Small Stakes Shorthanded NL Poker Forums

Hi all,

I played a session today and my 4Bs got flatted 4-5 times by laggy regs not deep, IP and OOP.
As this is quite uncommon I don't really know what their range is and would like to discuss this.

I kinda assumed that they had a monster (1 hand that WTSD villain had AA) and didn't want to ship to trap (don't know I don't 4B like a maniac). But 4-5 times today I feel like their range is wider.

What do you think their range is? and how would you continue? very cautious when missing?
I am putting some general stats - might not be super useful in those specific spots.

#1
Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $100 (100 bb)
Hero (SB): $357.88 (357.9 bb)
BB: $100 (100 bb) VP:25/PFR:19/3B:11.9 (7/60) over 120 hands
UTG: $100 (100 bb)
MP: $118.80 (118.8 bb)
CO: $100 (100 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8 8
4 folds, Hero raises to $3, BB raises to $9, Hero raises to $22, BB calls $13

Flop: ($44) J 7 Q (2 players)
Hero checks, BB checks

Turn: ($44) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, BB checks

River: ($44) K (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $29.50, Hero folds

#2
Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $96.73 (96.7 bb)
SB: $167.72 (167.7 bb)
BB: $160.33 (160.3 bb)
VP:23/PFR:21/3B:11.7/WTSD:20 (total 500 hands)
Reads:CBet: OOP MP vs BU ck down KQo on A22ss,x,x
UTG: $102.76 (102.8 bb)
Hero (MP): $397.32 (397.3 bb)
CO: $109.29 (109.3 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A K
UTG folds, Hero raises to $3, CO calls $3, BTN calls $3, SB folds, BB raises to $15, Hero raises to $30, 2 folds, BB calls $15

Flop: ($66.50) J 2 4 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($66.50) J (2 players)
BB bets $36.94, Hero folds

#3
Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $359.04 (359 bb)
SB: $100 (100 bb) VP:24/PFR:20/3B:10.6 (total 400 hands)
BB: $220.47 (220.5 bb)
UTG: $211.38 (211.4 bb)
MP: $100 (100 bb)
CO: $229.93 (229.9 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with T T
3 folds, Hero raises to $2.50, SB raises to $8, BB folds, Hero raises to $18, SB calls $10

Flop: ($37) 4 Q 7 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($37) K (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($37) Q (2 players)
SB bets $32, Hero folds

#4
Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

Hero (BTN): $105.15 (105.2 bb)
SB: $148.94 (148.9 bb)
BB: $113.80 (113.8 bb)
VP:21/PFR:16/Resteal bb vs BU:13% (1k sample)
Reads:
Resteal: 6.5/2 (300deep) and x/c and c/f on T74r,5
3B BU vs CO and CBet F, CBet small OTT and 1/2 pot OTR flopping set turning boat
x/r/c on Q42ss (22.5/10/4/6.5) and donk 12/51 on xs
OTR as PFR sb vs bb CBet F,T and c/c OTR w TP FD missing
Not stabby IP

UTG: $105.63 (105.6 bb)
MP: $76.54 (76.5 bb)
CO: $166.14 (166.1 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BTN with Q 9
3 folds, Hero raises to $2, SB folds, BB raises to $8, Hero raises to $18, BB calls $10

Flop: ($36.50) A J 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $17.50, BB calls $17.50

Turn: ($71.50) T (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($71.50) K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $69.65 and is all-in, BB calls $69.65

Hand 1 I think is fine

Hand 2: 4B bigger? I am IP and I didn't really expect him to call much OOP. If I 4B bigger I can't really fold to a shove - not too sure though.
Prob CBet - what size?

Hand 3: I wanted so much to call OTR but I couldn't see him turning a PP into a bluff and he doesn't have much air (like he prob isn't calling w AJ,AT etc..)

Hand 4: I am ok with my line.

Even if all those hands have a common theme, I think you should just post them one by one. Hand 3 is pretty interesting. Why does he bet so big? Maybe he has AQ+ and puts you on a weak Qx? I think if he wanted to bluff, he could bet smaller. So I would fold.

I don't like when my 4b get flatted too, but imo you didn't play these hands correctly.

Hand 1 with 8 8
I don't like your 4b pre. Here are the reasons why:
- first and foremost 3b stat needs a big sample in order to be at least roughly correct (w/o 200 hands you shouldn't really look at it)
- are you happy to stack off for 100 bbs w/ 88 against 25/19 Villain? Have you seen him stacking off light or 3betting a lot in BvB?
- if someone's 3b is about 14-15% and more, then you can profitably 4b insta AI with 22-99 providing Villains calling range vs your ship is { 88+, AQs+, AQo+ } (the tighter this range is, the better your EV is)
- 4b insta AI looks weak? Who cares, what he can do with A3s or QJo? Nothing but fold. But before doing so you have to be sure that his 3betting range is actually 14% and more !

88 is just unplayable postflop in 3bp, especially OOP - you will end up x/f way too often.


Hand 2 with A K
- are you happy to stack off pre for 160 bbs with AKs against 23/21 player? I wouldn't feel confident to stack off even with KK to be honest
- calling has another merits - you keep weaker Ax/Kx hands in the pot + weaker FDs -> "cooler equity" is something which should be considered in multiway pots !


Hand 3 with T T
- I don't mind 4b/c with TT if Villain 3-bets a lot and is capable of bluff shoving with worse - if that's not the case, you should flat


Hand 4 with Q 9
I hate this 4b. True, he resteals a bit, but that's fairly standard. You have hardly any CRE (Card Removal Effect) and your hand sucks if called.

Flop:
How do you think, what's his 4b flatting range? Estimate your fold equity. I think it is too small to justify c-betting.


Make sure you pay attention to the table dynamics and things like: effective stacks, reads, etc. Btw, your reads look quite messed up for me. I did the same thing in the past, but already changed it. Instead of writing entire HH (which is imo bad, after 4-5 reads you will look at them during a hand only to say: TL ; DR) you should draw conclusions. Try to keep reads "general".

Resteal: 6.5/2 (300deep) and x/c and c/f on T74r,5

x/c as PFR = he is weak
Bet Sizing Tell (small 3b = weakness)

3B BU vs CO and CBet F, CBet small OTT and 1/2 pot OTR flopping set turning boat

I don't see anything interesting here, triple barrel with a set/boat in 3bp is pretty standard. Only his hand could have been not standard, like 22 -> "3b small PP IP"

x/r/c on Q42ss (22.5/10/4/6.5) and donk 12/51 on xs

Did you see his hand at the showdown? If not, then this note is useless, it doesn't tell you anything which could be valueable. (besides his small donk on a flushcard)

OTR as PFR sb vs bb CBet F,T and c/c OTR w TP FD missing

- dbl barrels w/ TP, x/c R
- Hero Call Happy when draws miss

Not stabby IP

This one is good - short and general.