PokerStars - $0.05 NL FAST (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BTN: 71 BB
Hero (SB): 117.6 BB
BB: 104 BB
UTG: 180.2 BB
MP: 100 BB
CO: 103.6 BB

Hero posts SB 0.4 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 1.4 BB) Hero has 9 9

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 4.4 BB, BB raises to 9 BB, Hero calls 4.6 BB

Do you 4bet here against unknown? Do you fold? Or do you call and get into ugly spot, where you are OOP and in 80% approx higher card is going to come OTF?

Flop: (18 BB, 2 players) 2 8 8
Hero checks, BB bets 8.6 BB

Hero? Do you donk bet here like 1/3 pot or is it just bad play?

Your pf raise is way too big. 3x is standard.

Call the 3bet.

Can donk lead 25% sizing as we have trips advantage + spade but I wouldn't unless you have studied these spots.

As played, XR small is probably higher EV in practice than calling.

+1 smaller pre

Our range is far too weak to donk here and if we size it super small villain will just float and then we will be in the same spot on the turn, except against a stronger range than if we had check-called the flop.

Our hand has too much SDV to check raise...would prefer to x/r with smaller pps

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

But what about 4x pre oop? As we are OOP dont we want to make it a little bit bigger?
And what about 3betting? Lets say button is opening with 3x and we are on SB. Do you 3bet just 3x or is also 4x reasonable? I guess this topic is quite complex, but Im would like to know your opinion and your thoughts. Thank you


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Normally for the 3bets it's around 3x when you're in position, and 4x from the SB.
The reasoning is not as complicated as it seems. The 4x from OOP is just to put a heavier price for calling a three bet from the button (where you already have a positional advantage), otherwise you could call very lightly and just see what happens. The 3x is to make a good price for the OOP to still call you, it's not great to call a huge raise and also be in a disadvantageous position.
As the open here could've just put 3BB in, with 4.4 it ends up being too big a pot for no reason. I wouldn't do the donk bet generally, sure you could have trips or a full, or a flush draw but more often than not you'll get called or raised with pretty much any hand. As the others said a x/r or x/c on the flop would be best