Daily Hand Quiz

I’d lead for $80. Hero may be ahead nevertheless I think you want to play pot control on the chance that you are behind. The lead may also indicate where you stand in the hand, perhaps even taking the pot down now.

Check-raising seems risky given that our pair is vulnerable (kicker), as well as the wet board.

Check-folding seems weak given that we have top pair 3-handed, and no read on the v.

Check-calling is an option however, you lose pot control and will not get any additional info, i.e. v may be betting turn w/air. You also lose the opportunity of representing a winning hand and taking the pot on the turn.

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Lead here sounds good. If we get raised then I assume we’re beat and probably fold. Does anyone else think we should have check raised the flop instead of check called? I understand just calling to keep the pot smaller, but it seems like we’d have a better idea of where we’re at now if we check raised that flop. If we got reraised when trying that then I’d probably look for a fold…maybe a call…not sure.

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Morat Reply:
April 20th, 2010 at 11:55 am

Once we called pre there’s no need to raise the flop. Our hand is probably best but not too strong. If we raise the flop it is very unlikely that any worse made hand calls, or any better folds. Actually if you get a call it’s either a stronger hand (AQ+) or a draw. Same if you get reraised. So after you get called (or raised) you won’t have any clue what to do next against a polarized range. Also I don’t feel comfortable building a huge pot w/ TP mediocre kicker OOP. Call flop and hope V isn’t drawing.

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Voted check-call, but could go with lead also.
The extra spade offers an opportunity to rep a made flush (as well as a chance to lose to an actual flush) – this would call for an aggressive play on the river.
Dilemma with checking comes where V fires off a big bet. The same problem exists if H lead and V raises, except H is more invested at that point.
With V’s aggressive flop bet, I think JJ-AA and maybe even QJ are unlikely. Could have been semi-bluffing something like AsKs or AsTs or a medium spade draw. AT+ & KT+ seem possible as well as 77-TT, JTs or air.

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Leading is probably better because we should charge hands w/ a spade. We can get called by worse for the same reason. I’d fold to raise though.
And I’d raise pre, but folding is still better than calling IMO.

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im check raising. the spade is a great card for us. our line feels a lot more likely to have just made the flush than his. so if we’re behind, we can induce a fold here. if we’re ahead, im sure we’re vulnerable anyway, so i dont mind ending it. its very unlikely, but if he happens to have just made a flush, thats just bad luck. if he comes over the top i pitch it, we’re crushed.

if he just calls the raise i lead any non spade river and expect a fold. check fold a spade river. –the likeliest hand to call my cr with is a pair and a high spade.

if he checks behind, i lead the river for 2/3 representing a big hand trying to make money after the trap didnt work. i highly expect a fold.

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