Need balance? Or is it ok? - Small Stakes Pot Limit and No Limit

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Need balance? Or is it ok?

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01-05-2012 , 03:37 PM

stakeup3

centurion

Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 107

Situation:

I open BU with AK for 3bb (100bb starting stack)

SB 3bets to 9bb (60bb starting stack)

Question:

I think it's definitely best to shove here with exactly "AK" but I can't think of any other hands to balance this with really. The question is, do I need to balance this? Or is it ok that even if my opponent could put me on AK every time, that this would be the best play to make.

01-05-2012 , 04:21 PM

999

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,830

Why is AK the only hand in your shoving range? Is the SB a regular?

01-05-2012 , 04:23 PM

paxpres

newbie

Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21

I can't imagine that it would ever be correct to allow your opponent to always put you on the correct hand, then they could always play perfectly against you in that spot. The first question I would ask myself would be if my opponent is competent enough to warrent balancing. If they were, I would balance my shoving range with a bluff shoving range as well, considering ofcourse that my opponent can fold. If not, just expoit him by getting value from your strong 3bet/shove range of AK+

01-05-2012 , 04:45 PM

jackwilcox

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9,843

i think when he 3bets hes going to have a pre-determined value range which he is planning to call a jam with. so not really sure why you would need or want to balance, rather than just work out what he's doing and exploit that.

01-05-2012 , 04:49 PM

Iamcloud

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 645

when you consider balancing you should ask the question is SB mid-stacker 3bet bluffing? If he is never 3bet bluffing why balance? Just get it in with value hands and flat AJs/AQ/KQs/88-JJ etc depends on how wide he is 3betting for value.

For instance if he is 3betting and getting it in in this spot with 99+ AQ+ then you can def start shoving JJ.

If he is the type to 3bet bluff then start calling him a bit wider and trow a min 4bet with KJo/A10o has a bluff and min 4bet AA/KK/QQ/JJ/AK etc for value.

its all villain depandant really specially his 3bet% etc

01-05-2012 , 08:50 PM

stakeup3

centurion

Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 107

I like discussing topics like this and getting different opinions. Thanks for every opinion.

Quote:

Why is AK the only hand in your shoving range? Is the SB a regular?

Yea he appears to be a 60bb reloading player on a few tables atleast. AK is basically the only hand I want to shove with because I feel I'd get more value from flatting most my other pair hands (folding a few) and ATs, AJs, AQ than from shoving them.

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