 board, no competent player with A9xx would fold. Your UTG raising range will not contain any 92xx or 22xx combos unless you are a complete donkey or just happened to yahtzee a flop with KK22.

Without any flush draws, I would let him bet again on the turn.

At this point you can decide whether or not you want to check raise allin, or try and trap again for the river. Based on his flat call PF and call again of the 3bet, I would assume that his hand is full of connected 9xxx hands, J9xx, T9xx, 98xx, 97xx etc, and of course with the odd A9xx hand where the xx's could be connected.

I'm probably looking to check raise the turn under the assumption that he can't let go of a weaker 9xxx hand. I feel like we are ahead more often than not in this spot.

Clarify this statement.

You are UTG, and second to act. Based on your description, the SB already checked the flop, so you don't have an opportunity to raise the SB.

Are you looking to raise the SB on the turn? If so, nothing wrong with that, but if the board texture doesn't change, I'd probably just call. No sense pushing someone with a higher pair out of the hand when you have position and could get another bet out of them.

Sorry yes I wanted to raise his turn bet or pot myself on the turn if he checked. I thought the flop would check through and I planned to raise any Non Ace on the turn once he checked.

Thank you that is exactly what I did. Hand results after a little more time goes by...

I realize that pot seems to be the default bet size for many PLO players, but due to his 3bet PF, the pot is already fairly large. We don't want to scare off an over pair, so pot betting a non scare card turn is pretty strong. Consider a smaller bet sizing that will entice the SB to continue or make a bad decision and check raise you since it looks like you're stealing.

There is certainly merit to pot betting flops and boards, but I don't feel like this is one of them.

If SB were to lead the turn and the board isn't scary, you don't have to raise him. You're basically turning your hand face up at that point, and he can only continue with a 9 or 2 unless he decides you're bluffing. You could safely call a turn raise and hope he hangs himself again on the river.

Good point! For what happened...

Should I have found a way to get away from my K9xx here when he re-pots me?

Explain this a bit better.

You pot bet first and then he repotted and then you went over top to get allin?

You checked, he pot bet, you check raised for pot and he went allin for his remaining stack, for which you called.

It doesn't completely matter the action, but I would like to know the entire story.

I checked, he potted, I over potted, he went all in for like 5 bucks more, I called - I should have said should I have found a way to get away when he pots. No matter what he is potting the river.

Imo it is a substantial mental game leak to be overly critical of your opponents play like this. It is fine to recognize mistakes that people are making, and in fact doing so is important, but you should think in more technical terms like "his call pre was overly loose". The problem with using strong value terms with emotional connotations like "horrible" is that it can contribute to anger / frustration which if left unchecked can lead to tilt.

You make a good point thank you.