I haz pair, I callz !

[Qgel]

A fun little hand at rush poker :



Full Tilt Poker $200.00 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $58.00
MP: $474.50
CO: $297.00
BTN: $632.85
SB: $2293.75
Hero (BB): $200.00

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BB with A 2
3 folds, BTN raises to $5, SB calls $4, Hero raises to $22, 1 fold, SB calls $17

Flop: ($49.00) 7 T 3 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($49.00) 2 (2 players)
SB bets $38.00, Hero calls $38

River: ($125.00) T (2 players)
SB bets $150.00, Hero calls $140 all in

Final Pot: $405.00
SB shows Q K
Hero shows A 2
Hero wins $402.00
(Rake: $3.00)

[podbelski]

omg

I understand his river shove looked suspicious, but what was your plan when calling the turn bet? Did you think you beat him at that moment?

[Qgel]

I had a decent read on him, he was basically an overaggro fish. On the turn I figured I beat the vast majority of his range since he is incapable of valuebetting thinly but would bet 100% of his air. Similar thing on the river although on that card I dont expect him to bet 100% of his air but still very few value hands he could have.

In these spots you either look like an idiot or like a genius when you make the call. I've been on both sides

[podbelski]

Then it's different, sounds like you played with him before, otherwise I don't know how can you have a read on a guy in rush games

[Qgel]

It's not as difficult as you'd think. At 25NL rush it's harder since there's a few hundred people playing, whereas, at 200nl there were only about 60 or so. Now take into account that we were both multi tabling and you'll inevitably play quite a few hands vs each other in just a single session.

[urbansprawler]

Originally Posted by Qgel

I had a decent read on him, he was basically an overaggro fish. On the turn I figured I beat the vast majority of his range since he is incapable of valuebetting thinly but would bet 100% of his air. Similar thing on the river although on that card I dont expect him to bet 100% of his air but still very few value hands he could have.

In these spots you either look like an idiot or like a genius when you make the call. I've been on both sides

I have to say you don't look like too much of a genius to me.

Firstly, squeezing this out of position against players you have barely any reads against isn't a very profitable strategy considering how +EV seeing a flop with this hand will be.

Second, I'd like to hear reasoning for checking that dry ass flop.

Third, what do you mean he can't have value hands? 77, 33, 22, and ATs are all in his range. The river overbet looks fishy so I can understand calling it, but the rest of the hand seems like major spew to me.

[chinz]

Firstly, squeezing this out of position against players you have barely any reads against isn't a very profitable strategy considering how +EV seeing a flop with this hand will be.

I don't really mind the squeeze, we have A blocker and hand that plays somewhat good in 3bet pots too. I could either call or 3bet here. As long as you don't fold I think it's fine.

Second, I'd like to hear reasoning for checking that dry ass flop.

What are you trying to make fold (other than KQ, KJ, QJ probably) by cbetting? You're getting bluffraised off your hand a ton on so dry flop and you're not really folding too many better hands.

[urbansprawler]

Originally Posted by chinz

I don't really mind the squeeze, we have A blocker and hand that plays somewhat good in 3bet pots too. I could either call or 3bet here. As long as you don't fold I think it's fine.



What are you trying to make fold (other than KQ, KJ, QJ probably) by cbetting? You're getting bluffraised off your hand a ton on so dry flop and you're not really folding too many better hands.

Many players will fold low pp's, and AJ/AQ.

Squeezing preflop is okay with reads, not so much without. However, if you're squeezing, it's not to check back dry flops.

Also, suited aces do not play well in 3b pots. Don't know why you think this, but you will only flop a flush draw about 10% of the time and even then you still have to hit it. You effectively have only one good card, and it suffers from significant reverse implied odds. A2s is a hand that relies almost entirely on fold equity to be profitable in this situation; if you do not bet, how will you ever get fold equity?

[chinz]

Originally Posted by urbansprawler

Many players will fold low pp's, and AJ/AQ.

Still, cbetting this board without the intention to barrell at least some turns/rivers is probably somewhere around breakeven. The board is so ridiculously dry, that you can't really expect too many hands to fold.

I don't hate cbetting, but I don't hate checking back either.

Also, suited aces do not play well in 3b pots

If villain calls with 77 preflop, would you rather have 3bet with 56s or A2s? 56s has only 18.7% equity, but A2s has 33.4%... And we have position to one of the players, so if he calls, our preflop equity really means quite a lot.

Actually against their calling range, if it's like [55-99, AJ (AQ?), KJ+ maybe QJs] A2s has wayyyy better equity than hand like 56s would have.

We do have a chance to flop TP (and in position we can probably play it profitably even without kicker) and if we cbet a dry flop and get called, we almost always have outs. If he has better A high, we have a live kicker out, if he has PP or TP without A, we have ace out.

So, having an ace in your hand has some value postflop... It's not great, but still I'd rather have A2s than something like 78o if my 3bet gets called.

[Qgel]

Originally Posted by urbansprawler

I have to say you don't look like too much of a genius to me.

Never said I was. I was referring to hero calls in general in my earlier post.

Firstly, squeezing this out of position against players you have barely any reads against isn't a very profitable strategy considering how +EV seeing a flop with this hand will be.

You're exaggerating, it is not that +EV to call. maybe if the stacks were deeper I could agree. 3betting is definitely profitable, BTN will fold a ton of better hands. Yes, the lack of reads does impact things but we can make a general assumption that he will fold a lot based on stack sizes and his raise size. I am not worried about the fish in the SB because since the BTN will fold most of the time I will have position on the SB.

Second, I'd like to hear reasoning for checking that dry ass flop.

Pot control! I think I have the best hand a decent amount but I don't expect this guy to fold a pair. I also expect him to C/raise with all draws, even gutshots and the occasional total air which would make it very difficult for me to continue even when I have the best hand.

Third, what do you mean he can't have value hands? 77, 33, 22, and ATs are all in his range. The river overbet looks fishy so I can understand calling it, but the rest of the hand seems like major spew to me.

Please, don't put words into my mouth, I never said he can't have value hands. I said I expect to beat the majority of his range. By majority I mean that I lose to 77, 33, 22 (very unlikely) maybe AT and maybe TT but he would likely 3bet it pre. But those hands aside, I expect him to bet with his air 100% of the time. Since his preflop range is likely to be wide that is a lot of air, don't you think?

Also, don't claim things you don't know like "opponents you have barely any reads on" . You don't know whether or not I had any reads because I didn't tell you whether or not I had any reads, and I didn't tell you that because that wasn't relevant, and it wasn't relevant because I posted this in the "Brags/Beats" section and not on the strategy section asking for advice.

Phew, it takes forever to put thoughts on paper.

By the way, no offense meant, urban. Always happy to receive some constructive criticism