Hand of the day XXVII: to bet or not to bet?

Question

there are actually two hands in this hand of the day...i will describe two situations in which you are oop on the river, and you must decide whether to bet or not to bet the end...both hands are in 6-handed cash games with effective stacks of 200 bb in each hand, and we have no info of consequence on our opponent in either scenario

hand 1: $.50-1 blinds, a player in middle position raises to $3, and you are the only caller from your bb with A-8 of spades...the flop comes down Kd-8d-3c, and it goes check-check...the turn is the 6h, you check, your opponent bets $4.50, and you call...the river is the 5d, what do you do?

hand 2: blinds $1-2, a player in middle position raises to $6, and we call from the big blind with 5-5...the flop comes down 5c-6d-7c, you check, your opponent bets $9, you c/r to $25, and he calls...the turn is the 2s, you bet $35, and he calls again...the river is the 4d, what do you do?

Answer 1

Hand 1:

Make a blocking bet, bet around half the pot, if he raises you can safely fold.

Against an unknown opponent I don't think you should be calling out of position with a marginal hand like this.

Hand 2:

Raise more on the flop

Bet more on the turn, you cant be giving your opponents good odds here.

The river check/call, your opponent is too likely to bluff here to let this hand go, if he has a straight your just gunna have to pay him off, the amount you gain from bluffs will probably make up for the amount you lose due to straights.

In future use this hand converter it will make your hands much more easily readable.

Answer 2

hand 1: check it down. you missed your chance to set up a meaningful bluff by checking on the turn, and his bet on the turn says he has something. you can beat  pair of 6's, but that's about it.

hand 2: You've got it. His bets indicate top pair or two pair. I think the chances he hit a straight are pretty remote, and there's no pairs on the board. the only thing that he might have you should worry about are trip 7's or 9's. So, bet about half the pot. If he re-raises, you need to think that he might be trapping, but this is not a huge concern, imho. You should bet and call a reraise.

Answer 3

Bad time for my computer to crash, I was on a roll. I missed a couple of your questions there. I've been having withdrawals too because I really enjoy them and think they are great fun.

Hand 1: This is a great time to bet because he didn't bet the flop so there's a great chance that we are acctually ahead. Even though we just have second pair he's acting very weakly after his initial pre flop raise. And our call on turn represents a possible draw. And with another diamond on river and the straight opportunity out there, it's time for us to represent a hand and try to push him off. I'd bet $20. This is one of those possible value bets. Not to high to represent a steal, but low enough to entice a call. He could notice this and fold, or if he raises we can now assume he slow played something he hit and shut it down. But I'd guess he'd either call or fold.

Hand 2: Easy all in here. Sounds like he's on 2 possibilities. An over pair, and there's enough low cards out there he has top pair and his hand looks fairly good.. Or a high flush draw and he missed it on the river. Either way though it doesn't matter because I think we're ahead.  The reason I'd go all in is if he was on the flush draw he folds to our bet know matter what we put out there. But if he does have an over pair, it's worth the chance that he might acctualy call. This ones not worth trying a value bet.

Edit: I see the straight possibility, but being that he raised pre flop, I wouldn't put him on to a hand with a 3 or 8 in it unless its pocket 3's or 8's. In which case I'll take the chance he didn't suck out on a runner runner or raise pre flop with 3 8. Or even pocket 6's or 7's. The chances of flopping set vs set are very slim. Possible yet slim. So again I'd have to take my chances. And I guess not so much of an "easy" all in as a gambling I'll take my chances I'm not that unlucky all in. And the one possible hand he could have that I really wouldn't want to see is the pocket 8's. Im very unlucky though, wouldn't doubt it for a second.  (even though it's not me)...  : )

Answer 4

hand 1- check

hand 2- even easier check

There is no point value betting THIS thin, against an unknown. You will lose more than you gain.

Edit:

hand 1: I call. Pot odds arent bad and I cant think of a hand oppenent is repping. Maybe a set that is getting thin value. Never the less, I call.

hand 2: I fold. The middle position player is either doing three things:

1. Turning a hand into a bluff. I dont think so because we dont have any info that says that he is sick or good.

2. He is v-betting the straight that he donkey called two streets.

3. He missed his flush and is bluffing.

I dont think he is bluffing here 20% or more. As i said, i fold.

By the way, congrats for the top contributor thingy!! I still remember when I had that..