[mlagoo]

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1) A lot of people talk about playing tight early and don't try to steal blinds when they are this small. What do you think about blind stealing at this level? Would you do it and if so under what conditions?

2) What's your decision on the flop? Do you check or bet (and if so, how much)?

3) What's your plan on the turn (if any) based on your decision on the flop, the villain's action, and what card comes?

4) Any other thoughts at this point?

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1) usually i don't steal blinds at this blind level. i think it's something that's been ingrained in my skull from so much sng-play, but the risk/reward ratio is all screwy.

my thoughts are that i want to preserve my image as a tight player who doesnt steal blinds, so that when the blinds do get to a notable size, i can steal with (relative) aplomb. this is probably transparent to decent players -- however, i don't often play with those sorts of players.

if i did steal blinds at this level, i would hope to show down a couple hands in dedication to a certain young lady named shania.

2) i usually bet this flop. i assume we're readless at this point because it's so early. if i had a read on the guy that told me betting was sure to lose him, for whatever reason, i'd check. but like 90% of the time, readless, i'm betting here.

my reasoning is that i bet here with AK also. and if i am always checking it through after i nail the flop, and always betting when i whiff, people will catch on to that. so i just like to bet either way, because, you know, betting is fun.

couple that with the fact that this is a potentially draw-heavy board, it makes sense to charge those draws, and build a pot with a big hand, blabbity blah blah.

i'd bet my pretty standard "somewhere-between-1/2-pot-and-2/3-pot" bet, something like 100.

3) i dunno, i don't like to go crazy with planning out future streets, but if a complete rag came and he bet out, i'd be inclined to call down... AND if a card come that looked to complete a draw came and he bet out, i'd be inclined to call smallish bets down. if it checks to me on the turn i'm betting no matter what comes, again, 1/2-2/3 pot.

4) fold preflop donk. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]