I see now I should have at least 3b pre, but was unsure at the time. Obviously I have a lot of leaks to fix

Chico - $0.1 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 151.6 BB
CO: 195.4 BB
BTN: 100 BB
Hero (SB): 100 BB
BB: 270.7 BB

Hero posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has J A

fold, fold, BTN raises to 2.5 BB, Hero calls 2 BB, fold

Flop: (6 BB, 2 players) 7 J T
Hero checks, BTN bets 2.4 BB, Hero calls 2.4 BB

Turn: (10.8 BB, 2 players) A
Hero bets 7.6 BB, BTN raises to 26.2 BB, Hero calls 18.6 BB

River: (63.2 BB, 2 players) 3
Hero checks, BTN bets 68.9 BB and is all-in, Hero ???

You can 3bet pre, although a call isn't that bad. It's the turn lead that is a mistake. If you want to get more money in, I think a check raise is better. Now that you've gotten raised, you're in a world of pain with your strong, but not extremely strong, hand. If you were to lead here, I think it would work better with a straight or a bluff with straight blockers. But as a rule of thumb, I wouldn't bet like that if villain has the betting lead.

I mean, what are you going to do.....?
You've got Top- 2-Pair.
You're opponent is representing TT or 77.... or maybe AK or AT.
I suppose you could fold if you think your opponent is betting like this with a weaker hand.
I think that unfortunately, your hand is just strong enough to lose your whole stack over, so it's a crying call for me.


You should try to force yourself to play more aggressively.

Pre-Flop Aggressive Play = 3 bet AJ from the SB versus a BN open raise.
Pre-Flop Passive Play = Cold Call with AJ

Flop Aggressive Play = Check-Raise with tp/tk.
Flop Passive Play = check-call with tp/tk.

Turn Aggressive Play = Re-raise all in with Top 2 Pair.
Turn Passive Play = Bet-Call with Top 2 Pair.


With practice it gets easier to choose the more aggressive line. I find that passivity is usually related to bankroll issues. Make sure you have a sufficient bankroll or an ability to redeposit and start thinking about long term EV instead of thinking in a vacuum about 1 session. The game is easier to play when you are the one with the initiative.

Good Luck, Magnum

I meant you could fold if you think your opp is NOT betting like this with a weaker hand.

3bet pre.

Check raise flop.

As played, the turn you need to check raise, not donk. The A hits his range better than yours. You essentially are giving away the fact that you hit the A, and your opponent hit you with a raise.

His range's completely uncapped on the river, every opportunity he got he either bet or raised you. The info he got on the turn should have signified to him that you're strong, and he replied with a raise, then went all in.

With the action, I think you're only beating a bluff. Use an RNG and call at a bluffcatcher frequency. I'm not sure a weaker 2 pair would play this way, although some might. If you want, you can add a couple of % to the bluffcatcher frequency to make up for that. If you don't think that opponents at your stakes can actually bluff like this with pure air, then this is a fold.