$50nl; Lets talk about merging our range

[netstorm]

Note: I normally do not do this, unless I have a read. Please be aware that this is opponent specific, and I do not advocate this on a regular basis.

So on to the hand: Villain is a 23/13/2, nothing too special. Based on his actions, I knew he did not have a king. By firing here, I am
a) value betting agains weaker pocket pair, or a weird other pair
b) bluffing against his higher pocket pairs.

note: He will not fold if he has a king. But the action so far has led me to believe he does not have a king.

Who likes it? Who thinks its spew?

Poker Stars - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $0.25/$0.50 Blinds - 6 Players - (LegoPoker (http://www.legopoker.com) Hand History Converter (http://www.legopoker.com/hh))

SB: $89.85
BB: $48.05
UTG: $74.05
Hero (MP): $52.00
CO: $25.90
BTN: $33.10

Preflop: Hero is dealt 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif 9/images/graemlins/club.gif (6 Players)
<font color="red">UTG raises to $2.00</font>, Hero calls $2.00, CO folds, BTN calls $2.00, 2 folds

Flop: ($6.75) 4/images/graemlins/diamond.gif K/images/graemlins/spade.gif K/images/graemlins/club.gif (3 Players)
UTG checks, <font color="red">Hero bets $4.00</font>, BTN folds, UTG calls $4.00

Turn: ($14.75) 6/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: ($14.75) 4/images/graemlins/spade.gif (2 Players)
UTG checks, <font color="red">Hero bets $7.00</font>

[Miko]

I don't like it.

I think he allways has TT-QQ here if he calls. I can't see him check/calling your bet with anything else and checking 2 streets after it, and than calling the river.

So, you're value-betting against better hands and bluffing against worse.

[blackice781]

you should be 2 barreling this hand.

[ama0330]

Just as a nitpick this is not range merging, its a thin value bet. IMO you turn a hand with good showdown value into a bluff with this move so I dont like it. Given that you can just check behind with no risk and win just about as often as you would if he folds, I like the check better

[futuredoc85]

if you were the preflop raiser then i would bet this river for value all day (although for like $11, def not 7 as it turns your hand completely face up as a thin, scared value bet). As is, hes not folding TT-QQ, AA to this 1/2 pot bet, and there are only 2 PPs that you beat.

[starkwired]

[ QUOTE ]
you should be 2 barreling this hand.

[/ QUOTE ]

[hitch1978]

[ QUOTE ]

By firing here, I am
a) value betting agains weaker pocket pair, or a weird other pair
b) bluffing against his higher pocket pairs.


[/ QUOTE ]

I don't see how you can do both.

You are saying that you will get a smaller PP to pay you off, and a bigger one to fold? What am I missing?

[Hail Eris]

This is spew because 1) he's never ever folding a better hand on the river, and 2) his flop check weights his range toward higher pairs over lower pairs, since the lower pairs have less showdown value and are more likely to just cbet the flop and try to end the hand.

It would be better if your hand was slightly stronger, say JJ, and you bet hard on the flop and the turn, and shoved the river. That way you're repping K/boat/air, so either he believes you and folds QQ/AA, or he decides you're bluffing and calls with any pair that he got to the river with, including many you beat.

[Kasane]

Once you check the turn, you've told him you don't have a K. He's calling with any pp that beats yours -- basically the TT-QQ range that you're afraid of.

[z28dreams]

Def. check behind for reasons already covered.

Also, with a 13% PFR and UTG, this guy is very likely to have TT or better here.

[KurtSF]

Could someone either explain range merging to me or point me toward a link that will do so?

TIA

[KurtSF]

No one?

Can anyone link me to a description or definition of range merging please?

[orig!naL]

I'm definitely checking here. He has let you get to showdown cheap with a marginal hand. Thats what you want.

[KurtSF]

Seriously? No one can even give me a 2 scentence definition of what "merging ranges" means? Is it just a buzzword that no one even understands?

[members_only]

[ QUOTE ]
Seriously? No one can even give me a 2 scentence definition of what "merging ranges" means? Is it just a buzzword that no one even understands?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the term was coined in aejones' well (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Number=9316778&amp;page=0&amp;fpart=1&amp;v c=1&amp;nt=3). The post in question is about 3/4 of the way down the first page.

[Hail Eris]

[ QUOTE ]
Seriously? No one can even give me a 2 scentence definition of what "merging ranges" means? Is it just a buzzword that no one even understands?

[/ QUOTE ]

E.g. you take a really strong line that would normally polarize your range into bluffs/monsters with a decent in-between sort of hand, so your opponent can either fold a better hand or call with a worse hand. The metagame implication is that your opponent can no longer call profitably with "bluff-catchers" when you take a really strong line, because you can show up with a better hand making a two-way bet.

That's how I understand it anyway.

[KurtSF]

Edited to add the link (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&amp;Board=mlplnl&amp;Number=10167797) to aejones' theory post on the subject.

Thank you both!!

[corsakh]

Thin value bet. Standard.