TPTK four-way with AQs in the HJ

Is this really a thread?

Really?

Just ignore him. Maybe the mods can help?

Bet large or small? Once I gather a few comments, I’ll go to the next inflection point

Bet small 25-30.

I would bet bigger than what is suggested above. Maybe $45-$50. Although theory says to bet small multi-way, I think we can break that here.

Hands like QJ, KQ, JT, AT, KT, KJ, J9 are going to call regardless of the sizing I think, especially since the players you describe sounds fairly sticky.

Ignore me? Dude, I'm clearly the only voice you've ever heard in all of poker.

If you listened to anything else, from anyone, ever, then you'd know what to do in this hand.

If someone was teaching a class for on Hold 'Em for people who had never played poker before, this hand would be the example hand in chapter 1 of the textbook.

This is such a basic ABC spot that you're insulting yourself and wasting our time by asking about it.

If there's a more compelling decision later in this hand, I suggest you skip to that part right away. Otherwise, it would be better for your reputation and psyche if this thread stopped here and fell into obscurity.

I attempt to setup a better SPR for myself (really small or really big) by just limping in the HJ (I need a Button straddle and effective stacks behind me to be small enough where I'm fine committing postflop with TP to consider a raise, but that's the method I use).

The preflop result is completely standard in any 1/3 NL game I've played in. Quite multiway, to a handcuffing SPR of 4 where anyone can put us to a commitment decision almost immediately, meanwhile offering multiple opponents about 20+:1 IO. The more you have an absolute handle on this spot postflop, the cooler you will be constantly getting yourselves into it. But if you don't think it's a great spot then you may want to ask yourself why you purposely created it.

I'd probably make a smallish bet on the flop and evaluate. If any of the straightforward players raise then probably just dump it. If the erratic player raises, probably go with it. The problem is that at this SPR there isn't much reason for anyone to announce their hand until much later streets (and by that time the money will often already be all in).

GcluelessgoodspotnoobG

Hand continues

V1 in LJ limps. Hero with AhQh in HJ to 20. V2 OTB calls. V3 in BB calls. Four way.

Flop (71): QcTs3h.

V3 and V1 check. Hero? Hero bets 60 and regrets not betting small. Only V2 calls.

Turn (191): 6c

Hero?

PRE - Seems fine.

If the game is splashy and the only semi-competent players are in the CO or BTN behind us, I might raise a tad larger, just to put more pressure on them to fold, so we can play the rest of the hand in position, rather than monkey in the middle. I think when we raise using a "normal" size, the CO / BTN may call too wide, just because there are weaker players in the blinds or limping from EP.

FLOP - Gotta bet something.

Typically sizing down to 1/3 pot or less when multi-way, but if our OOP opponents are loose-passive and our IP opponents are more competent, I might go a smidge larger. Probably somewhere between 1/3 pot and 1/2 pot. $25-$30 seems like the right figure.

TURN - Hmmmm...as played this far, the pot is a little bigger than we'd like it to be. I might check-evaluate. If we're going to bet, I'd make it small. No more than 1/2 pot, and maybe only $75-$80, closer to 40%.

BTN could have worse QX, but when he calls our chunky flop bet next to act in a multi-way pot with loose-passive opponents still to act, he should have at least QX for value, and some decent draws that float, mostly just KJs and J9s.

If we check, I'd think he's going to check back a lot, because his range mostly hates getting x/r'd. If he bets huge, he's basically just repping QT or 33 for value. If he checks back, I'd think we have the green light to bet brick rivers for value, targeting all his worse QX.

If we check and he bets small, I'd probably call and consider donking brick rivers. If he bets big, I wouldn't like it, but he's probably got more combos of KJ and J9 than QT or 33, so I'd have a hard time folding TPTK when our line may have induced him to start bluffing.

If we bet small and he raises, I really wouldn't like it, and as much as I hate folding TPTK on this board, I think I'd give him credit, because I don't think he's going to be raising worse value hands anywhere near often enough, nor finding enough bluffs.

I think I'd prefer to check. If we bet again after c-betting flop chunky, I think he starts folding out worse QX, and just gets to the river with a range weighted more towards QT, 33, and KJcc / J9cc.

I mean, you could argue we've committed oursleves (for better or worse) since the SPR is a fairly small 4 (although a crappy spot since so multiway and offering everyone decent IO). By the time we get to the turn, we've only got a little over a PSB left. Are we going to be able to get away from our hand if we bet anything and are raised at this point? If not, maybe just grit our teeth and get it in? There are worse Qx. There are draws. He didn't raise the flop (not that ne needs to with better, but it is sometimes a sign we are still good). This guy calls too much postflop.

GcluelesshighvariancenoobG

For a while I thought he was actually trying to contribute, however poorly. Now he's just a troll.

Even though it took me all of one interaction with him to put him on my Ignore List, I've seen enough of his posts from the alternative reality threads (where ignored posters are still shown) where, perhaps naively, I don't think he's trolling.

But he is undoubtedly a massive ******* who doesn't play nice with others, and is also clearly breaking forum rules regarding being civil in threads. Don't you have banhammer authority Java? It's well warranted (if even only for some of his incredibly rude responses to you), imo.

GcluelessbanhammernoobG

Pre and flop are fine, although flop is a bit large. Bet again ~$100. Let him keep calling.

I try not to use my authority in threads that I'm not officially a mod -- I actually try to follow the rules 😉

Ah, I didn't realize that's how little green men and women worked, fair enough.

Gcluelesslittlegreen(wo)mannoobG

should have been banned a long time ago

pretty dry board, you block top pair, just bet small. as played depends on your image. if you are a nit and look like a nit checking or betting small (like $75) is probably better. really loose passive guys that will call a big bet with worse here from a super nit are rare nowadays.

if i was playing the hand i would bet flop small with AQ, AK, AJ, KJ, J9s and then bomb turn with that range expecting pretty much everything to fold to the 2nd barrel besides KQ or better. because my range is mostly bluffs, i want folds. if your range is mostly value, you want calls.

All of your V's main flaws are that they're sticky and will chase. Despite pot and implied odds being poor. So make 'em chase, especially on a somewhat wet board, despite the rainbow.

I like the chunkier flop sizing. Might even have gone bigger, given the awkward remaining stack now. H has an alright hand, with top/top, and a BD NFD, but would really prefer the opponents to get thinned out while still getting some value. Continue that theme on the turn. If drawing, V's going to fold to pretty much any river bet unless they've some variety of TcX/3cX, but they'll probably now call whatever isn't ginormous. Going 90-100 into 191 leaves 145-155 into 371-391.

I dunno if the psychological impact of calling a 100 vs 90 means H should go smaller here. If they'll call 125 or a shove, lol, then do that. I think you'd have heard from them if they have QT/TT/33. If you're folding should they shove, maybe bet a size where that wouldn't be silly, like 75 or so, but like GG, I think the larger flop bet's committed H for better or worse.

Hand continues to the final inflection point:

V1 in LJ limps. Hero with AhQh in HJ to 20. V2 OTB calls. V3 in BB calls. Four way.

Flop (71): QcTs3h.

V3 and V1 check. Hero? Hero bets 60 and regrets not betting small. Only V2 calls.

Turn (191): 6c

Hero? Hero checks. V2 bets 100. Hero?

Not really a fan of giving up the betting lead on the turn. Is V really going to bluff? I would keep betting to try and get 3 streets from worse QX. Don’t let him check-back river with QJ.

As played I would call but I guess XRAI might work too. Obviously not folding.

easy call. not sure why you'd consider anything else. if you're thinking of folding you're too scared to be playing poker.

I...I'm speechless

You actually got one right. I....I don't know what to say.

Congratulations on throwing a dart off a cliff, backwards, into a windstorm, and somehow hitting a bullseye at the bottom of a river bed 200 feet below.

You were due for a W

Before I give results, let me say I was ashamed how I played this hand.

You didn't fold, did you?

Well, if so, we've all been there, and things like that help us not make mistakes next time.