[5NL] AJo, BvB in BB, facing maniac bet on river.

[seven-deuce]

Given stats i would have 3bet this preflop.

I'd call.

Use bet/(bet+pot) to find out how much equity you need to make a +EV call here, then give villain a stronger range than you know he actually has and see how your hand stacks up, if it has close to 50% against a value heavy range, then this would be an easy call.

[Cobra_1878]

Given stats i would have 3bet this preflop.

I'd call.

Use bet/(bet+pot) to find out how much equity you need to make a +EV call here, then give villain a stronger range than you know he actually has and see how your hand stacks up, if it has close to 50% against a value heavy range, then this would be an easy call.

Why would I want to 3bet pre? Surely there are better spots than this? I don't think he is folding to a 3bet and I'm probably going to be facing a cbet with a marginal hand as it is. Do I not want to keep the pot small?

I will work on what you suggested tomorrow as well, see what I come up with.

[DoubleJ]

Why would I want to 3bet pre? ...I don't think he is folding to a 3bet and I'm probably going to be facing a cbet with a marginal hand...

if u 3Bet and he calls, he can't cBet the flop.

u will have the lead

[Cobra_1878]

if u 3Bet and he calls, he can't cBet the flop.

u will have the lead

Why you have to pick up on that, I was tired!

I doubt he cares about cbetting anyway, he could just as likely donk the flop.

[seven-deuce]

Why would I want to 3bet pre? Surely there are better spots than this?

This is as good a spot as any to 3bet for value here it wouldn't be a bluff. He's going to be calling so much Ax and Jx preflop which you dominate and if you both flop top pair your getting 3 streets of value 100% of the time.

We want to enlarge the pot preflop vs this villain for a few reasons he hates folding so he'll be seeing the flop with a far weaker range than you are in 3bet pots, the second thing is you have position, so you control the free card if villain checks as he will most of the time, also you can cbet dry flops and hope to take it down, lastly when you enlarge the pot preflop your stack to pot ratio is lower postflop making it easier to get your entire stack in over 3 streets which is quite important vs this calling station.

This is the type of villain you don't want to have a 3bet bluffing range against because he's never folding, so it would be a better adjustment to widen your 3bet for value range to include hands such as AJ for example.

[Cobra_1878]

This is as good a spot as any to 3bet for value here it wouldn't be a bluff. He's going to be calling so much Ax and Jx preflop which you dominate and if you both flop top pair your getting 3 streets of value 100% of the time.

We want to enlarge the pot preflop vs this villain for a few reasons he hates folding so he'll be seeing the flop with a far weaker range than you are in 3bet pots, the second thing is you have position, so you control the free card if villain checks as he will most of the time, also you can cbet dry flops and hope to take it down, lastly when you enlarge the pot preflop your stack to pot ratio is lower postflop making it easier to get your entire stack in over 3 streets which is quite important vs this calling station.

This is the type of villain you don't want to have a 3bet bluffing range against because he's never folding, so it would be a better adjustment to widen your 3bet for value range to include hands such as AJ for example.

This is something I never take into account, I think I am slightly scared to play maniac villain's as I am never comfortable if I can't put villain on a range. I always adjust to tight villain's, widening my opening range to steal blinds and 3bet bluffing more, but I never adjust for maniac villains and that's probably where I will make the most $$$!

That post is gold btw, thanks.

[Savy]

This is something I never take into account, I think I am slightly scared to play maniac villain's as I am never comfortable if I can't put villain on a range. I always adjust to tight villain's, widening my opening range to steal blinds and 3bet bluffing more, but I never adjust for maniac villains and that's probably where I will make the most $$$!

That post is gold btw, thanks.

You have to remember that you will lose every now and again.

If you can get him to put $3 into the pot every time you have AJ against his calling range where you may be 60% (figure pulled out of my ass but it's just for a point) then you will win

(3 * 0.6) + (-3 * 0.4) = 1.8 - 1.2 = $0.60

So every time it happens you'd have an EV of $0.60

Obviously this is a very simple version of what could happen, but against a calling station who you can outplay most of the time it's still a very profitable thing to do.

It just takes a while to realise it's a profitable thing to do as it can take a while to prove fruitful.

[spoonitnow]

Why would I want to 3bet pre? Surely there are better spots than this? I don't think he is folding to a 3bet and I'm probably going to be facing a cbet with a marginal hand as it is. Do I not want to keep the pot small?

I will work on what you suggested tomorrow as well, see what I come up with.

If you have a hand that crushes your opponent's range, and you're in position, and your SPR is small, then those are three major things that either give you an advantage, make playing your hand easier or both. That's the idea. I want to re-iterate that you would be in position because it's that important.

I think the hand is played wonderfully on the flop and turn. I'm certain that the river is a profitable call, and you have near the top of your range (if not the absolute top of your range), so I believe it's a clear call.