A few hands from my session today..

[BeerMoney]

I got pretty lucky, but i like a few of my value bets on the river.. (I might have been the only person multitabling 3/6 and 20/40.)

7 Card Stud High ($20/$40), Ante $2, Bring-In $5 (converter (http://j.1asphost.com/greenage))

3rd Street - (0.70 SB)

Hero: 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif___calls___calls
Seat 3: xx xx T/images/graemlins/spade.gif___folds
Seat 4: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/club.gif___folds
Seat 5: xx xx J/images/graemlins/spade.gif___completes
Seat 6: xx xx 6/images/graemlins/club.gif___folds
Seat 7: xx xx 2/images/graemlins/spade.gif___brings-in___folds
Seat 8: xx xx Q/images/graemlins/club.gif___folds

4th Street - (2.95 SB)

Hero: 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___raises
Seat 5: xx xx J/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/club.gif___bets___calls

5th Street - (3.48 BB)

Hero: 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif___raises
Seat 5: xx xx J/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif___bets___calls

6th Street - (7.48 BB)

Hero: 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif 6/images/graemlins/spade.gif___checks
Seat 5: xx xx J/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif 5/images/graemlins/club.gif___checks

River - (7.48 BB)

Hero: 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif 6/images/graemlins/spade.gif A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___bets
Seat 5: xx xx J/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif 5/images/graemlins/club.gif xx___checks___calls

Total pot: (9.48 BB)

7 Card Stud High ($20/$40), Ante $2, Bring-In $5 (converter (http://j.1asphost.com/greenage))

3rd Street - (0.60 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/club.gif___completes___calls
Hero: Q/images/graemlins/club.gif J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif___raises
Seat 4: xx xx 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 5/images/graemlins/heart.gif___folds
Seat 7: xx xx T/images/graemlins/heart.gif___folds
Seat 8: xx xx 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif___brings-in___folds

4th Street - (4.85 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/club.gif___calls
Hero: Q/images/graemlins/club.gif J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/club.gif___bets

5th Street - (3.43 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/club.gif 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif___calls
Hero: Q/images/graemlins/club.gif J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/club.gif 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif___bets

6th Street - (5.43 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/club.gif 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___calls
Hero: Q/images/graemlins/club.gif J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/club.gif 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif K/images/graemlins/spade.gif___bets

River - (7.43 BB)

Seat 2: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/club.gif 6/images/graemlins/club.gif 5/images/graemlins/spade.gif Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif xx___calls
Hero: Q/images/graemlins/club.gif J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif 5/images/graemlins/club.gif 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif K/images/graemlins/spade.gif 4/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___bets

Total pot: (9.43 BB)


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7 Card Stud High ($3/$6), Ante $0.50, Bring-In $1 (converter (http://j.1asphost.com/greenage))

3rd Street - (0.83 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif___completes
Seat 5: xx xx 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 4/images/graemlins/spade.gif___folds
Hero: A/images/graemlins/heart.gif Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif___brings-in___calls
Seat 8: xx xx J/images/graemlins/heart.gif___folds

4th Street - (2.83 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___bets
Hero: A/images/graemlins/heart.gif Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___checks___calls

5th Street - (2.42 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif J/images/graemlins/spade.gif___bets
Hero: A/images/graemlins/heart.gif Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif J/images/graemlins/club.gif___checks___calls

6th Street - (4.42 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif J/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___calls
Hero: A/images/graemlins/heart.gif Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif J/images/graemlins/club.gif A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif___bets

River - (6.42 BB)

Seat 1: xx xx 7/images/graemlins/spade.gif 3/images/graemlins/diamond.gif J/images/graemlins/spade.gif 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif xx___calls
Hero: A/images/graemlins/heart.gif Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif 4/images/graemlins/heart.gif K/images/graemlins/diamond.gif J/images/graemlins/club.gif A/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 2/images/graemlins/heart.gif___bets

Total pot: (8.42 BB)

[frappeboy]

All the hands look fine.. In the 1st hand you played 4th street a little too aggressive IMO, but it's really not that big of a deal.

[blumpkin]

I really like Hand 1, including the 4th street raise. Hand 2 is standard (although I hate my hand if he calls, check/calling the river is bad). I don't particularly like Hand 3, but I'm not sure what I would do differently. Perhaps you should bet 4th. It really depends on the opponent though.

[MichaelOar]

Hand 1 is purrrrfect. I personally love the raise on 5thst, it is a VERY underutilized move in that spot, IMHO.

Hand 2--Why did you bet the river? I am amazed that you were called here (assuming that you won the hand). You've represented a big pair all the way, and I don't see what he calls with that you beat (unless you'd been caught jamming 3-flushes recently, then maybe you get a worse pair to call).
Hand 3: Not a big fan at all.
3rd st: I'd reraise. Dead hearts be damned. If your board gets scary, you're apt to take the pot down even if you don't pair.
4th st: Checkraise.
5th st: If you checkraise 4th, I think you win right here with a bet.

I don't really understand why you played it so passively here. Shorthanded, I'm jamming it up here, not check-calling. Keep the pressure on! If he wants to call you down with his sevens, so be it!

7th st: Once again, I think this is a pretty thin value bet, especially since your board is so strong looking. I'm once again amazed that you were called and won.

Michael

[lane mcbride]

1st hand. I like the fourth street raise... with the intention of taking a free card if you brick fifth.

[BeerMoney]

Michael, thanks for the input. I tend to play passively at the lower limits, less bluffing/semi bluffing.. But i think your points are all valid about hand 3. Blumpkin actually had similar thoughts when we chatted about the hand.

In mason's poker essays, he states that failing to value bet unimproved aces into a deadish board heads up is a common mistake made by 7 stud players. The hand that I had queens, I was certain I was ahead on fifth street, and my opponent bricked on 6th, and I figured chances were I would be ahead on 7th, and get called by a weak player. Pretty much the same goes for the aces in the 3/6 hand.

When I first started playing internet poker, I played with the mind frame of bluffing less, and calling more.. (In other words, no one folded, and too many people bluffed.) I think the stud games are changing, and we need to rely on other skills. Playing in tougher games makes you find different ways to squeak out bets. I think betting the unimproved pair is one of these ways.

Am I full of it?!?!? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

Beer$$

[MichaelOar]

Hi Beer,

After I'd written my post, I noticed that the last hand wasn't 20/40, which in my mind anyway, makes the passive way you played it better (if not correct!).

I'm still not sure about the hand with the queens. I guess it depends on the opponent. I will muck my low pair after your bet every time (am I folding too much here? I don't think so . . . ?)--I'm only giving action if I hit 2 little pair or if my major draw hits. So, against me anyway, this river bet is bad. It is definitely food for thought though. I'm gonna start looking for opportunities to make this bet more in 10/20 game and I'll post any good hands that come up.

Michael

[frappeboy]

[ QUOTE ]
Hand 2--Why did you bet the river? I am amazed that you were called here (assuming that you won the hand). You've represented a big pair all the way, and I don't see what he calls with that you beat (unless you'd been caught jamming 3-flushes recently, then maybe you get a worse pair to call).


[/ QUOTE ]

From my experience, this bet is 100% correct. I think this is one of those plays that changes depending on whether you are playing online or in a B&M casino. Online, almost everyone will value bet 2 small pair once you check to them. In a casino, most people will actually check in this spot. This is why the bet becomes correct online. If you're willing to check/call, you are better off by just betting it yourself. You lose the same amount when your opponent has you beat and you gain when he calls you down with 1 pair. The only time you should check online is when you're up against a known passive player, or you are up against a known bluffer, in which case check/calling becomes correct. But with no read, I prefer to just bet here because most players don't fit this profile.