How to adjust when your broadways are missing.

[EricE]

I had a recent situation that took me for a tad over a buy-in.

In a run of 5 consecutive hands I had AKs, AQo, AK (with folds the other two hands). My standard play is to raise it up PF, continuation bet, then usually hit it again hard on the turn regardless of the board. This usually wins me the hand. The problem came when the first hand ended up at showdown unimproved. I know a lot of people claim that opponents at my level are not aware but one needs to give them more credit than that. On the successive hands I kept thinking that I play high pairs the same way so there is no reason for my opponent to believe I had nothing (which I did). Long story short…Each of the three hands ended the same way…with me throwing in lots of money and losing at showdown unimproved.

After I had time to analyze this I realized that the table saw right through me on the next two hands. If you were put in this situation, how do you change it up for the next hand (the AQo)? By the time the third hand hit I was tempted to limp but I figured that is just letting previous hands dictate my actions and that is not right.

How would you adjust your play after the first showdown?
I think the answer may be as simple as…PF raise, forgo the continuation bet if you don’t hit…drop it to a bet without odds. Still, I thought I would get your thoughts on the matter.

[DimitriT]

How many hands saw the flop before your continuation bet?
Are you making continuation bets on raggy boards? What is
you table image?

[Rondavu]

Once you're caught continuing unimproved it effects your image. Always be aware of your image. You said...

"By the time the third hand hit I was tempted to limp but I figured that is just letting previous hands dictate my actions and that is not right."

Previous hands should always dictate future actions. Basically your not seeing the big picture...

What you lose in fold equity postflop (They don't believe you anymore), you make up for in implied odds (They call you down weak to look you up)

The answer to this problem is when your image goes south you tighten up postflop to make your money on the implied odds end of the equation. Only continue when you are improved or have an overwhelming feeling your opponent can't continue to call any more bets.

Your opponents demand respect from you. If you continue to miss flops then you miss out on the opportunity to take advantage of your loose image and extract implied value. That's poker. Too bad so sad. Just know that if you hit a few flops in a row you have a door wide open to value rape the table when they pay all your hands off weak. That's good news my friend.

There's nothing like ruining your image and then catching a massive run of good flops. The money flows in like water.

[EricE]

How many hands saw the flop before your continuation bet?
Are you making continuation bets on raggy boards? What is
you table image?

My PF raises are scaled to account for limpers (which works real well) so usually only two others seeing the flop with me. Yes, I believe each of these were on a low raggy board when the continuation bet was used. My table image is between semi loose and tight…seeing ~28% of flops.



The thing is, I do exactly the same when I hold high PP so I figured there is no way for them to tell if I held AA or AK,AQ, etc. But I guess what Rondavu is correct, I lost my credibility after the first showdown so I should have switched it up and limped in or stop using the continuation bet(for the time being). I like to throw the continuation bets because one never knows when an opponent is there just to try and set; if I forgo the continuation bet I may allow them a free card when they were willing to drop it on the flop.

I guess this was a good lesson in table image…something I have not worried about too much. Its something I’ll try to be aware of now. Thanks.

[Checkways]

Yeah, table image is really important. But where it gets tricky is when you realize that you're the only one aware of your table image, lol.

Try to spot the guys that will call you. The guys that are either calling stations or like to always put up a fight. After they call you, just check it down hoping to improve. A second bet will not change anything for these guys unless you're willing to go real deep. They want a showdown.

So unless you were facing one of these guys, then I wouldn't have changed anything after the first showdown. However, after the second showdown, it's time to stop doing cont bets for a while when you miss. Sometimes all it takes is one check to let them know that you're not going to try to steal every pot.

[a500lbgorilla]

I don't change at all.

Over 4 tables, it's hard to tell when my broadways are missing too much.

-'rilla