I’m posting here every pot for a two-hour session yesterday in which I either lost or won more than $100 and in which I either bet or raised the river. I think it’s a good sign that even when I lose, I’m usually the river aggressor. This means I’m missing fewer value bets on the river and not making too many ‘crying calls’. Generally, if I’m not going to like where I stand on the river, I get out of the hand earlier.
The Overbet Bluff
Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold’em, $4 BB (5 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com
BB ($401.50)
UTG ($392)
MP ($576.30)
Button ($392)
Hero ($1471)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Kd, Jc.
3 folds, Hero raises to $12, BB calls $8.
Flop: ($24) Th, Qs, 7h (2 players)
Hero bets $24, BB calls $24.
Turn: ($72) 8s (2 players)
Hero bets $70, BB calls $70.
River: ($212) 3h (2 players)
Hero bets $300, BB calls $295.50 (All-In).
Final Pot: $807.50
Results in white below:
Hero has Kd Jc (high card, king).
BB has 2c Qc (one pair, queens).
Outcome: BB wins $803. Hero wins $4.50.
Nice call. My flop range is pretty wide, though on a coordinated board like this, against a smart opponent who is somewhat familiar with me, I often give up with air. On the turn, I’m potting again with any draw, but I’m giving up with air and some made hands, probably everything worse than T9. When I don’t get raised on the turn, I know Villain’s hand can’t be that strong. There are way too many draws out there for him to slowplay two pair or better. I also think he’s likely to play more aggressively with a flush draw, which makes the river a good card for me to shove.
After the turn goes bet-call, I’m probably going to check and call with good one pair hands on the river, value bet smaller with two pair, and shove sets, flushes, and busted draws. If the river weren’t a heart, I think his call would be fine, but on a heart river, I don’t think he beats enough of my range to make the river call profitable. Oh well. I’m sure he pays me off if I hit my straight, then.
Straightforward Value Bet
Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold’em, $4 BB (5 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com
Button ($438.70)
SB ($410)
BB ($400)
UTG ($334.80)
Hero ($1290.20)
Preflop: Hero is MP with 9h, Qh.
UTG calls $4, Hero raises to $18, 3 folds, UTG calls $14.
Flop: ($42) 8c, 3s, 7c (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($42) Qd (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $32, UTG calls $32.
River: ($106) 8d (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $74, UTG calls $74.
Final Pot: $254
Results in white below:
UTG doesn’t show.
Hero has 9h Qh (two pair, queens and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $254.
This is sort of a block, because I’m definitely folding to a raise, but I think it’s important to block big. If your bet looks like a blocking bet, your opponent is more likely to fold the stuff you want him to call with and/or to bluff raise you. But if you make a bet that looks like trips or a bluff, you can get looked up by stuff like middle pair. Just one of the advantages to having a wide and diverse range.
Value/Block Bet
Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold’em, $4 BB (6 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com
MP ($468.40)
CO ($422.20)
Button ($469.80)
SB ($408)
Hero ($419.90)
UTG ($400)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Tc, Qs.
UTG raises to $8, 4 folds, Hero calls $4.
Flop: ($18) Qc, 5d, 6c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $13, Hero calls $13.
Turn: ($44) Qh (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $30, Hero raises to $98, UTG calls $68.
River: ($240) 2c (2 players)
Hero bets $100, UTG calls $100.
Final Pot: $440
Results in white below:
Hero has Tc Qs (three of a kind, queens).
UTG has Qd Jd (three of a kind, queens).
Outcome: UTG wins $440.
I’m generally not a fan of block bets, but when they are also value bets, I like them. This is a good example, even though it turns out I was behind.
The Problem With Predictable River Play
Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold’em, $6 BB (6 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com
SB ($600)
BB ($525.85)
UTG ($455)
MP ($170.25)
Hero ($636)
Button ($612)
Preflop: Hero is CO with Kd, Th.
UTG calls $6, 1 fold, Hero raises to $27, 2 folds, BB calls $21, UTG calls $21.
Flop: ($84) 8c, Td, Tc (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $49, BB calls $49, UTG folds.
Turn: ($182) 4s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $110, BB calls $110.
River: ($402) 6c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $450 (All-In), BB calls $339.85 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1191.85
Results in white below:
BB doesn’t show.
Hero has Kd Th (three of a kind, tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $1191.85.
This hand illustrates why it’s important to mix up your river play. Although I don’t have any history with this guy, I’m comfortable assuming that he’s not checking a straight or better to me on the river. That allows me to shove my trips for value even though every draw got there.
The Ol’ River Raise-Fold
Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold’em, $6 BB (4 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com
SB ($497.10)
BB ($363.25)
UTG ($329)
Hero ($600)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 9c, Tc.
1 fold, Hero raises to $18, SB calls $15, 1 fold.
Flop: ($42) Qd, Ad, Qc (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($42) Jh (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.
River: ($42) 8s (2 players)
SB bets $35, Hero raises to $100, SB raises to $300, Hero folds.
Final Pot: $442
Results in white below:
SB doesn’t show.
Outcome: SB wins $442.
Pretty straightforward. Worse hands will call the raise, and most players aren’t capable of 3-betting without a full house here, so I can fold very comfortably to a re-raise.
Brag
Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold’em, $4 BB (5 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com
SB ($290.50)
BB ($329.40)
UTG ($124)
MP ($69.60)
Hero ($618.20)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ts, Ah.
2 folds, Hero raises to $14, 1 fold, BB calls $10.
Flop: ($30) 8c, Js, 7s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $19, BB calls $19.
Turn: ($68) 9s (2 players)
BB bets $26, Hero raises to $85, BB calls $59.
River: ($238) 8s (2 players)
BB bets $100, Hero raises to $500.2 (All-In), BB calls $111.40 (All-In).
Final Pot: $949.60
Results in white below:
BB doesn’t show.
Hero has Ts Ah (straight flush, jack high).
Outcome: Hero w
ins $949.60.