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Blinds vs BTN - Common Spot

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  1. #1

    Default Blinds vs BTN - Common Spot

    Rather than this specific hand this is an extremely frequent spot that I'm looking to get a better understanding of. Folds to CO / BTN with reggish stats, we're in the blinds with a decent Kx / Ax type hand:

    BTN is 21/14 with 28% steal, 70% fold to 3bet, 71% cbet

    $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Holdem
    PokerStars6 Players
    Hand Conversion Powered by WeakTight Poker Hand History Converter
    Stacks:
    UTG ($5.21) 104bb
    UTG+1 ($23) 460bb
    CO ($5.40) 108bb
    BTN ($5) 100bb
    SB ($3.41) 68bb
    BB Hero ($5.14) 103bb
    Pre-Flop: (0.07, 6 players) Hero is BB

    3 folds, BTN raises to $0.15, 1 fold, $0.1 to Hero?


    I'll try and outline my thought process:

    AJo is well ahead of villains BTN opening range. If I flat call then I keep the pot small which seems good as I'm OOP and I keep all of his weaker hands in. If I 3bet he likely folds most (but not all) of the hands I'm ahead of, I imagine his 3b calling range to be wider than normal as he is in position on me. So if I 3bet his range gets stronger, the pot gets bigger and I'm still OOP.

    But - given that he folds to 3bets 70% and I hold blockers to the strongest part of his range a 3bet likely takes the hand down now, and I avoid playing OOP.


    I'm more inclined to call in these spots. Is that usually correct?
  2. #2
    I would 3b this. His steal isn't that high, but he's still folding a lot to 3b so that's all that matters.

    Not to mention that your plan to call pre and keep worse in backfires pretty often, because even though he has all Ax, it's not THAT common of an occurrence for you to both hit your ace (equivalent to hitting a 2 outer - ie it happens as often as hitting a set).

    So really it's more likely that he wins the pot by cbetting Ax and you bricking AJ than by you both hitting the ace and you winning a bigger pot.

    My main reason to flat AJ would be if the dynamic was that I would get 4b bluffed often , but wasn't comfortable 5b shoving AJ. Either that or if he's the type to make my life difficult in 3b pots OOP, though most ppl play pretty fit or fold.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jay-Z
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    I gave the other grip, I lost a flip for five stacks
  3. #3
    I'd generally 3b this and be more inclined to flat AJs, as explained in your other thread. I hadn't seen this thread before I commented there. I use the terms "generally" and "more inclined to" for a reason, because the truth is, as in most poker situations, it depends.

    Flatting might be the right play here against a someone who is wild where he's the aggressor, but is more cautious when he's facing aggression.

    The key here is to look beyond "reggish stats", and build a more detailed profile on your villain.
    Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
    ongies gonna ong
  4. #4
    Those stats looks tight for a 6-max game.

    With those stats i don't think he calls light to your raise. I think he's going to fold most of the hands you beat and call or 3bet with hands that are ahead of yours most of the time.

    Don't know how he plays postflop but i like the idea of calling, he may have an A or J with a lower kicker and you can get value from that.
  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by griffey24 View Post
    I would 3b this. His steal isn't that high, but he's still folding a lot to 3b so that's all that matters.

    Not to mention that your plan to call pre and keep worse in backfires pretty often, because even though he has all Ax, it's not THAT common of an occurrence for you to both hit your ace (equivalent to hitting a 2 outer - ie it happens as often as hitting a set).

    So really it's more likely that he wins the pot by cbetting Ax and you bricking AJ than by you both hitting the ace and you winning a bigger pot.

    My main reason to flat AJ would be if the dynamic was that I would get 4b bluffed often , but wasn't comfortable 5b shoving AJ. Either that or if he's the type to make my life difficult in 3b pots OOP, though most ppl play pretty fit or fold.
    This is really interesting because this is the type of spot where I will flat A LOT because I think I'm way ahead of villain's range and I want to keep all of his weaker hands that I dominate in his range as well.

    I almost feel like I'm 3bet bluffing when I 3bet here and I see no reason to turn a hand as strong as AJo into a bluff BB vs BU.
    Currently grinding live cash games. Life is good.

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