Continuation Bets - Making them and Defending Against Them

[vampitup]

How would you deal with these scenarios in a lowish stakes cash game? 

A:  You have  asp kh in mid position.  You make your standard raise pre flop which is called by the button only.

Flop comes:    js.  You decide to make a continuation bet of about half the pot and he calls. 

How do you proceed on the turn, assuming the turn misses you?

B: You have  tc td in late position.  You call a raise from mid position and the two of you see a flop of:

  . 

He makes a continuation bet of about half the pot - how do you play it from there?

You have no read on either players' style of play.

Really interested in people's opinions of how to play these two scenarios - I find them some of the hardest things to deal with.

[Nem]

A: It all depends on the turn, if a King or Ace or Jack comes I would bet, if the gutshot or a blank appears, I would check.

B: I would raise immediately, I would make it 3 times his/her bet, if I got re-raised I would fold.

My answers are for both players having similar chip counts.

[TightEnd]

a) if you are very deepstacked you can fire another bullet on a blank turn, but assuming you are not, check and if you sense weakness, check call

b) as Nemesis said

[Karabiner]

a) Check

b) Raise

[The Baron]

a) With no read on this player I would check. Usually in cash, at the levels I play at, the play is usually quite tight and I'm tempted to have another pop if I'm deepstacked enough. This hand is a key reason why you should be deepstacked.

b) The only way to find out where you are is raise.

[JP]

a) check. This is because a bet is normally either a value bet or a bluff and betting AK high would be -EV  so the bet has no purpose because if they have you beat they will call/raise or will fold if they are behind. You have 6 possible wins check and hope for a free card especially vs a tricky player.

b) Raise, smooth calling occasionally to mix it up. i find these hands tricky to play vs a preflop raiser, I think raising is the best % play for a number of reasons.
       
         i)  Give no free cards and protect your hand.
         ii) Is likely to win the pot outright which is the objective as this hand can not win a big pot in theory.
         iii) Gains information
   
The real problems begin when you encounter resistance from the preflop raiser. A  flat call from an average ABC kind of player would not worry me and if these players reraise you then it is an easy hand to throw away. Tricky opponents, however, can flat call with the big overpair or even a set. Also they may be planning to take it away on a later street. These players can also reraise with the big hand on the flop or with very little.

hand a) in my opinion is quite simple to play as AK high shouldn't be pursued.
hand b) vs a tricky player can be a nightmare to play and recently a few of these type hands came up in live tournaments and I would call the flop then get check raised on the turn and
            end up losing way more than i should have with those mid pairs.

Just my views on an interesting scenario

[vampitup]

Cheers for the opinions on these scenarios guys.

I keep getting into these scenarios, especially the AK one.  I do check the turn here, but I see so many people (wrongly) playing it to the end, firing off bullets on the turn trying to buy the pot.

The second scenario with a mid/highish pair is tougher, and the one where I really wanted the advice.  I think calling is the wrong option here as people have said, but an option I have chosen too much in the past.  The re raise does obtain information and surely a player who is making a continuation bet with AK v your TT has to lay his hand down to the re raise.

[Splash]

It depends on your situation, I play a lot of mid level NL cash games (£500 and £1000 buyins) and if you play a lot people get to know your game.   There are certain players that I know will bet the flop with a missed AK (or a missed up and down or flush draw)   and then check the turn....   in these situations i always put a decent bet into the turn (usually with not a lot) and pick the pot up.

Even if the guy you are playing is a new face the others round the table will be watching if they are any good!  The key is to not to be consistent, i'd check it most of the time (A)  but sometimes i'll bet it and sometimes i'll check raise it if i think the player is v weak.

Note the checked turn if you hit a disguised card can usually gets a bet from a good player .   

U have to keep them guessing and switch it all about, especailly if you a playing a lot of hands at the same tables.

[Royal Flush]

gr8 answer JP.

[tikay]

Stunning in fact. (JP's answer). Who might JP be, one wonders? It's not the boy Kelly from Luton. He can't write yet.