Monday, October 19, 2009

When to take the Aggressive or Passive Line

SNGs brought me down again this weekend as I was only in the money 26% of out 23 tourneys a the $14+1 level. One run ( Play 4 at a time), I was either 1st or 2nd in chips with 5 people left and didn't finish in the money in any of them (3 4ths and a 5th). It's like an addiction, I can't stop playing them until I do better; but truthfully, I need to stick to cash games.

Speaking of cash games, I won at a 31.63 clip this weekend on very limited play (1081 hands).

At my levels (50PL, 100PL and 200PL), I constantly question on when to take the aggressive line vs a more passive line. The problem with taking the passive line is the situations that you put yourself in on later streets. Maybe it is a lower variance type play; but I'm probably giving up equity by doing it.

Here is a hand where I choose passive and was put to a decision on the river. Where, if any, would you have have amped up the aggression on this hand?

Villain is 52/13/2.4 over 50 hands

I was going to give aggression by street; but didn't want to get ridiculed by Brue for the lack of hands.

Full Tilt Poker $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/329746
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $137.00
BTN: $127.95
SB: $75.00
Hero (BB): $142.20
UTG: $209.10
UTG+1: $100.00
MP1: $204.20
MP2: $191.80

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BB with Js 8s
UTG raises to $2, 2 folds, MP2 calls $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $1

min raise and a couple of callers. Got to call from bb. Anybody raising?

Flop: ($6.50) 4s 3s 9h (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $6.50, MP2 folds, Hero calls $6.50

Villain cbets only 50%. Fold, Raise or Call?

Turn: ($19.50) Jd (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $19.50, Hero calls $19.50

Villain continues with pot sized bets. Fold, Raise or Call?

River: ($58.50) 2d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $58.50, Hero calls $58.50

Yet another pot sized bet? Fold, Raise or Call?


Have a nice day!!

4 comments:

The Poker Meister said...

You have yourself in a fine mess with sub-premium cards against a fairly unknown player. 52/13 (given ONLY 50 hands) says he's limping WAY more than he should, but he's still raising "reasonably." I have to give him credit on the river - he's bet all 3 streets. I'm folding my TPNK and busted flush draw. I can't handle a pot sized river bet given the confidence he's shown the whole way through the hand.

Hammer Player a.k.a Hoyazo said...

I think I would call the flop like you did with the flush draw. With only a Jack-high draw and with nothing yet on this board, I don't think we have the equity for a raise in that spot, and not having any clue what the other guy has, I think a call is in order.

On the turn, his full-pot bet doesn't strike me as particularly strong, and you have just picked up top pair yourself on a card (Jack) not likely to be in an utg preflop raiser's hand, so with possibly the best hand already, plus still that flush draw out there, I once again would call. I again don't see the case for raising, since now you are 4 to 1 against filling the flush and you are still behind a lot of hands that a preflop UTG raiser could have. I don't love calling but I like folding there even less and raising is not smart given your hand IMO.

On the river, like Meister I will happily fold here, recognizing that I'm letting somebody bluff me off the best hand once in a while. But like Meister points out, the guy has bet pot on all three streets. It could be a TT or even AK type of hand trying to steal on the river, but I would expect a higher pocket pair or something better most of the time given the action throughout the hand in this spot.


Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BB with Js 8s
UTG raises to $2, 2 folds, MP2 calls $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $1

min raise and a couple of callers. Got to call from bb. Anybody raising?

Flop: ($6.50) 4s 3s 9h (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $6.50, MP2 folds, Hero calls $6.50

Villain cbets only 50%. Fold, Raise or Call?

Turn: ($19.50) Jd (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $19.50, Hero calls $19.50

Villain continues with pot sized bets. Fold, Raise or Call?

River: ($58.50) 2d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $58.50, Hero calls $58.50

WillWonka said...

Ooops.. I goofed and put my action on the post.

The pot sized bets from these type players (even though I don't have many hands) are usually signs of weakness.

I obviously called and he showed ATs for a busted flush draw.

The Poker Meister said...

Good call, Will. I'm accepting of the fact that I may be bluffed out every once in awhile, but given the lack of history- particularly him potting every street where he's never done that before, I'm accepting of the fact that I'm being bluffed off the best hand every once in awhile.

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