Hand analysis : PRE AND POST FLOP PLAY, step by step

[mikkyT]

Okay, this is the first in a three (or four) part hand analysis series. Lets get some debate going as to what you do in this situation.

It is taken from a real hand, online.

You are in the final of a qualifier to a live poker event

Table XYZ : Seat 6 is the button.
Seat 2: (13300 in chips)
Seat 3: mikkyT05 (28332 in chips)
Seat 5: Stejill (14315 in chips)
Seat 6: Ithicus (41553 in chips)

Seat 2: posts the ante 50
YOU: posts the ante 50
Seat 5: posts the ante 50
Seat 6: posts the ante 50

Seat 2: posts small blind 200
YOU: posts big blind 400

----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to YOU [ ]
Seat 5: folds
Seat 6: folds
Seat 2: raises to 800

What do you do?

[thetank]

3 seats pay and there's 4 left is that right?

I flat call

He's got 13k left and will be in no hurry to play in a big pot with you.

I prefer this play to the re-raise or the fold in this particular spot.

How is Seat 6 playing his stack? Taking the piss or sitting back?

[mikkyT]

I was gonna save some information until further into the discussion, but the payouts are:

2 seats pay, 3rd is 987 euros. 4th is the bubble.

Further info:
The small blind has been stealing your blind for the last 20-30 mins. You got fed up with his steals after a while and counted his steal by going all in, to which he folded. He then learnt his lesson and instead of raising, he went all-in instead. He has done this twice and after the last time, you told him in the chat: "Next time batman, I go with ATC".

He is also the small stack on the table, and has to make a move. Seat 6 is massive chip leader, and you have been folding to these steals rather than take the hit to your stack, as you are then stealing from the next chappy, Seat 5, in the "take my blind" queue.

[mystery721]

unless ive got a hand to reraise with, im folding this one, no need to get involved in this hand, im not flat calling as i get no info about his hand, its easy enough to just let it go. imo it depends wot the flop brings b4 u can say ur gonna lead out and bet, if an ace pops of on the flop and u lead out will he put u on the ace not having raised preflop? if he raises u then u gotta lay it down and uve wasted chips when u could easily wait for a better hand to reraise preflop with, but thats just me tho i raise or fold, my call button doesnt work

[mikkyT]

Thought there would be more traffic in here, pfft.... anyway heres what YOU actually do:

YOU: calls 400

The smooth call here I feel is a good option, for two reasons. This chancer has been stealing for far too long, and its time to make a stand. He is massively short stacked and has no reason not to raise you with anything, as you have been folding since it was 5 handed. He has ignored your aggressive warning moves when you went all in against him previously and started going all-in before you have a chance to act. By min raising here instead of the large raises he has previously been making, I actually believe him to have a half decent hand, and will call if I put him all in. But if I fold, hes going to continue to steal my blinds all night. I'm hoping the flop comes low, or even hits.

[mikkyT]

Okay, now the flop comes down.

----- FLOP ----- [ ]
Seat 2: bets 800

At this point, the pot contains 1800. (800 + 800 + 200 antes).

How do you play this, having missed (well, you have a non nut flush draw)?

[mystery721]

on that flop im all in, u have him covered and if he loses this hand hes out with nothing, he needs a monster to call, if he does call u have outs

[SKIPPYSKIP]

You did play the hand well Mikkey, I said that he had been stealing your blinds not once,twice but threetimes on the trot you warned him and he did it again so tough on him

[mikkyT]

For the benefit of the tape, the next move you make is

YOU: raises to 1600

I've smooth called pre-flop. I have a flush draw and I believe he is making an informational bet at this point. Its not like a hand hes played in a long while, I thinik he has overcards to the board. Also, he is doing my head in and as the short stack I want him out of the way quickly. If go all in, I believe I will scare him away. Whilst this is a good thing, winning the pot there and then, he's still alive and kicking to come at me next time around. Whilst he might be beating me at this point, I'm telling him I have something on the board or even an over pair, and the min raise reflects that information. Its a play that comes with some risk but I want his chips to come in slowly and build the pot if I hit. I'm not loosing a lot at this moment in time, I'm still in good shape.

[Newmanseye]

For me it's an all in no questions

[mikkyT]

Okay, what happens next?

Well, if I had gone all in here, I'm putting him on a decision for his chips, as newmanseye and mystery would have done. Would he have folded? In my mind, yes he would. He wants to protect that stack, and if my read is correct, he will fold. However, you've now only min raised, giving him another shot at the pot.

Seat 2: raises to 4000

Now what?

[Newmanseye]

surely he is pot committed by this point so the all in is the only play

[mikkyT]

At this point, there is 7400 in the pot (1800 + 1600 + 4000) of which you have commited 2400 that you lose if you fold. It is 2400 more to call and you have outs. 9 clubs plus the three remaining tens. All of which I believe will give you the winning hand. At this point, I feel I have achieved what I intended to do and get more chips into the pot from him. Pot odds dictate a call here and as I believe him to have simply two over cards to the board, I want to see the next card. Whilst pushing is not a bad play, I'd rather let him have 7400 than 26700 if I fail to hit. If I push I still believe he will protect his stack and fold. However, if he feels he is pot commited, and I don't hit. I loose 13350 in chips.

YOU: calls 2400

----- TURN ----- [ ]

Yeah, you've hit. Now what?

Seat 2: bets 8450 and is all-in

[mystery721]

its very hard to give an opinion on the very limited info, if ur not at the table playing and havent seen wots been happening u cant give a good opinion on the correct play! hes done everything u wanted him to do, its a clear call with the hand that u have.

[The_nun]

I totaly agree...