Heads Up NL Poker Forums

Very early in the session. Villain appears to be a regular and starts out very laggy, almost a bit spewy. I've hardly seen any SD but a couple of pretty loose peels.

Grabbed by Holdem Manager
NL Holdem $1(BB) Replayer
($114)
Hero ($114)

Dealt to Hero T A

Hero raises to $3, raises to $12, Hero calls $9

FLOP ($24) 5 6 J

checks, Hero ?

How often would you barrel off in this spot without knowing much about his game? Obv his range looks like an underpair or strong A high and I don't really expect him to check a TP in the first 3b pot that saw a flop.
I'm also not sure how often people c/f this board with complete air.

Would help to know how often he's cbetting and if he's shown down those hands.

Reason being a lot of guys who 3bet junk and connect here will check w/ a Q5 or K6s type hand and of course is calling your flop bet. I'd check back and float a lot of turn cards, evaluate river.

I think readless against a generic opponent barreling off has a lot of value, since he will call the flop with better A-high, small pairs etc, and fold the turn most of the time.

If he does have K5s or something he'll definitely be folding by the river.

If he shows up with something strong or check/raises you then make a note and move on to the next hand.

@whup: I tried to keep all that a bit more general because I hardly had any reads. As I said this is the first 3bet I called and in normal raised pots he cbet/folded once on Q9x 2tone and check back T8x 2tone, which seems pretty std.
I'm not really in love with floating the turn though, because I think he takes this line with better A high and pairs a lot and even if he doesn't my line really looks like what it is and I expect a good player to 2barrel turn and river a lot then.

@jonwies: So you'd just 3barrel? I feel like these guys very often c/c their SD value twice because they just want to be 100% certain that they're beat. That's why I don't really like just betting twice especially early on.

And what if we had AJ or AQ? AQ I'd be way more inclined to check back those buts it's a tough spot as well if he 2barrels the turn.

@jonwies: So you'd just 3barrel? I feel like these guys very often c/c their SD value twice because they just want to be 100% certain that they're beat. That's why I don't really like just betting twice especially early on.

I think you are right that if he is checking showdown value, you would need 3barrels to get him to fold most of his range.

tbh early on I wouldn't probably fire 3 streets with this hand given it does have some (albeit not great) showdown value. I probably would fire air here though 3 streets. If he calls you down you get a great read and some great meta game for future spots - he will never believe you in these spots.

tbh early on I wouldn't probably fire 3 streets with this hand given it does have some (albeit not great) showdown value.

Sorry - meant I would check back.

I would check give up or fire three barrels like jonwies said. I prefer the check give up line though. I feel like a reg would only check back if he hit a set and wanted to give you a chance to improve, has a hand like AK, or has a small pair. I don't think your getting him to fold any of it over one two streets.

Cheers,

Dave