4 replies to this topic

[tech_mage]

Aright, I really have had a problem with people checking and when I bet raising. Almost about 90% of the time, it is from High pair. I really wish to know what to do. I will give you a senario that will better explain my situation.I have QJ suited {spades} on the small blind. Blinds are 100/200 with My chip stack at about 8,500 and the opposing players at 9,350. Third position raises it about 800. Everyone else folds, but the guy I'm speaking of is a very aggressive player out of position. I actually thought about mucking this hand, but instead chose to call it.The flop comes Qh, 5h, 10d.The player checks and I bet 1,2oo. I truely felt that was the right way to play it. The bet shows a strong hand, but also it shows I won't mind a call or a raise here at the same time. Pot before this was 1650 (Small/big) remember.He goes in the tank for about 10 seconds or so, and makes the call. That gave me a red flag he was not on a straight draw. The way this player plays, I could feel he had somthing. I put him on 10-x. I was thinking 10-K.4th Street shows a blank(I think) 2s.He checks it to me. I bet 1,600 to keep it in line with the pot a bit, and at the same time, show an increase in the amount I want. He calls the bet immediatly. Now I know he is not on a straight draw. The spade, in no possible way by numerical value or not could have possibly helped him. This player might be aggressive, but not dumb enough to play 2-x and raise it unless it is an A. Even that is giving him a bit too little credit.River shows another blank(5s)He checks it to me. Now the pot size is 7250. I honestly could not figure if I was right on this read, but was a bit worried on what his kicker was, or if the river paired him. I checked it in the final card, and he had 10 K offsuit. I was wondering if it was correct to check at that point. I sensed some weakness on his part, but still was not sure if I had the right read. I assumed if I was the first to bet on that, I would have bet him to keep him from raising me higher. It is a bit of a thing I have to work on. Any advice in playing these type of hands would be greatly appreciated.

[jayboogie]

well it depends if this is a tournament situation or a ring game. Judging from what you wrote, it's probably a tournament. I think you played it properly. The hand I'd put him on his either AQ, Q10, 22 or A5 possibly. I'd probably check the river down, considering I'd be satisfied with the pot the way that it is and it seems like a trap considering he called 2 bets, you usually have to give him credit for hitting something. I'm guessing that he check-raised you on the river right? If that were the case, most likely, he held Q10 IMO. Most very aggressive players like to slow play when they hit top 2 pair like this. Especially, if they know you will bet when you hit your cards. Considering this, he let you control the action and when the turn and river came out blanks, he probably knew his hand was good and that you'd bet into him. A slight possibility is A5, but that's probably only if he's a bad player who would call down with bottom pair and 1 overcard. The other hand may have been 22, I've seen it be played very aggressively before and he immediately called when the 2 hit on the turn, so possibly he hit his set. Either way, I think your better off checking down the river when you don't have a great kicker for your queen.

[jayistheman]

http://www.chrisferg...supdate.cgi?s=2i dont know how much this applies to top pair, but judging from that action, id consider QJ to be a "medium-weak" hand as stated in the article.

[CoranMoran]

Quote

I was wondering if it was correct to check at that point. I sensed some weakness on his part, but still was not sure if I had the right read.  

Betting on the river should only be done for 2 reasons. -->You have absolutely nothing, but you feel that a bluff will make your opponent fold the better hand. --> You have the best hand and want to get as much value out of it as possible. Betting marginal hands on the river (top pair) is almost always a bad idea, because your opponent will usually call/raise you if he has you beat, and he will usually fold when he does not. Thus you gain nothing from these marginal river bets. --cnm

[Smasharoo]

He checks it to me. Now the pot size is 7250. I honestly could not figure if I was right on this read, but was a bit worried on what his kicker was, or if the river paired him. I checked it in the final card, and he had 10 K offsuit. I was wondering if it was correct to check at that point. I sensed some weakness on his part, but still was not sure if I had the right read.I assumed if I was the first to bet on that, I would have bet him to keep him from raising me higher. It is a bit of a thing I have to work on. Any advice in playing these type of hands would be greatly appreciated.Check behind.He's very likely to call almost any bet with a better hand and if he missed a draw he'll just fold if you bet.Not a lot of upside to betting here with JQ.