blonde poker forum

Background

OK so playing .5/.5 (yes!) at Bristol Gala. In truth the game plays more like 1/1 and is pretty much the only game going aside from 1/2 ROE.  Standard PF raise is about £4, unless straddled when £6. Even then you can be unfortunate enough to have 4 - 6 players come along for the ride.

I think my image is solid, although regs know that I'm also mixing my game up in late position with gappers/connectors.  Villian doesn't play there that often, but think from previous and this night I've been quite accurate with putting him on ranges.  He's by no means an idiot (listening to him speak), but is very loose bordering on maniac.  His VPIP is something like 50/40 with a 3 bet range something ridic like 15 - 20%. He's also the only player to show any willingness to 4b my 3b's on the table. We've shared a few interesting pots, with a good bit of banter and a little bit of levelling thrown in for seasoning.

That said, when I've been getting involved in big pots I've either taken it down at showdown or been outdrawn.

So hand in question:

Straddled and folded around to me on Btn

Playing out of £320 -  Tc Td  - I raise to £6.
SB folds
Villain in BB (£201) raises to £19.
Straddler folds.
I flat.

Pot is £40

Flop -  Qd Js 7d

Villain fires £22

I'm not entirely convinced with him and am definitely not giving up to a cbet from him, so raise to £55.
I'm happy that this can rep AQ.

He dwells and calls (seems somewhat uncomfortable, but not Hollywooding).

Pot now £150

Turn is 4x

I'm certain this changes nothing - and if I go checking I'm effectively giving up on the pot here.

I fire £75.

Villain tanks for an absolute age and is clearly uncomfortable. He asks if I show if he folds. I tell him I'll show him a card for 10% of the pot (mistake?) I'm now certain he has a weak Q or a J and is putting me on AQ. He reluctantly calls.

Pot is £300 River is 2x and I put him all in for his last £62 - aware that I will probably get looked up, but hoping he really puts me on AQ.

He vomit calls with Q9

Please deconstruct/flame!

But my main q's are:

1) Should I have 4 bet pre? (meant to mention I had done this wiith some success, but thought I'd possibly pushed it too far and would get 5b shoved on)

2) Thoughts on my flop raise?

3) That turn bet - did I screw up the bet sizing? (make it smaller or shove?)

(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb57889/currencies/images/2/2c/Burning_money.jpg)

I would just fold flop and be done with the hand.

Once he bet calls flop betting the turn is just huge spew on such a brick. River is reaaaaaaaally bad. You basically gifted him that £62

Trying to bluff people of top pair on draw-y boards is going to be hard work.

Also, following the Herbert Hypothesis, trying to bluff people at all in a .50p/.50p game is going to be hard work. He's called a raise and 2 big bets with a rubbish queen. This is excellent news as it means he's going to pay you when he has it. Try having it next time.

oh no. Problem with flop is your cr basically reps nothing and also achieves nothing. Turn changes nothing= his calling range has not altered. River could be good against a good observant opponent (who the fk bluffs giving 8:1 nowadays?) but those opponents are pretty rare in gala casinos (infact any casino tbf).

If he is a 'maniac' playing something like 55/45/20, you should be pretty happy about 4-bet calling pre. Although listed as a 50p/50p game, if the open is to £6... it's playing more like a std 200NL table (i.e. 5-betting = shoving). Make it 54 and call it off imo.

Flop is... interesting. Why are we raising? You are basically folding out everything that you already beat and he is never folding better.
Sure you might rep AQ, but you are playing 0.5/0.5... you just shouldnt be trying to get people to fold top-pair, or any pair. These games are all about value betting, the reason you should be winning lots in this game is that he will call a raise on QJx and happily stack off with Q9... exploit that by taking him to town when you've got it. Just fold on this flop. It's QJ7dd it's pretty hard for him to have nothing.

On the turn you are definately correct the the offsuit 4 changes nothing. This is definately a very good reason to NOT TRY AND GET HIM TO FOLD A QUEEN. Just accept at this point that the flop raise wasn't great, but you certainly aren't going to 3-barrel it off. The only thing wrong about your turn sizing is that there was a sizing... it should have been £0.

River probably not that bad to be honest... he can have a missed FD, but you don't really want to be in a position where you are putting a guy in for £60 into £loads hoping he doesnt have a pair (good luck getting someone to fold a pair getting 1000000:1 on their money)

4 bet call if you have been doing that with success he can spazz out with a wide range of hands which we should be doing good against :P

As played dont like check/raise on flop, Call or Fold, prob easier to fold as your oop down the streets. Would lean to call if he is not likely to 2 barrell light and good chance he checks to showdown, seems like a bad spot to bluff

River he is never folding with the odds he's giving, can check/call though give his bluffs a chance to stick some in the middle, Obviously once you bet turn you need to stack of on the river

Scrap my point about the river, wasnt concentrating.... its a check. He never folds better and you have SDV

I got stuck on that table on Sunday waiting for plo seat for 4 freaking hours. It's painful to say the least and I don't think 1 player was capable of folding top pair at any time in a hand. For the final 2 hours I basically limped along with them and it was a right laugh. Some of em were rebuying for £20 a time so all poker theory is out the window.

I always seem to do ok tbh at 50/50. I have found my level obviously.