Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, 7.
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 3, A, J (3 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 2 (3 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (5.25 BB) Q (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Final Pot: 7.25 BB

My usual play is to just raise the flop here. Somebody correct this statement for me (if it is wrong): In general, when HU look to extract value for your hand. When multiway, look to protect your hand.

That's something I have stuck in my head lately, good/bad?

I'd probably raise the turn, but it looks fine as is. He probably thought you were stealing, and/or caught a Jack. Let him donk into you again on the turn.

As for the hand, just raise the flop. It will make you able to play the later streets better. If he has a jack he probably can't fold it anyway. I'd make a note of whats he is donking with btw.

As for your statement, I think its not completely true. Sometimes you have such a big hand multiway (set on a dry flop) that you want them to stay in the pot, and not protect your hand. Protecting a hand HU..does it actually exist?

Raise the flop. Board is draw heavy and your hand isnt strong enough to wait around. I dont think any hand is strong enough to not raise this flop to be honest and I think KQ, K10 or Q10 are the only hands i'd ever consider just peeling this type of flop with rather then raising or folding.

Well, what I meant is that I'm not going to push the other guy out of the hand. For example, if I had a flush draw, a weak middle pair, etc, I'd raise the flop and bet the turn. But you are right, the statement is'nt true in all situations, maybe not even in most situations.

Another question: at which top pair do you stop doing this against an average opponenet? I'm thinking a Q or J here, but I'm not too sure.



Ok, if it was the 3 of hearts on the flop, does that change your answer?

I think I should have raised the flop for the reasons you mentioned, but I'm trying to figure out when this kind of line is best.

Almost never?

If you have AK in UTG+1 and UTG raises, you 3-bet. If the flop comes down A82 and UTG leads out then it makes sense. Thats about it though.

I think the line you're thinking of is better suited for when your OOP with marginal holdings and a checkraise or betting out will have less value then check/calling.

Raise the flop. Make him pay to draw.

The board is draw heavy, but does a draw often donk this flop? I don't think so, and certainly with a pair to go with it, he wouldn't be going anywhere. Seems like a pair of Js or As would be more likely to lead into you. At the same time, if you raise and he three bets, you can't like that 7 kicker, and then when he leads the turn, what do you do? And if he's willing to donk a draw he might be willing to bluff one.
Seems like waiting until the turn to protect and raise for a free showdown, or bet fold a three bet lets you get to the showdown or fold without remorse. Yes/no?

I agree with this concept, but in reality, in my experience at low limit short-handed tables, your raise will not get the drawing hand to fold, nor the hands that have us beat.

When it is all said and done, what hands can we beat on the river? A straight draw got there, a flush draw got there, so we can only beat A-4, A-5, A6, or some holding that your opponent bet throughout thinking you didn't have an ace (as you didnt raise).

I like the way this hand was played personally, especially from the button (as they wont give us credit for the ace many times as it looks like a steal)...