8 replies to this topic

[speedz99]

Hey All,I usually just mess around in the general forum, but I want to start getting into the strategy area. I had a hand come up yesterday that I wasn't sure about. I might have played it correctly, but there is a chance that I made a terrible call. Sorry I don't have the hand converted, so I'll make it as easy as possible...Final table, I am second in chips with 5200 in the BB with 7 players left. Blinds are 100-200.Hero: dealt A6cThree limpers, small blind completes, I check.Flop: 10c 5c 2dHero bets: 1000 (semi-bluff, thinking they would put me on 1 or 2 pair out of BB)UTG all in: 2100UTG+1 all in: 890The others fold to me. I figure at least one of them has a set. If I fold I am still in good shape with 4000. If I call, I will be chip leader and will cash at the very least, most likely in top two positions. Again, this might be an easy fold, but I am new to NL and wasn't sure. I called, lost, and went out a while later in 5th, right on the bubble.Thanks for the help.

[Vade]

You're not in the money yet? Then I think you have to check your nut flush draw and see what happens.On the bubble, you have to be wary of hands like this :-/

[cdddc75]

Agree with Vade. If you get called or raised, you are way behind.Throwing out a small bet (300-400) to find out where you are might be even better.

[speedz99]

cdddc75 said:

Agree with Vade. If you get called or raised, you are way behind.Throwing out a small bet (300-400) to find out where you are might be even better.

When you guys are at a final table, do you take into consideration the fact that you might be on a draw, but if you hit it will give you a great shot to win it all? I figured if it was for even money the call would be -EV, but the win could give me the shot to win big, so that raised the value of my hand.Is that legit?

[Vade]

Eh, your other problem is your lack of position. If you just check, perhaps your opponents will either check or make a bet that you can mathematically call.

[cdddc75]

speedz99 said:

cdddc75 said:

Agree with Vade. If you get called or raised, you are way behind.Throwing out a small bet (300-400) to find out where you are might be even better.

When you guys are at a final table, do you take into consideration the fact that you might be on a draw, but if you hit it will give you a great shot to win it all? I figured if it was for even money the call would be -EV, but the win could give me the shot to win big, so that raised the value of my hand.Is that legit?

It's a fair point, but it sounds like you were in a position where you could still do well if you got away from that hand. That's why I think a feeler bet is the best play here. I don't think calling the allins is horrible, but I'm trying to teach myself to stay away from calling off a good chunk of my hard earned stack on a draw. The pot odds probably even justify the call (or make it very close at least). I just wouldn't want to take myself out of "big stack" status on a fairly bare nut flush draw. Nut flush draw + straight draw or some other draw...maybe...

[speedz99]

Thanks for the help guys.

[gobears]

I would have checked the flop for a couple of reasons:1. You're out of position2. Everyone limped in; three to act behind you - if you don't bet, I think that it's more likely that you can see the turn for cheap3. You're in the BB so they have no idea what you have; if you make your flush, you can potentially win quite a few chips.4. A semi bluff works better with few players in the pot; it's more likely with four other players that the flop hit someone. In terms of the call, you're getting 4990 for your call of 1100. I would call this.