PLO-Style

PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, $4.00 BB (5 handed) – Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (BB) ($400)
UTG ($400)
MP ($300)
Button ($414)
SB ($425)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 10, A
2 folds, Button bets $12, 1 fold, Hero calls $8

Flop: ($26) 6, J, 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $20, Hero calls $20

Turn: ($66) K (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

River: ($66) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $44, Button raises to $116, Hero raises to $368 (All-In), 1 fold

Total pot: $298 | Rake: $2

Results:
Hero didn’t show 10, A (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $296

I called the flop thinking A-high would be good often enough, but by the river I felt like there was more value in turning my hand into a bluff by leading out.

I must say, the raise surprised me. I really had no idea what to make of it: could be a thin value raise with J9/89, could be QT, could be turning something into a bluff. I actually thought flushes were less likely since the turn is such a good double barrel spot (unless she has the Jd or 8d, I suppose), and anyways she can’t have the nuts (not that I expect her to fold any flush).

If you’re ever going to bluff here, and quite possibly you shouldn’t, but if you’re ever going to, then Adx is the hand to do it with. Come to think of it, Jdx and 8dx are good candidates too, though it’s not so likely you’d be bluffing the river with those.

3 thoughts on “PLO-Style”

  1. I like the river shove, but I’m not really sure about the initial river bet. As you said, the Kd on the turn is a good barreling card if he happens to pick up a flush draw, but it’s also a good one if he doesn’t. So I’d assume that his range here is weighted towards marginal 1 pair hands, like 2nd pair weakish kicker or something. I think you’ll get called here pretty often.
    What would you do if he bets on the turn? Do you think it would be a good play to c/r when you pick up a gutshot? KJ/K8/J8/sets make some sense and you have a little equity against his calling range, but not as much that c/ring and folding to a shove would be bad.

    • I agree his range weights towards marginal 1 pair hands- that’s what I was trying to get him to fold. I was thinking maybe everything worse than Jacks.

      I think I’m more likely to check-call the turn than check-raise. I don’t see him bet-folding many better hands on the turn, and he’s probably not folding the draws either. I suppose I could c/r and then c/c blank rivers, but I’m not wild about that.

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