Continuation betting and semibluffing.
Hello, I have some questions about semibluffing and cbetting.
I think I read in PNLHE that you should consider to bet when you have only little equity in a hand, and on the other hand be inclined to check or call when your equity is large.. How does this affect cbetting?
Example 1.
Everybody folds to the button who opens with 89s and only the BB calls.
The flop is QJ2 rainbow, giving you a gut shot straight draw. BB checks. Since you have so little equity you should bet because this is probably the only spot where you can try to win the hand.
Example 2.
Everybody folds to the button who opens with A7s and only the BB calls. The flop is T82 2-tone (includes a flush draw). Now you have the nut flush draw and a overcard to the board. Now should we be more inclined to check this flop back to see if we hit, because we have lot of equity in the hand and some showdown value with the ace alone?
(Example 1) Also how much does it change the situation if the opponent is aggressive or passive. If he is passive we should still bet in example 1, because the amount of equity we have in the hand? And if he's aggressive and more likely to bet us off our hand, should we the check behind and give up on the turn if we miss and he bets?
(Example 2) If he's is passive and propbably call our bet, should we still semibluff cbet to grow the pot if we hit and to try to get out opponent to fold. But if our opponent is aggressive should we check behind because there is a possibility that he might raise and put us in a tought spot.
Sorry for the rambling and the possible typos. I didn't have time to check it. Hope you can give me some advice for me because I'm a habitual cbetter and cbet almost every flop. Trying to cut that back and need some help.
Re: Continuation betting and semibluffing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveisHell
Hello, I have some questions about semibluffing and cbetting.
For cbetting advice, I recommend these threads: Spoon's Good Example of When to Cbet and A Good Example of When Not to Cbet. These are two threads that got me thinking more coherently about cbetting.
Also some postflop play threads on related topics: Blindstealing 101 and Raising Behind Limpers by Spoonitnow. Great stuff about playing late position hands in unraised pots. Check out ilikeaces 86 simple way to beat 6max, which is a great post and even better discussion including thoughts from some FTR icons like Gabe and ISF. Not everyone agrees, which is great, imo. OP was edited and lists several very strong points for any 6max player to consider.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveisHell
I think I read in PNLHE that you should consider to bet when you have only little equity in a hand, and on the other hand be inclined to check or call when your equity is large.. How does this affect cbetting?
Most cbets are an implementation of "being inclined to be when you only have a little equity in the hand," although the line between cbetting and semibluffing isn't clear cut.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveisHell
Example 1.
Everybody folds to the button who opens with 89s and only the BB calls.
The flop is QJ2 rainbow, giving you a gut shot straight draw. BB checks. Since you have so little equity you should bet because this is probably the only spot where you can try to win the hand.
Example 2.
Everybody folds to the button who opens with A7s and only the BB calls. The flop is T82 2-tone (includes a flush draw). Now you have the nut flush draw and a overcard to the board. Now should we be more inclined to check this flop back to see if we hit, because we have lot of equity in the hand and some showdown value with the ace alone?
I'm betting both hands, but for different reasons than you mentioned. I would open raise 98s from the BTN as a blind steal and be ready to 2barrel virtually any flop. Here, our position is worth a lot more than our cards, so we use it.
In hand 2, I'm raising to build a pot. I still don't have a made hand. But I've got fold equity and a VERY playable hand on the turn. I play this just like I would play KK on a Txx flop, like I'm value towning it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveisHell
(Example 1) Also how much does it change the situation if the opponent is aggressive or passive. If he is passive we should still bet in example 1, because the amount of equity we have in the hand? And if he's aggressive and more likely to bet us off our hand, should we the check behind and give up on the turn if we miss and he bets?
(Example 2) If he's is passive and propbably call our bet, should we still semibluff cbet to grow the pot if we hit and to try to get out opponent to fold. But if our opponent is aggressive should we check behind because there is a possibility that he might raise and put us in a tought spot.
Cbetting is VERY read dependent. I cbet MORE against aggressive players since they will either raise or fold. Against passive players, it's read dependent. Hand 1 is NOT good to cbet against a station since he'll be hard to force off the hand and since we have so little value. But I would still cbet it - I'm just not blind stealing as much against known stations. "Don't try to steal blinds that can't be stolen," as the saying goes. If I'm in this hand, I'm cbetting 99% of the time. If I can't cbet it, I lay it down pre.
Yes, build a pot in Hand 2 - don't worry too much about agro players raising. Overshoving will be +EV in most situations with this many outs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveisHell
Hope you can give me some advice for me because I'm a habitual cbetter and cbet almost every flop. Trying to cut that back and need some help.
See the threads I linked above. If you're cbetting too much, you need to back up a step and think about your preflop play. Cbetting with AJ oop sucks, in general, so open it less EP/MP preflop. Also, I open/limp/fold the same hand in the same position differently based on the players left to act preflop. I'm looking preflop for situations that will allow me to be aggressive with cbetting postflop. This generally means tight and VERY positionally adjusted ranges preflop.
