Mid Stakes Shorthanded NL Poker Forums

IPoker, $2/$4 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 3 Players
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BTN: $409.20 (102.3 bb)
SB: $396 (99 bb)
Hero (BB): $400 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J A
BTN raises to $8, SB folds, Hero calls $4

Flop: ($18) J 3 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $12, Hero raises to $36, BTN raises to $78, Hero ???

Villain is aggressive Reg.
I c/r because there are many weaker hands that can call. But I'm so lost when I've got 4bet.
What is my plan? How do you play situations like this?

can't fold once you c/r, especially vs a button's range without a soul read. Unless your perceived range here is really strong to this villain then you probably should be raising TP in that case.

Agree with above for the most part, but please have a plan for all eventualities before you 3bet. If you're not sure what you're doing vs X you're going to continually run into very tough decisions which will increase your mistakes. Even if you can't decide if your line is good, make a decision before you take your action and go with it, then review the hand afterwards.

can't fold once you c/r, especially vs a button's range without a soul read. Unless your perceived range here is really strong to this villain then you probably should not be raising TP in that case.

I'd ship. We don't have A of hearts so there are lots of NFD's we can get it in good with, pot is pretty big so taking it down now isn't bad either, and sometimes he can have a worse J. If I had the A of hearts I'd be more inclined to call since there are less worse stack off hands in his range and we can continue better on heart turns, and we rep a draw when we call so he might continue with some bluffs on brick turns.

Agree with above for the most part, but please have a plan for all eventualities before you 3bet. If you're not sure what you're doing vs X you're going to continually run into very tough decisions which will increase your mistakes. Even if you can't decide if your line is good, make a decision before you take your action and go with it, then review the hand afterwards.

I know what you're saying and agree, but do you leave yourself some room to deviate from this rule sometimes since you might not have enough time to think through everything before you have to make a play. Using timebank to re-evaluate your initial decision is often desirable, no?

I c/r because there are many weaker hands that can call. But I'm so lost when I've got 4bet.

Is this just a typo? My hand history shows you x/r and got 3bet, but you have 4bet here and in the title of the post so I'm confused now.

Is there any particular reason you flatted pre?

Is there any particular reason you flatted pre?

It's been a long time (almost a year now ) since I have played these limits, but against an aggro reg, flatting here can't be that bad. Is 3bet/5bet jamming w/ AJo the complete standard play nowadays? I'm not trying to sound rude/standoffish, just asking an honest question.

I expect aggro regs to defend a decent amount to 3 bets, especially after minraising.

3bet pre is likely the best play against most regs.

3bet pre is likely the best play against most regs.

Why is that? Many Regs 4Bet alot in BU but not enough to get it in w/ AJo preflop.
So I think 3Bet AJo is only good if opponent will call alot but if he is 4betting a decent % I'm wasting the value of that hand.

Agree with above for the most part, but please have a plan for all eventualities before you 3bet. If you're not sure what you're doing vs X you're going to continually run into very tough decisions which will increase your mistakes. Even if you can't decide if your line is good, make a decision before you take your action and go with it, then review the hand afterwards.

So what is YOUR plan in these kind of situations? Do you c/c, lead, c/r/c, c/r/r or even x/r/f? What factors do you consider when you make your decision?

So what is YOUR plan in these kind of situations? Do you c/c, lead, c/r/c, c/r/r or even x/r/f? What factors do you consider when you make your decision?

It entirely depends on villain, there are many options based on villain and history. If you are CRing the flop it should be with a clear idea that you're going to shove because villian will reraise enough air/draws/worse or that you're going to fold because you think villain would not be reraising that range often enough and would be calling worse some of the time. Vs villains who are honest I prefer to CC, vs agro villains who are going to be firing 3 often when the board worsens I prefer a CR. Raising the turn is unlikely as it's either going to involve turning our hand into a bluff which is sometimes but rarely going to be necessary, or being unable to get value from worse. Vs villains who don't cbet the flop a high % I like leading the flop as this is a texture that's going to get a high number of check backs from those player types, vs villains with a high flop cbet %/low turn cbet % I prefer a CC/lead turn.

Regarding the preflop 3bet, I'm fine with it 3 handed. I actually agree with your sentiments regarding getting 4bet, but in this case I think you could shove over a 4bet.

Why is that? Many Regs 4Bet alot in BU but not enough to get it in w/ AJo preflop.
So I think 3Bet AJo is only good if opponent will call alot but if he is 4betting a decent % I'm wasting the value of that hand.

You overesitmate the value of the hand in single raised pots.