Archive for October 17th, 2009

I posted an admittedly under-explained bit of advice last night. I was cryptic for a reason: if I’m too specific here, anyone who reads this blog could exploit the hell out of a very common spot. But here’s a pretty simple example that I don’t think is giving away too much:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (6 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($2404)
Button ($2311.25)
SB ($1025)
Hero (BB) ($2000)
UTG ($2976.45)
MP ($3368.50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7, 8
2 folds, CO bets $30, Button calls $30, 1 fold, Hero raises to $133, CO calls $103, Button calls $103

Flop: ($404) 10, 2, 2 (3 players)
Hero bets $277, CO calls $277, 1 fold

Turn: ($958) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $400, Hero raises to $1590 (All-In), CO calls $1190

River: ($4138) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $4138 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had 7, 8 (one pair, twos).
CO had K, K (two pair, Kings and twos).
Outcome: CO won $4135

I’m only using this as an example of a transparent turn bet. I’m definitely not holding this up as an example of a well-played hand on my part. Notice how Villain, holding the effective nuts, bets an uncommonly small amount, less than half the pot, in order to insure that I have room to check-raise him. Suppose Villain has the big draw instead- do you think he’d bet the same amount that he did with KK?

Most players handle the turn far worse than any other street. In particular, when the pot is getting large, even very good players tend to revert to level two thinking on the turn. They are making the play that they think is best given their hand versus your range, with little consideration for what they are representing. Pay attention to your opponent’s turn bet sizing, especially in large pots, and ask yourself, “What does it look like he’s trying to get me to do?” Then, do the opposite.

Note that this isn’t generic advice for all streets. Many players can get into complex leveling wars, so you can’t always just do the opposite of what it seems your opponent wants. But on the turn, in big pots, you usually can.