Top set on the flop at the final table of the Sunday Million

(First off, I definitely prefer the preflop shove. I’m not one to slowplay big PPs and I like to get as much money in preflop as possible.)

I went with the checkraise, as the real guy apparently did. I think it’s the best approach here.

I have top set on a raggedy board that doesn’t scare me one bit. I don’t care what he has - there’s practically no way he’ll out draw me so I don’t feel so bad potentially giving free cards.

He took the lead preflop with the reraise, and I’ll let him keep it initially, with a check (a lead here, into the preflop raiser AND big stack, screams strength and isn’t likely to pay off at all, so I think leading, especially leading strong, is the worst option). I fully expect a continuation bet, at which point I’ll put in a healthy raise and hope he’s in the mood to play.

Check-calling here isn’t at all bad either, and I might actually prefer it if I didn’t have such a quiet image at the final table.

But I’m probably checkraising here 75% of the time, check-calling, and leading any turn the other 25%. In either case if he happens to check behind on the flop I’ll lead strong on the turn, because I’m damn sure not waiting until the river to start building a pot on this one.

rope a dope =)…

I voted lead medium - I’m thinking he’s expecting a continuation bet from me, so I’m giving him one.

I’m hoping he’s got AA/AK and raises big. If I scare him off, so be it, I’ve won his preflop re-raise so the pot isn’t tiny.

I don’t mind the check-raise, but I agree with J.F - if he checks behind me then I’m leading strong on the turn - by that time there’s a good chance of 2 flush cards out there and he might go for broke with a flush draw and snap my set.

Lead weak planning to call a raise (which will most likely happen) is good.
There are 2 thing I want to do at this spot: build a pot and hide the strength of my hand. Check-calling then betting medium at the turn might also work, but I surely dont like a check-raise (which might represent more strenght than a straightforward strong bet at the flop);

He’s the reraiser, so check to him and let him bet.
Then I check raise him.

The flop is absolutely not drawy and it’s also very unlikely that he has a 3 or a 7 (could he reraise with A7?), so he has no reason to stay here unless he flopped a set, a pair of K or has AA.
If he has nothing, I don’t think that check-calling will induce a bluff and if he has something, he will call your check-raise or put you allin.

i like leading out medium here to try and make it look like a probe bet… I would probably play most medium pairs this same way. I am hoping that he has AK or AA and will reraise me at which point i call, check the turn and hope he takes another crack at it. I think this will build the biggest pot and give u the best chance to double through the chip leader on a board that has no draws and you have top set. You also know that he has to have a real hand given your tight image and UTG raise and his decision to reraise you

I voted for check-call, but as I think about it, what I do (call or raise) will depend on how much he throws out there. If he goes low-med, I just call (which would connote medium pair I think). If he comes out big (as he did), you might as well raise, since the call here is either an idiot play (with no draws out there) or clearly a trap being set.

Deep stacks? Really? Going to the flop, the pot is already 60% of your remaining stack and already more than a third of your opponent’s remaining stack. You’re really not going to be playing flop, turn, and river here…

While this appears to be bingo for you, this actually may not be. It’s either a great flop or a terrible flop for you.

Let’s look at some ranges here.

You’ve been quiet and you raise UTG? Ok, so you’ve got AQ+, JJ+.

He reraises UTG+1 and he’s been relatively quiet and so have you? Ok, so he’s got JJ+/AK.

He either hates that flop (QQ/JJ) or loves that flop (AA/AK). If he’s got AK/AA, it really doesn’t matter how you play it; you’re not deep enough for him to get away and you’re going to double. So, your play is irrelevant.

If he’s got QQ/JJ, he hates the flop, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a few of his chips. If you lead small, you really don’t give him any options. Even betting half pot, you’re committing most of your stack to the hand and he’s going to have a tough time getting you off any hand in your range (would you really lead here with JJ/QQ/AQ?). No way, you’re worst hand here is AK when you lead and he’s going to have very little fold equity). If you bet small, you are really not going to receive any action at all even from a hand as good as QQ.

So, can you check/call? What for? You’re going to call a bet for half your stack (assuming a half pot continuation bet) and then you’re going to fold at some point later in the hand? Not happening. If you call, he’s going to be done with the hand. I guess the only way you’re getting more chips is if you check/call and he hits his own set on the turn or river. So, I suppose for that slight chance, maybe it does make sense to check/call.

But, I think the best play here is to check/raise and either get it all in or get on to the next hand. But, I suppose for the slim chance that a J or Q hits the turn, maybe it’s best to check/call.

I have no further input on post-flop play, but I’d like to shove pre-flop instead.

He’ll get 13.3:7.3 odds on the call, seems it would be tough for him to lay anything down; it only makes clear sense if he knew he had undercards to a pocket pair. I don’t want to get involved in playing against a flopped ace out of position against the chip leader, and I think I get a call here from some hands that might miss and fold post-flop.

If he does fold, I’m effectively tied with him for the chip lead, and I think those chips end up being worth a little more than face value because of that.

Excellent analyses from Rob and Ally. I voted check-call but I agree that the best move would have been to reraise all in preflop. And he would have called. Keep things simple!

I say do what every other online retard does: check it until 47th street, then when the A hits get your stack in and whine that AA sucked out on you.

actually this move ultimately depends upon your level of competition…..if i felt i was playing against a truly great player…i would definitley lead weak or medium ( considering this quiet player raises to 2.8 m ) It would clearly be interpreted as a continuation bet and most likely will get action. Very good players in heads up situations in general many times are not quick to fold, now especially if he has some sort of hand ( that he has based upon his raise to 2.8m ) the main reason i really dont like checking here is that if you check call you immediately draw up suspicion form your very tough opponent and he may check behind you. You have now opened yourself up to ” place a gun to your own head” if an ace drops and your opponent’s sitting on American Airlines Now let it be clear that he may still hit the set of aces even if you lead out, but it will cost him more to find that out. If you check -raise…then you may shut down the action right there. If my lead induces a fold then ..that’s ok….because it’s likely that against this very good player, i wouldnt have made any more more money in the hand.

actually this move ultimately depends upon your level of competition…..if i felt i was playing against a truly great player…i would definitley lead weak or medium ( considering this quiet player raises to 2.8 m ) It would clearly be interpreted as a continuation bet and most likely will get action. Very good players in heads up situations in general many times are not quick to fold, now especially if he has some sort of hand ( that he has based upon his raise to 2.8m ) the main reason i really dont like checking here is that if you check call you immediately draw up suspicion form your very tough opponent and he may check behind you. You have now opened yourself up to ” place a gun to your own head” if an ace drops and your opponent’s sitting on American Airlines. Now let it be clear that he may still hit the set of aces even if you lead out, but it will cost him more to find that out. If you check -raise…then you may shut down the action right there. If my lead induces a fold then ..that’s ok….because it’s likely that against this very good player, i wouldnt have made any more more money in the hand.