I’ve been busy of late. Actually I was busy a while ago, and people were slow to publish stuff.
Anyway, first up is Where Do the Weak Hands Go?, a Two Plus Two article that should help you think through situations where your opponent begins with a wide range:
This article will suggest a new way of conceptualizing ranges, one that will be especially useful when dealing with situations where one or more players sees the flop with a very wide range. No matter how coordinated the board, a wide range is going to contain a lot of weak hands. Rather than focusing on the strong hands that this player could hold, ask yourself “What will he do with all of those weak hands?”
This is an important question because in these situations your strategy is likely to revolve around what you think your opponent will do with these weak holdings. When your own hand is weak, you want to find a line that will cause your opponent to fold all of his weak hands. When you have a marginal hand with some showdown value, you want to induce bluffs and be careful that you don’t fold too often, lest you get exploited by a bluffy opponent.
I also had the honor of being the first guest on John Beauprez‘s new podcast Bracelet Hunter. Among other things, we talk about why tournament players should seek understand cash game play and important game theory concepts.
Finally, I was on the Strategy with Kristy podcast talking about slow playing.
“You don’t want to raise, because again you can only beat weak hands. Once your opponent folds all of those weak hands, which he probably will if raised, you will be in trouble. You might choose to check-raise as a bluff, but you shouldn’t do it with this hand.”
I just do not buy 100% your strong argument against flop xr in extra wide range situation,tournament,being OOP.
Fold equity is tempting over complex targeting weak range on flop,turn,river.
By calling flop,turn and river you show a lot of confidence in your ability to make sense.
“What will he do with all of those weak hands?”-I will prefer to answer this question when I am in position.
Anyway I like your article very much.
Thanks. I don’t see how you have much fold equity at all here with Kx, though. Most of the hands he folds will be drawing to gutshots or runner-runner anyway. There may be a case for check-raising air, but I don’t see why you’d ever check-raise Kx. Are you saying Hero should never check-call this flop? That seems very wrong to me.
I do not suggest your conclusion are wrong or I will prefer xr over xc or xf.
When I are readless I will execute XC,XC,XC – 99% of time.
I only suggest that flop xr has some benefits.
Fold equity and misrepresentation of your range seems to be the factors.
Xr could help you dismantle early a possible illusion about your opponent “weak” range.
My hobby is to watch HU events (heads-up-high-rollers-scoop events,etc) and I saw several times xr with Kx on AKQ.This is not argument of course.But my observations made me skeptical about XC line.That’s all.
Your hand can be ported and described as standard and very frequent HU play – two players see flop with wide range.
You try to play your marginal range against his weak range.
I still do not like population tendencies for 3 barrels.
The overall good news is that boards are wet and heavy.
l like for this poker strategi in hole, goodluck…;))