Hand Discussion #11: My Thoughts

I think I started the whole “I wouldn’t play A5″ business. I qualified it with “if he was sticky”, which I still think is good poker. Given that we don’t think he is, I like the whole line. I particularly like the delayed c-bet. That should be part of everyone’s game. I also really like the bet sizing at the end if you think he’s a single level thinker who will be scared here. Well played.

However, I think the line I took up to the river is completely acceptable in these small games. To the person who said that the turn bet is horrendous… I completely disagree. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to think of more than one or two situations in the $0.50-$1 games on Full Tilt where I think betting after my opponent checks is ever *horrendous*. Checking in these games shows a lot of weakness, and people also tend to fold when they’re weak rather than look for floats and resteals.

Conversely, I’ve found a great deal of success playing aces in position: check flop, call turn, call river, as long as the board isn’t too scary. It’s essentially pot control on the round that nobody expects it, but it’s quite likely to induce a lot of NL50 opponent to bet inferior hands for two rounds. Of course it carries some risk of of being outdrawn, but most NLHE advantages require some countervailing risk except against terrible players.

Thinking about this hand… If this river wasn’t a heart, A, or K we could have a nice c/r-bluff.

I would follow through w/ bet on flop and give up on turn/river w/ either showdown or fold. I think ur check on flop and bet on turn represents air. i dont think the Kh is scarycard at all. no way i’m giving u credit for flush, and if king hit u then ur range on turn was complete air, or ur holding was very marginal pre. i’m calling u down here with a pretty marginal holding, even though i agree ur pot bet on the river usually represents strength. i think the villain in this spot gives u less credit and will call u down weak too often for this to be a profitable play. this is just my read and i’m playing 3/6 to 10/20 nl so like u said at tougher tables u may change ur line. i would change ur line regardless of being at a “tough” table. gl