5-150 Line check

[RyanAz]

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to think what you thought of this hand that I played, I think I played it poorly, but then thought about it later; and deemed it 'okay' given the way this player plays. But I just want to see what you others think.

5-150 game, 11am, table (26) has been going for what appears all night, so a few stacks on the table..I sat down about a half hour ago, so far only hand i've shown is a set of tens, have a generally tight, overly aggressive tag image I suppose. Two regulars, Monty who is in seat 3, and a chinese lady who I recognize but dont know her name in seat 6 (my left, im seat 5)

start of the hand there are 3 limpers, it gets back to me in the small blind and I have A/Q os. I raise to 40 total, everyone folds except seat 9, who so far has been playing like a maniacal lag, not sure if its because she is tired (she has been playing all night) or what, but she was being very aggressive. she calls, no other callers.

flop comes A-Q-2 two diamonds. Im normally not a trappy player, but I just hit the deck like crazy here, and im expecting her to bet. I check. She checks behind. Turn comes a 4d completing the flush, and a gutter draw. She instantly pushes 150 in. (Read on this though: Ive seen her do this plenty of times with as little as 2nd pair, I should have probably error'd on the side of folding, but I put her on a goofy hand like K-Q, or A-4) and I figured she was trying to bully the pot like ive seen her do many times.*** also a little more history on this player is that a few hands earlier I had AK, and stacked her for a 900 dollar pot, so wasnt sure if she was steaming/trying to get even.) So I called.

River comes an offsuit 8 I believe. She again fires 150, I hesitated, sighed..called, and she flipped over 4-4 for a set of 4's. Given the reads that I had, her image, and the context of her and I. I just want to see how other people would have played the hand.

As a plus side, I still managed to cash 335 for the session.

Ryan H

[CrazyLond]

The preflop raise is alright although I prefer to raise a slightly smaller amount, maybe 35.  Although while out of position, I would be happy to just take down the limpers, I don't like creating such a big pot out of position with a marginal hand.  Hands like AQ can be very tough to play out of position when you flop 1 pair and face an aggresive opponent.

Anyway, given what you said about her and the preflop action, I tend to lead out on the flop.  The amount depends on any information you have on her...you said she was aggresive, would she be likely to interpret an under-bet as weak and raise?  Generally, I bet slightly smaller than usual for that board texture.  Most people consider a bet in your spot pretty standard and if she was possibly on tilt from a prior hand, she is quite likely to call with any number of holdings.  Also, your hand is very strong on the flop but there are a lot of hands that have live outs on the turn and river which seem they would be in her range (KJ, JT, underpairs, any 2 diamonds, maybe even KT if she really is a loose cannon).  I hate letting those hands draw for free and then face a scare card on the turn out of position.  Two-pair is a great flop but even top 2 are vulnerable on a drawy board.  I would probably lead out with a bet of $50, a small bet for a board with 2 diamonds and 2 broadway cards (I wouldn't consider wheel draws since these holdings seem so unlikely).  With this bet, I'm getting action from any ace, giving gutshot draws the wrong odds to call, giving flush draws good odds to draw (but not as good as a free card) and quite possibly getting a call if she paired the queen.  Anyway, after deciding to check the flop and she checks behind, I lead out on the turn.  At some point you want to get money in the pot and with a scary turn it's vital to find out where you are in the hand.  When you check and she bets into you, you really have no information to go off other than the size of her bet.  If I had checked the flop, I would probably lead the turn for about the same amount, $50.

Given the check on the turn and her overbet, I'd just go with my gut.  In those types of situations, I will look for physical tells and generally go with my gut.  Many players will feel nervous about betting that much in that game, especially if they are bluffing and will often give information away. The "correct" play I believe would be to fold...even if you are throwing away the best hand, a player who would bet $150 into a $100 pot on the turn without having the least of your likely callable holdings beat will probably give you plenty of opportunities to win their money later.  Also, if she is even remotely observant, you checking that flop to her must ring some kindof alarm bells given you said you had a tight and aggressive image...tight, aggressive players will usually C-Bet, if not on the flop then definitely on the turn.  If she is betting with a lesser hand than AQ, she is either a terrible player or far smarter than I.  If I had to pick based on your description, I'd guess terrible and would feel confident she'd donate it all back anyway.  It's a tough hand to get away from as you've shown none of your hand's strength but at the same time "big bets usually mean big hands".  Unless I got some kindof physical read that was too good to fake, I would probably fold and go for a smoke break.

[CrazyLond]

Oh, and if I had called the turn bet, I would certainly call the river one as well.  Once you've decided you're going to go with a hand for 150 in that game, you pretty much have to call again on the river unless the river card dramatically changes the texture of the board, like counterfeiting you or possibly 4-flushing the board.

[RyanAz]

Thanks for replying CL;

I raised that amount to A) shut out the tighter players like Monty (snoop), and juice it up for that Lag, since my AQ is going to be better than most of her range, and even if I completely whiff the flop, I should be able to continue and take down the pot with my image. Im okay with playing AQ oop vs this player.

I guess my biggest mistake was not leading the flop against this lady, but like I said; I was a large favorite and wanted to give her something to catch up with and a chance to bluff this flop.

I probably should have just laid it down on the flop, since there wasnt that much money invested in it; I just thought I was still getting value for the hand honestly. When she did it, like A/4 flashed in my head, and I usually go with my read at that point, and generally its right...It was half right this time, she just happened to have 4-4, bleh :P

I wouldnt mind actually playing this lady again, im pretty sure I hold a huge edge over here, as most of my profits from this game came from her, and her stuck swung huge throughout the session. She called tons of raises oop and generally just was wild.

Btw, is this forum dead or what? Seems no one posts here; just lurks if anything--And there arent many 5-150 players, just a few higher 20/40+ players.

[gregski]

I guess my biggest mistake was not leading the flop against this lady, but like I said; I was a large favorite and wanted to give her something to catch up with and a chance to bluff this flop.

You accomplished what you wanted, she caught up.  next time don't check the flop.  top two you arn't folding vs her ever.  even if u bet the flop she may float her 4's and then still take your $300 on the turn and river.

Btw, is this forum dead or what? Seems no one posts here; just lurks if anything--And there arent many 5-150 players, just a few higher 20/40+ players.

This forum never really got started, it lacks members. - Maybe not Members, it lacks posters.

[that_pope]

Eh, I don't like the hand that much, but please keep in mind I am not a 5/150 player at all.  I don't like checking the flop, but once you do, I actually like the turn check, because now the person wont think you have AA or QQ, because checking once is standard, but twice, nah. 

As for the forum, I try my best to keep it active and post everywhere, but yeah, not many people post here enough.  Not that it is a bad thing that the majority of the people who come and play poker at the casino dont think about the game outside of the casino.

[mykl strng]

Hi Ryan I read your story from the 5-150 table. I came to this forum in hopes to find some general guidelines to help me play the 5-150 and 10-150 tables at CAZ I generally play NLHE tournament style but was considering 5-150 in an attempt to build my bankroll. I am a fairly new player to this game. I started playing in august of 08. I have a very good understanding of the game and when I put my mind to it I usually place. yes there are times I'm just not in the zone and make bad plays or bad calls and bust. I do realize that switching to cash ring games will require me to change up my game I think I am capable of doing that. So basically i want to know what to expect as far as the betting structure pre flop, flop, turn & river. I want to know what the max buy in is, what the rake is & what caliber of player should I expect to be playing against. I really don't want to sit down at the table without knowing the basics. Any help would be appreciated Thank you.