Villain is 18/14, EP open 10% with a Ft3b of 29% (2/7) over 375 hands, c-bet 36% (8/22) and 1/4 turns

I'm probably viewed as a reg, but no significant history between us.

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (7 handed) - Hold'em Manager Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($50)
SB ($48.25)
BB ($54.80)
UTG ($57.95)
MP1 ($109.30)
Hero (MP2) ($135.05)
CO ($50.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Q, A
UTG bets $1.75, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.75, 2 folds, SB calls $1.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($5.75) A, 3, 7 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $3.75, Hero calls $3.75, 1 fold

Turn: ($13.25) 3 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: ($13.25) 8 (2 players)
UTG bets $8, Hero folds

discuss

is villain a competent player? imho his river bet may be some thin vbet/bet for range merging purposes w JJ-KK type of hands considering you checked back the turn IP, other than AQ/AK+ hands. i would probably play it similiarly but call the river. would like to hear your thought processes on each street. thanks!

I have detailed thoughts on each street, but I don't want to put them all out there just yet, I'll start with preflop and hopefully some discussion will follow.

I know I have a note on him and it's about him defending his opens light against 3-bets in steal spots, I'm pretty sure I stacked him with AA/KK vs some crap he had a few days ago, but there wasn't anything spewy on my end (for once) so he probably views me as straightforward. I can't remember exactly what it is though.

That said, preflop, if he is in MP/CO or something and I have position I'm most likely 3-betting him for value in position because he is gonna call with a lot of crap. In this spot though I don't like 3-betting because it over-reps my hand and will fold out most of the worse hands and his continuation range will have me crushed. We should have a pretty decent flat range here as he should be pretty easy to play against post with a variety of holdings.

I don't really find a lot of villain's betting AJ here (the most logical hand that you beat imo) and I also don't believe he would turn a hand with sdv into a bluff trying to make you fold a pair. So, I really think you are beat on the river and I like your fold.

The rest looks standard imo

I actually either 3b as a semibluff or fold this preflop. If you're ahead of his pf range, it's still marginal. I'd rather flat with something that can flop good equity or a monster as those hands are generally easier to play than trying to play a hand that is marginally ahead of Villain's range. Playing AQ against a fairly tight range can easily lead to you just playing guessing games like you are on this river.

^^ +1. You either win a small pot or lose a medium sized one.

I prefer b/f'ing the turn w/ the intention of checking back most rivers.

Agree that PF is really debatable fwiw.

I agree with you that there is slightly more value flatting this preflop. A 10% EP open is wider than most and is probably some combination of AJ+,22+ mixed in with some SC/Axs.

But sometimes when I am unsure of how villain plays preflop, as here, I like to actually just 3bet and make my decisions simple postflop.

As played, I am never folding river ever vs this tricky reg. I would assume he would take the standard b/b/b line with his stronger hands vs you since he sees you as a tight/semipassive reg. Your check back on the turn repped weak hands like JJ/QQ and he seems to be getting value from his weak AJ/AQ or bluffing with his 0 equity hands ( low PP, missed SC) after seeing your passive turn check. I usually take the b/c/b with my weaker hands such as low Ax or KK to try to get some value.

maybe abit random but does anyone realise it is 7handed? does villain widen his range here abit to adjust to a more shorthanded playing field?

Agree with all of this.

I like this. If you're just going to check the turn and fold the river, I'm not sure what line you wanted villain to take.

some good replies so far, i need to examine my preflop game more.

Anyways, on the flop, I think standard call.

Why would I bet the turn? for value? does he c/c hearts and AJ/KK/QQ hands here enough to make betting correct? I thought he'd be more likely to call a river bet with something like the above hands than the turn with river action still to come on a relatively dry board.

Anyways, on the river, I don't think he leads AJ/KK, etc. into a made flush when I could have easily called on the flop/checked the turn with 2 hearts. Are there any other hands villain would bet the river with here that I beat? I know I have great odds, but am I really good 1/3 the time?

This, but if we have CO/BTN it's less debatable

This would depend on your fold to cbet, but I think many villians would fire the river with AJ/KK and less because its difficult to put you on anything that beats us excpet for a flush or a flopped set (not too many combos since I dont think you have AA) or maybe AK (I'd not expect too many people to flat an UTg open with AQ-). I'd b/f river here for thin value with any A, a flush, or big pocket pairs.

I would almost always 3 bet here preflop especially against a reg.

The decisions are going to be much easier postflop and also preflop if he 4 bets you.

Thanks for the replies.

In the hand I actually called the river, I figured I would write in that I folded to see if people talked about ranges more. He had AK and, sigh, o well. I'm liking 3b pre the more I think about it, what are we doing with ATs/AJs here, AJo, KQo? (pre that is)

I don't like 3betting UTG regs too much because they will catch on sooner or later. So I usually only 3bet suited AT/AJ, the top of my folding range, and fold everything else. If the reg is pretty aggro 4betting OOP, then I just dump those hands preflop.

People may disagree with me here but I would prolly 3 bet ATs 50% of the time and 50% fold. AJs 75% 3 bet. KQs 40%

I have had good success doing this over the past 60K hands at 50NL

+1