Why Choose?

A lot of players are torn about what to do when they know an opponent is frequently betting the flop without a hand. Is it better to float, or to bluff-raise? I’ve written a strategy article on the subject, but in the 1K FTOPS tonight, I had the chance to do both in the same hand:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em Tournament, 30/60 Blinds (6 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) (t9676)
SB (t1885)
BB (t5429)
UTG (t9245)
MP (t2815)
CO (t8180)

Hero’s M: 107.51

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, 9
UTG bets t150, 2 folds, Hero calls t150, 2 folds

Flop: (t390) 2, 10, 4 (2 players)
UTG bets t210, Hero raises to t526, UTG raises to t1035, Hero calls t509

Turn: (t2460) 9 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets t999, 1 fold

Total pot: t2460

Results:
Hero didn’t show J, 9.
Outcome: Hero won t2460

Villain was tight and extremely aggressive when involved in a hand. Nevertheless, I don’t think there’s a single value hand he 3-bets on this flop. I was betting any turn and expecting him to fold, but I don’t think that’s a reason to check a 9, as I don’t feel I can call a bet on most any river.

8 thoughts on “Why Choose?”

  2. Was V any good? It looks like he was just pounding away with no plan other than to try to push you around. It’s not like either of you was likely to be all over this flop.

  4. NH!

    so by saying “I don’t think there’s a single value hand he 3-bets on this flop.” you mean he can be betting an overpair for value here b/c he has to worry about you have a set on this kind of board? so he’s 3-bet on flop is mostly bluff unless he has TT.(although i think he would play top set this fast.)

    and even you hit a 9 on the turn you were basicly betting to bluff?

    i’m relatively new to poker so my questions may look dumb….

    thanks.

    • I think that he’s saying that on that board if this particular villain was looking for value he’d check rather than c-bet. Rather, if V. had a good hand (overpair, trips, or 2 pair-the last one being highly unlikely with him being a tag, taking the preflop action into account) a c-bet will cause a fold more often than not and villain probably knows this.

      • Sorry, I mistyped and got distracted. I meant to write 3-bet and call. Villain probably knows a 3-bet will cause more folds and if he were looking for value he’d probably call to check in order to trap

    • KR is right-on about how I’d expect him to respond to my raise. Regarding the turn bet, it’s really a bet for protection more than anything. I think he most likely has something like AJ that is behind but that has outs and that isn’t going to bluff the river. Therefore, I prefer to make a small bet to take the pot now rather than give him a free card to improve.

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