I had a very frustrating 11th place finish in the $150 6-max today. Lost a huge coin flip. It’s a good thing that’s the last thing I was playing because it was the most frustrated I’ve let myself get in months. Anyway, here are two key hands.
CO was a little frisky, had previously flatted one of my UTG raises and shown down A8s (to chop with my AK on AQQQx). I didn’t recognize SB but he seemed quite good. Notice that on every street I’m getting a very good price on my bluff and no real show of strength from anyone. With all of the draws out there, I think there’s no chance that CO is slowplaying a good hand. He’s either drawing himself or calling down pretty light:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 162 Tournament, 3000/6000 Blinds 750 Ante (6 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP (t40549)
CO (t295943)
Button (t63912)
SB (t313393)
BB (t208500)
Hero (UTG) (t187433)
Hero’s M: 13.88
Preflop: Hero is UTG with A♠, 9♥
Hero bets t12000, 1 fold, CO calls t12000, 1 fold, SB calls t9000, 1 fold
Flop: (t46500) 8♦, 7♦, K♥ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets t24680, CO calls t24680, 1 fold
Turn: (t95860) J♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t55555, CO calls t55555
River: (t206970) 3♣ (2 players)
Hero bets t94448 (All-In), 1 fold
Total pot: t206970
Results:
Hero didn’t show A♠, 9♥ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t206970
I like the tricksy turn check in this hand. Turning two pair means I no longer need to play my hand as a semi-bluff, so I give Villain rope to “protect” with a lesser hand or bluff a draw. When he checks back, I’m pretty sure he’s drawing. River is one of the best clubs I could ask for, since it completes JT. Then again, his other draws are all better flushes than mine. I was pretty sure I was good when I bet so small, but I’ve run into so many flush under flush spots recently that I wussed out and called.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 162 Tournament, 1000/2000 Blinds 250 Ante (6 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
CO (t82536)
Button (t70276)
SB (t81412)
Hero (BB) (t108577)
UTG (t143091)
MP (t97122)
Hero’s M: 24.13
Preflop: Hero is BB with 8♣, 5♣
UTG bets t4444, MP calls t4444, 1 fold, Button calls t4444, 1 fold, Hero calls t2444
Flop: (t20276) 9♣, 8♦, 4♣ (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets t10000, MP calls t10000, 1 fold, Hero raises to t33333, UTG calls t23333, 1 fold
Turn: (t96942) 5♥ (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks
River: (t96942) 7♣ (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets t30000, Hero calls t30000
Total pot: t156942
Results:
Hero had 8♣, 5♣ (flush, nine high).
UTG had 10♥, J♣ (straight, Jack high).
Outcome: Hero won t156942
Hand 1
NH – I like the thought process a lot.
Hand 2
I’m not sure I understand the reasons for a turn check here. You state “Turning two pair means I no longer need to play my hand as a semi-bluff, so I give Villain rope to “protect” with a lesser hand or bluff a draw.”
I would imagine most hands that are betting in this spot themsleves are going to call a bet anyways – and while I guess there’s something to be said for getting him to B/F a hand like JT or KsJs – he also may check those back which is not a good outcome.
I may also be making an incorrect assumption here, but I think MTTers are more likely to bet/call flop with a hand like A9 and check turn than b/f (or b/c) turn. Most of them just aren’t as adept at reading hand ranges as cash game players.
Also, given how many draws are on this board, I think if you bet turn he still call fairly wide (either drawing himself, or putting you on a JT or spades).
River i would c/mr 🙂 – i think 6x is a hand he can put you on c/mr for value – so you def get called by worse and I don’t think he jams as a bluff ever.