Flopping Straights

csquard · #1 05-04-2007, 02:01 PM

Me=Donkey LHE with regularly crashed online bankroll trying to convert to four-tabling NLHE since everyone plays $5/10 LHE at <15% now...

I loves me the cutie-pie, tricky play. Initial raiser is 55/25 with limited data, Moby Dick is new to the table. This is a simplistic hand, so a few broad questions:

1. I felt like I'd waited too long to bet into the pot as I had action elsewhere. Should I care about that? Is it a tell or standard? Would have bet $1.75-2.25 into this pot on the flop.
2. Do I care about the spades, and should I smooth call the bet?
3. Does any check/raise blow these guys out; e.g., min? Should I just be thankful for my fortune and four bucks and move on?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) pokerhand.org hand converter

MP1 ($49)
MP2 ($15.65)
MP3 ($128.65)
CO ($23.30)
Button ($13.95)
SB ($50)
Hero ($24.30)
UTG ($63.75)
UTG+1 ($9.25)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG raises to $1, 2 folds, MP2 calls $1, 4 folds, Hero calls $0.50.

Flop: ($3.25) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $2, MP2 calls $2, Hero raises to $7, UTG folds, MP2 folds.

Final Pot: $14.25

EMc · #2 05-04-2007, 02:06 PM

Get some experience before you get your cutie pie, tricky play.

Im gonna move this to full ring, youll get better answers with regards to the hand there

csquard · #3 05-04-2007, 02:13 PM

Maybe overstated the lack of experience a bit (10k hands in last year online, but really LHE is my bread and butter). Thanks in advance for the move to full ring if it's more relevant there.

moldman · #4 05-04-2007, 02:22 PM

I pretty much always lead out, and I wouldn't worry about timing tells too much. Fact is, if someone flops a set or has a 9 or even a 5, a flush draw, an overpair, or top pair, you're going to get called. If they don't have anything like this, how long you take to bet just isn't going to matter.

As played, I would definitely raise once MP2 calls. If MP2 had folded, I'd be more likely to call and then donk the turn. You just can't let two people potentially draw to a flush without raising here.

flytrap · #5 05-04-2007, 02:26 PM

You played it fine. If they don't have anything, oh well. Better to try to build a big pot on the flop, especially since you know you have the nuts but a lot of cards on the turn could kill your action.

IFeltYourRack · #6 05-04-2007, 02:26 PM

I'm leading out on a board that coordinated. There are so many turn cards that kill your action and a lot more hands are calling a bet than are calling a check-raise.

LifeTilt · #7 05-04-2007, 02:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm leading out on a board that coordinated. There are so many turn cards that kill your action and a lot more hands are calling a bet than are calling a check-raise.

[/ QUOTE ]

Completely agree. And if you do get a caller, it's one of an obvious few things.

I would say most FR players fold TP any kicker (besides a SD) simply because their hand is not likely to improve. Provided that board doesn't pair or spade up, I bet big, like overbet pot 130% big. c/c turn if ugly river falls.

Jurrr · #8 05-05-2007, 02:55 AM

a) yes, waiting for a very long time then raising is probably considered a tell, but your NL50 opponents won't realize that often
b) you care about the spades, definitely raise
c) you cannot win a big pot every time you flop the nuts. If they had spades then you didn't even raise enough. If they would have had a set then to stack them and deny boat odds you just have to bet. There are even quite a few pair+OESD(+FD) combos out that may be happy to get AI on the flop against your stone cold. Leading out on these flops to disguise your hand better AND to proactively charge draws instead of hoping they bet so you can checkraise is also a good idea.

Keep the blog running, mate!