Top Pair No Kicker
 

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP calls, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, Hero checks.

Flop: (2.50 SB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP bets</font>, Hero calls.

Turn: (2.25 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP checks.

River: (2.25 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP bets</font>, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 4.25 BB

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

Every street looks good to me. Played like a pro.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

I dont necessarily like the way it looks
But I cant really come up with a better line
nh

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

Against an unknown I think I'd bet flop, check/call turn, then c/c river again or bet if he checked turn behind.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

Preflop: I don't always raise a bad ace in spots like this, but I think this is something that should be done more often than not. As of this point you have the best hand so you might as well get some value out of it.

Flop: Since you called preflop, I think checking is fine because your hand is disguised, but after he bets I think you want to raise him. He probably won't put you on an ace, and will pay you off with something like a pair of queens. If he's just taking a stab at the pot with something like 87s you aren't going to get any more money out of him anyway. By slowplaying, I don't think you are getting paid off by a weak pair here, and you give the hands that completely missed a chance to catch a miracle and beat you.

Just my opinion...

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

I like a flop check-call. I would bet the turn. With 2 other broadways on the board it's likely that villian will have a piece or gutshot. However, he may be more inclined to check behind with those hands, so I think we need to bet. The pot is small enough that I don't mind bet-folding the turn.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

Results :
He showed 36s for a whole lot of nothing.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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Against an unknown I think I'd bet flop, check/call turn, then c/c river again or bet if he checked turn behind.

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If you bet this flop, with this strong of a hand, then you dont know how to play in small pots.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

Perfect.

I couldn't bet/fold the turn here. It's better to c/c ...he's definitely betting with any piece (or possibly air) when checked to.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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Against an unknown I think I'd bet flop, check/call turn, then c/c river again or bet if he checked turn behind.

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If you bet this flop, with this strong of a hand, then you dont know how to play in small pots.

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i havent read lately but im happy to see that incorrect advice is still dispensed with arrogant superiority.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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i havent read lately but im happy to see that incorrect advice is still dispensed with arrogant superiority.

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Im really not concerned about what you think, but I do believe that with no read, betting the flop in this spot is a serious leak that many 2+2ers have.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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Against an unknown I think I'd bet flop, check/call turn, then c/c river again or bet if he checked turn behind.

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If you bet this flop, with this strong of a hand, then you dont know how to play in small pots.

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i havent read lately but im happy to see that incorrect advice is still dispensed with arrogant superiority.

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[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

My only problem with this is that there are a lot of gutshot or gutshot + pair or weak pair hands that can catch up easily. The turn is more dangerous than the flop obviously, but I think given the turn check the river (and I'm thinking all rivers?) is an easy check.

I'm probably betting the flop. I also wouldn't mind it being played as is.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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i havent read lately but im happy to see that incorrect advice is still dispensed with arrogant superiority.

[/ QUOTE ]

Im really not concerned about what you think, but I do believe that with no read, betting the flop in this spot is a serious leak that many 2+2ers have.

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How so?

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

Betting this flop lets him play pretty well against your hand. He probably folds almost every hand you want him to call with. Checking here lets him put in action drawing very slim.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

i havent read lately but im happy to see that incorrect advice is still dispensed with arrogant superiority.

[/ QUOTE ]

Im really not concerned about what you think, but I do believe that with no read, betting the flop in this spot is a serious leak that many 2+2ers have.

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How so?

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Because we gain only 1SB for betting the flop, as villain will fold anything that didn't connect with this high card flop.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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Results :
He showed 36s for a whole lot of nothing.

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I hope your buddy list grew by one.

I tend to play these hands much more aggressively but after reading this thread I see that doing so may be a mistake. I think that you played it fine. I assume that you bet the river if the Q doesn't pair?

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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Results :
He showed 36s for a whole lot of nothing.

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I hope your buddy list grew by one.

I tend to play these hands much more aggressively but after reading this thread I see that doing so may be a mistake. I think that you played it fine. I assume that you bet the river if the Q doesn't pair?

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After he checks through the turn, I think checking to induce a bluff is better than betting out.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

i havent read lately but im happy to see that incorrect advice is still dispensed with arrogant superiority.

[/ QUOTE ]

Im really not concerned about what you think, but I do believe that with no read, betting the flop in this spot is a serious leak that many 2+2ers have.

[/ QUOTE ]
How so?

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Weatherhead,

Drewontilt and nubs pretty much summed up why checking will usually be the best play on this flop. When the pot is small like this, checking and inducing bets from weaker hands/bluffs will usually be the line that maximizes your earnings here. Becuz of the very small size of this pot, hand protection is not an issure, and all that matters is taking the line that will net you the most money with your hand in the long run. Against most opponents, online, betting will be couterproductive to this cause. In rare cases you will be up against someone who will call with nearly anything and rarely bet if you check. In that case betting out would be the best line. But once you reach 5-10 or higher online, this type of opponent becomes almost nonexistent. Also, in tougher games, once in a while you should bet the flop with this strong of a hand in this small pot just to keep your opponents off balance, but your default play should be to check this flop with no reads.

PS: I dont know why Victor attacked my post, maybe he was just in a catty mood, or maybe he just forgot how to play poker for a second. If he followed my posts he would understand that I dont dispense incorrect advice, its not my style. If I write something, its going to be correct. As Ive told all my ex-girlfriends, arguing with me is a waste of time, just assume im right and you'll be better off. Being arrogant is fun. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

bah, i thought you were advocating betting in your post.

regardless, i can think of a few opponents betting is better against.

Re: Top Pair No Kicker
 

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Results :
He showed 36s for a whole lot of nothing.

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I hope your buddy list grew by one.

I tend to play these hands much more aggressively but after reading this thread I see that doing so may be a mistake. I think that you played it fine. I assume that you bet the river if the Q doesn't pair?

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I think the chances he has a queen once the turn goes check/check are not that great as most queens are betting again. I am probably checking every river card, maybe betting two pair.