5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

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

First hand at the table. SB is complete unknown.
Any fold equity on the turn? Bet the turn = must bet river?
Anyone consider folding or raising preflop?

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">8 folds</font>, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (2 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, SB calls.

Turn: (2 BB) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, SB calls.

...

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

I insta-raise this pf.

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

I think you definately should have raised preflop.

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

Raise PF.

I would definitely bet the turn if I raised PF as the pot is bigger so more reward, and he might be more likely to fold a better hand after our show of strength PF, although I doubt he's ever folding a pair. As played I would probably still bet the turn hoping to get a fold out of Ax, and also preventing myself from getting bluffed out if I have the best hand. I think it's an easy river check behind if you do bet the turn as Ax isn't folding if it gets this far, and noone folds pairs in blind battles. You also beat busted draws so no point in trying to fold them out.

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

One more vote for raising preflop. I will sometimes check behind, though, with the intention of making a play on all but the ugliest flops.

Betting the turn does not equal a must bet on the river (unless of course you improve). I think you'd be suprised at how many times he's drawing with worse high cards than you, and you can therefore win by checking through.

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

[ QUOTE ]
I will sometimes check behind, though, with the intention of making a play on all but the ugliest flops.

[/ QUOTE ]

FWIW I also like this line if we have reads or previous history with SB. But at a 5/10 table I expect it to get folded to SB at a reasonable frequency, and I really don't want him thinking he can get away with open-completing me all the time; I want the occasional free orbit. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] If I've already raised him the last three times he did this it's a different story.

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

I raise preflop here every time.

Re: 5/10: First hand, SB vs. BB
 

Raise PF. Bet any flop.