.25/.50 - fairly simple spot

**Micro2Macro** · 09-23-2010 04:22 AM

I'm a LHE noob so bear with me.

Villain is 16/13 so far over 97 hands. ATS so far is only 14%, though sample size is of course small. I'm not sure whether I should 3bet or call. Both the blinds have been very tight so far. I think 3betting for isolation/initiative is best and our hand is going to play well in a heads up pot. Is there ever a reason to cold call here given that logic?

PokerStars Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Preflop: Hero is Button with K

, J

5 folds, MP3 raises, 1 fold, Hero ?

**KoRnholio** · 09-23-2010 04:24 AM

Definitely 3bet if you want to play the hand. Postflop you'd rather it was heads up with position, and you can easily rep an ace on an Axx flop. But there's many other good flops for your hand as well.

I don't like a cold call since it lets the blinds play cheaply and it's harder for them to make a mistake. If they are cold calling a 3bet often from the blinds, they're probably making some huge mistakes that are +EV for us.

**Micro2Macro** · 09-23-2010 05:47 AM

Cool makes sense, thanks for the reply.

What's the lowest pocket pair you would continue with here? (And I'm assuming given the same logic we will be 3betting)

**KoRnholio** · 09-23-2010 05:08 PM

A bit agg but pretty tight overall raiser from the Hijack with a somewhat low ATS (probably low due to sample size).. Hmm, I'd probably 3bet 66+ there. The same logic does apply for small-medium pairs.

Small pairs you'd really like to get either heads up, or multiway (5+ players) for set value. Any number of players in between that generally isn't a good result when holding a small pair.

**Micro2Macro** · 09-23-2010 10:23 PM

Yeah small pairs suck in NLHE as well in a lot of spots.

**DrivingDog** · 09-28-2010 10:23 PM

I think it's close between a 3bet or fold, but I'd lean towards a fold.

His range is well ahead of KJs given his stats in FR. You're going to be dominated far more often than you have him dominated. Your best hope is that he'll play the flop straightforwardly and fold if he misses. But if he calls a c-bet on any flop that you miss it's pretty hard to feel good about your KJ. And if you hit and get c/r'd it's not going to be good news either most of the time.

I like to raise a lot of pairs here given how tight the blinds are. Maybe down to 66. These hands play a lot better HU than things like KJs.

Cold calling is only an option if both blinds are going to play pretty much regardless and you have something like QJs, JTs, T9s. Otherwise I almost never do it.

**General Awesome** · 10-10-2010 10:16 AM

I usually 3 bet it pre in this spot, Villain seem tight over a small sample but we have a decent hand we have the btn. playing the pot HU IP with dead money is always nice.
I dont like coldcalling pre as we end up being the player that sometimes folds the best hand not having the betting lead on a lot of different flops. Having dead money in the pot is better and we keep the betting lead and make our villain sometimes fold the better hand.
+coldcalling the btn with KJs to an MP open makes or 3 betting look super tight.

09-23-2010 04:22 AM #1
Micro2Macro View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Join Date Jan 2009 Posts 5,038 Location No structure	.25/.50 - fairly simple spot I'm a LHE noob so bear with me. Villain is 16/13 so far over 97 hands. ATS so far is only 14%, though sample size is of course small. I'm not sure whether I should 3bet or call. Both the blinds have been very tight so far. I think 3betting for isolation/initiative is best and our hand is going to play well in a heads up pot. Is there ever a reason to cold call here given that logic? PokerStars Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (10 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com Preflop: Hero is Button with K, J 5 folds, MP3 raises, 1 fold, Hero ?

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09-23-2010 04:24 AM #2
KoRnholio View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Join Date Jul 2005 Posts 2,753 Location Canada	Definitely 3bet if you want to play the hand. Postflop you'd rather it was heads up with position, and you can easily rep an ace on an Axx flop. But there's many other good flops for your hand as well. I don't like a cold call since it lets the blinds play cheaply and it's harder for them to make a mistake. If they are cold calling a 3bet often from the blinds, they're probably making some huge mistakes that are +EV for us.
	Some days it feels like I've been standing forever, waiting for the bank teller to return so I can cash in all these Sklansky Bucks.
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09-23-2010 05:47 AM #3
Micro2Macro View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Join Date Jan 2009 Posts 5,038 Location No structure	Cool makes sense, thanks for the reply. What's the lowest pocket pair you would continue with here? (And I'm assuming given the same logic we will be 3betting)

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09-23-2010 05:08 PM #4
KoRnholio View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Join Date Jul 2005 Posts 2,753 Location Canada	A bit agg but pretty tight overall raiser from the Hijack with a somewhat low ATS (probably low due to sample size).. Hmm, I'd probably 3bet 66+ there. The same logic does apply for small-medium pairs. Small pairs you'd really like to get either heads up, or multiway (5+ players) for set value. Any number of players in between that generally isn't a good result when holding a small pair.
	Some days it feels like I've been standing forever, waiting for the bank teller to return so I can cash in all these Sklansky Bucks.
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09-23-2010 10:23 PM #5
Micro2Macro View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Join Date Jan 2009 Posts 5,038 Location No structure	Yeah small pairs suck in NLHE as well in a lot of spots.

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.25/.50 - fairly simple spot

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.25/.50 - fairly simple spot

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09-28-2010 10:23 PM #6
DrivingDog View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message Join Date Jul 2007 Posts 1,060 Location UK	I think it's close between a 3bet or fold, but I'd lean towards a fold. His range is well ahead of KJs given his stats in FR. You're going to be dominated far more often than you have him dominated. Your best hope is that he'll play the flop straightforwardly and fold if he misses. But if he calls a c-bet on any flop that you miss it's pretty hard to feel good about your KJ. And if you hit and get c/r'd it's not going to be good news either most of the time. I like to raise a lot of pairs here given how tight the blinds are. Maybe down to 66. These hands play a lot better HU than things like KJs. Cold calling is only an option if both blinds are going to play pretty much regardless and you have something like QJs, JTs, T9s. Otherwise I almost never do it.
	"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on." (George Bush).
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10-10-2010 10:16 AM #7
General Awesome View Profile View Forum Posts Join Date Oct 2010 Posts 5	I usually 3 bet it pre in this spot, Villain seem tight over a small sample but we have a decent hand we have the btn. playing the pot HU IP with dead money is always nice. I dont like coldcalling pre as we end up being the player that sometimes folds the best hand not having the betting lead on a lot of different flops. Having dead money in the pot is better and we keep the betting lead and make our villain sometimes fold the better hand. +coldcalling the btn with KJs to an MP open makes or 3 betting look super tight.

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