Micro Stakes Online NL Poker Forums

Villian is a standard tag reg. 22/18 3-Bet 6%. He's slightly aggro, but not overly so...seems to know what he's doing.

Merge Network $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1815251
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

UTG: $15.32
MP: $23.00
CO: $36.39
Hero (BTN): $25.00
SB: $25.00
BB: $37.83

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with T 8
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.70, 1 fold, BB calls $0.45

Flop: ($1.50) T A 2 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.00, BB raises to $3.00, Hero calls $2

Turn: ($7.50) J (2 players)
BB bets $5.62

Final Pot: $7.50
BB wins $1.51
BB wins $5.62
(Rake: $0.37)


Pre-Flop: A standard open on the button against tightish regs behind. This hand is almost strong enough to call a 3-bet IP and play a pot, in fact I think I would sometimes if I had a specific read on a player.

When villian calls, I'm thinking his range is 22-88, maybe a few combos of 99 and TT, because he raises those most of the time pre. Broadway hands would flat here, although I would discount KQ, because that hand might raise sometimes. Suited connectors. Maybe a few combos of weaker Axs. AT could probably go either way between raise and fold.

Flop: I think this is my mistake in the hand. After the villian checks, there's really no reason to bet. An ace isn't folding, a better ten probably won't fold and I could get raised by a stronger draw (which is a flip), or a weaker draw (which puts me in a tough spot, where I might fold the best hand). There's not much need to protect if I have the best hand, because some of his overcards are tainted by my flush draw, so he has fewer outs to beat me.

Of course two pair and sets will raise. Complete Air could raise me sometimes too. The stack to pot ratios are high, so there's really no reason to play a big pot with a non-nut hand or draw. If this was a 3-bet pot, I'd get it in all day here.

After he CRs me on the flop, I punch my computer screen and then try to figure out what to do. Basically, his value range is 22, AT, or maybe A2s. KQss, KJss, QJss, are possible but a bit discounted as those hands will raise sometmes pre-flop. I'd be very surprised to see a naked Ace here, as strong aces raise pre-flop and weaker aces will probably either raise pre, or check call a lot. Semi-bluffing with a smaller draw is possible, but some players won't do this and I have the 8s which cuts down on the number of smaller SCs the villian can have.

Clicking back is an option, but making it $7.00+ commits me to a shove. In a small pot like this, there's no reason to shovel it all in on the flop here because I will never like the hand villian is calling with. Calling his small raise and seeing what develops is my play because he gives up with air sometimes and gives up with a small draw sometimes too.

This might be crazy, but if I hit my flush on the turn my plan is to check back and wait to bet for value on the river, or bluff catch a smaller flush. Because....If I bet the turn with a 10-high flush and he jams, I'd have no idea what to do. In other words, if I check back the turn I can disguise my hand and get one street of value on the river, and protect my hand against coolers at the same time.

Turn: He bets pretty big. I see no reason to take bad odds to draw to a flush or two pair, both of which may be drawing dead. Fold.

You have the nuts.

Flop: I think this is my mistake in the hand. After the villian checks, there's really no reason to bet. An ace isn't folding, a better ten probably won't fold and I could get raised by a stronger draw (which is a flip), or a weaker draw (which puts me in a tough spot, where I might fold the best hand). There's not much need to protect if I have the best hand, because some of his overcards are tainted by my flush draw, so he has fewer outs to beat me.

Check back flop is probably best for the reasons you give above. As played, I agree with folding the turn if you don't think villain will stack off with 2pair or set when the flush gets there. If you think he stacks off 100% with 2pair and set, I think you have just enough implied odds to call, but only for the 8 non-board-pairing flush outs and not for your 2pair and trips outs.

How often do you raise villain on the BTN and what is his perception of your BTN range. I don't think you made a big mistake betting the flop after it was checked to you, because you do want to build the pot up for when you do make your flush, trips, or two pair. Against a tricky player maybe you might want to check back. And since the turn card did not help you, you should probably fold if you think villain isn't going to pay you off.

At first I was thinking that checking back would be really bad. However, after thinking about it more, I'm probably more inclined to check back with the intention of calling any turn stab or delay cbetting if checked to again.

I think villain's preflop calling range is going to be 22-TT/JJ, suited broadways and a few unsuited broadways. Not sure how many small SC's are in there, guess that would depend on villain's defending tendencies as well as his view of you.

Of course with that range, I see a 70% equity on the flop. I would think that villain's calling range here is going to be 22 (only gave 1 combo), TT-JJ, AJo, AQo, ATs-AQs, KTs, KsJs, KsQs, QsJs, QTs and JTs. Of course, reads help us understand how villain plays his combo draws here. Anyway, against his calling range, you have 47ish% equity.

Villain's x/r'ing range is trickier without reads. Of course sets and ATs is going to x/r, but what do you think villain does with those combo draws and say AQ or AJ?

I think villain's preflop calling range is going to be 22-TT/JJ, suited broadways and a few unsuited broadways. Not sure how many small SC's are in there, guess that would depend on villain's defending tendencies as well as his view of you.

Of course with that range, I see a 70% equity on the flop. I would think that villain's calling range here is going to be 22 (only gave 1 combo), TT-JJ, AJo, AQo, ATs-AQs, KTs, KsJs, KsQs, QsJs, QTs and JTs. Of course, reads help us understand how villain plays his combo draws here. Anyway, against his calling range, you have 47ish% equity.

Villain's x/r'ing range is trickier without reads. Of course sets and ATs is going to x/r, but what do you think villain does with those combo draws and say AQ or AJ?

I think villian's calling range also has some Axs in it and maybe some smaller SCs. With a 6% 3-bet, I think AK, AQ and AJ 3-bet me a lot here pre. So that narrows his value range on the flop and weights his range more towards air and semi-bluffs. A small click back and fold to a shove isn't terrible here either if it gives me a shot at a free turn and river, and folds his air.

Fundamentally, the issue with this hand is that I see a few hands in his range that I crush, a few hands that I'm flipping with, and a few hands that crush me. As a rule, when all the money goes in, I'm the one who's crushed.

I think villian's calling range also has some Axs in it and maybe some smaller SCs. With a 6% 3-bet, I think AK, AQ and AJ 3-bet me a lot here pre. So that narrows his value range on the flop and weights his range more towards air and semi-bluffs. A small click back and fold to a shove isn't terrible here either if it gives me a shot at a free turn and river, and folds his air.

Fundamentally, the issue with this hand is that I see a few hands in his range that I crush, a few hands that I'm flipping with, and a few hands that crush me. As a rule, when all the money goes in, I'm the one who's crushed.

I NEVER click it back with the intention of folding. That would be the absolute worst line you could take here.

I think c-betting this flop fine. Its hard to predict a c/r on a wet flop like this after he just called preflop. I think most of the time youre going to take it away on the flop. When he c/r the flop i would say call and evaluate the turn. Since the flush doesnt hit, folding the turn is your best option. Your pair of tens is not likely to hold up against his c/r range.

I think c-betting is okay. checking is okay but probably better in a 3-bet pot where the SPR is smaller. i suppose you do have some mild showdown value, but i still think that c-betting is better than checking in this spot.

calling his flop raise is good. shoving is meh...folding seems weak with position + our hand.

i'd probably call the turn again and see the river.

checking back the flop is really sweet here. These kinds of hands make awesome bluff catchers. They also allow you to show up with a flush when you check back the flop.