Live 20/40. 6-handed. Villain is a decent LAG. Will open lightly and barrel when no one shows strength, perhaps calls down a bit too much, but is, in general, a decent hand reader.

Hero has a losing LAGgy image today.

Villain opens CO. Folds to me in the BB with AKo.

Against tight regs, I have no 3 bet range, but against this villain (who will steal blinds often), I trying to develop a 3 bet range. My logic here is to exploit his aggressive blind stealing attempts. I think this allows me win more with my strong hands in the BB, but still fold the trashiest of hands in the BB, since he should know he can be punished for opening ATC in the CO. (The alternative is to call with virtually ATC from the BB, I believe.)

Anyways, I 3!, he calls.

Flop: J95 rainbow
I bet, he calls.

Turn: Q (completing rainbow)
I check, he bets, I call

River: K
I go for a k/r/f.

Thoughts on preflop and river play?

Your preflop strategy reveals information about the strength of your hand, and since it's more expensive to disguise your hand by three-betting more trash (CO is calling down a lot so your fold equity is low), I would lean toward calling when you want to play. The modern thinking is to punish villain with lack of information and superior postflop play, rather than an extra small bet when he has position. It's a CO open, so perhaps you don't call 100%.

I'm trying to think of a hand he would b/c that river with, that you beat. If the intent is to turn your hand into a bluff against the likes of KQ/QJ/55, how often do you think that works?

PF is good and well thought out. Just make sure your PF3B range is balanced and not all high cards and biggish pairs.

River: depends what kind of range he barrels with. Does he absently barrel with 3rd or 4th or 5th pair? And would he call those hands against a x/r? You do see the 4-straight out there right? I lean towards x/c or b/decide.

On this particular board texture? Is he really going to b/c like Q8 given your supposed PF range?

How is PF well thought??? I'm sorry but this is just misinformation. Having a wide stealing range is not by itself a strong reason to have a 3 bet range, it should depend more on postflop tendencies like checking back a lot. How can Villain being a decent LAG be consistent with him opening ATC? I don't think you're very comfortable with blind steal situations OP.

River x/r is terrible. I would probably x/c.

agree with this (maybe donk/fold river). and deeming a play as sexy should be specifically reserved for the most douchiest of toolboxes.

What if the flop was J85, and the turn and the river run out the same, for a final board of:

J85 Q K

Would river k/r be ok? Or would k/c or b/f be preferable?

(Fwiw, I think the flop and turn action would've been the same with the 9 replaced with an 8.)

Agree preflop is not well-thought. Even the worst LAGs aren't opening more than 50-75%. Having a wide 3-betting range is fine against a wide opener is fine, as is calling your entire continuation range. Flop tendencies will dictate which is better.

As played, with the turn check, you've basically turned your hand face up so river x/r/f is really bad. A good hand reader is going to check behind 1-pair hands. An excellent hand reader is going to bet 1-pair hands.

Are you bluffing?

Agree that postflop tendencies should be a factor (this particular villain barrels a lot so I'd be more inclined to call 100%).

However, the overall wideness of the range is also an important factor. It is easier to balance your calling and reraising ranges when ranges are wider.

For example, I think in the ultimate wide range situation of heads up, it is correct to have 3! range from bb vs. almost anyone. In a narrow range spot like bb vs. utg open I think it's correct to call 100% against almost anyone regardless of postflop tendencies.

Ok, full disclosure. I f***ed up the original post and put the wrong flop on there. It should be J85.

(Mods, should I edit the OP as such, even though people have already responded to the original post?)

I do think the preflop talk is interesting. I'm used to calling 100% my entire continuing range, but I'm starting to feel that I'm missing some value. Should I 3! against villains that open wide but don't barrel enough?

PF You should 3b anyone that is opening too wide. Even if they barrel 100%, you should still see more profits by 3b'ing pre. There's this old-fashioned belief that if they barrel 100%, you get the same number of bets in by x/r'ing flop as you do by 3b'ing PF and leading. However, if you 3b pre, you give yourself the chance to b/3b your opponent. You also counter the times villain will donk check. And oh yea, many aggro players often play poorly without 'initiative'.

Phunk I strongly disagree w you and think the idea of 3betting here pre is the "old school" one.

Op: on the fixed board I think you should bet out on river. And probably cry call a raise but it's close.

I would guess that a lot of players are mis applying the flat all strategy pre flop especially in live games.

If it is a tight range situation then you should just call.

If your against a good player who can hand read well you should just call.

I think there are some tendencies in certain opponents that need to be exploited by 3b pre.

1) players who 4b with a wide range and/or will put in a Lot of action on the flop
Regardless of your pre flop action.

2) players who check back flop a lot.

3) players who are weak and might give your 3b too much respect.

4) poor hand readers. Against some players you can 3b the top of your range and
Not worry about balance. This is great against those players that will pay you off
With inferior holdings due to the bloated pot size.

I would just call against the player in this hand given your description. I think you will have opportunities to CR flop or Turn as you see fit.

I'm usually fine w/ opponents who three bet out of the BB against me. They'll often put themselves in positions such as what OP finds himself in (where any competent hand reader will know you either have AK or took a weird line). The ones that claim to be "balanced" are usually just three betting 87s and barreling off any runout.

???????

Yeah I basically agree with all of this. The problem, Phunk, with hoping that you can b/3! flop or turn is you're hoping that your villains cooperate by raising hands you want to 3! against. Default 'decent' villains don't do that because in their eyes your range is too strong.

Applies to a wide opener.

Level 1: 3b PF all strong hands, because they are strong and derive value.
Level 2: Flat everything PF, because it's balanced and disguises your hand against good players.
Level 3: 3b PF a balanced range. You get the best of Level 1 and Level 2.

Y'all are stuck on Level 2 and refusing to expand your minds. harpus said in his initial post that he was trying to develop a (balanced) 3b PF range. This is a good thing.

Until Villain shows evidence of moving up to level 2 (or dropping down to level 0) I'm happy to stay at level 2.

Agree with the above two posts.