Tuesday, December 09, 2008

HOTD: Yea, I call

Villain in this hand is Steve Yea, a Full Tilt red pro from Korea who multitables a lot.

He doesn't seem to be able to represent any flush despite four flush cards on the board, given his suspicious line:


Full Tilt Poker, $5/$10 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players

LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (CO): $1,000

BB: $1,082

Pre-Flop: T J dealt to Hero (CO)

2 folds, Hero raises to $30, 2 folds, BB calls $20


Flop: ($65) 3 J 8 (2 Players)

BB checks, Hero bets $40, BB calls $40

Here, it's pretty safe to reduce the likelihood Yea has a flush draw when he cold calls a continuation bet out of the blinds. Most players are more likely to check-raise when they have the diamonds.


Turn: ($145) 5 (2 Players)

BB bets $90, Hero calls $90

I go with my read and call. As noted, I don't believe he has the flush, and I really don't know what Yea is trying to represent with this bet. I think he thinks I have a flush draw, and he's value betting/protecting his second pair.


River: ($325) T (2 Players)

BB bets $180, Hero calls $180

I took my time, but I talked myself into calling this slightly more than half-pot bet. The only hands he can reasonably value bet are strong flushes, and I already know he doesn't have those. Smaller flushes would be more likely to check-call. I call bullshit.

Results: $685 Pot ($3 Rake)

Hero showed T J (two pair, Jacks and Tens) and WON $682 (+$342 NET)

BB showed A 8 (a pair of Eights) and LOST (-$340 NET)


I think Yea was a little lost in this hand. It felt like he was going for value on the turn, but then he turned his hand into a bluff on the river.

I'd like to think I would call the river even if I hadn't improved to two pair.

5 comments:

James P McAteer said...

Nice analysis and nice read.

I wonder how profitable you find opening with JTo from the CO? JT loses money so far for me.

Do you recommend opening with this type of hand to mix up you play. Or does it just depend on the make up of the table.

Cheers

Gnome said...

I generally show a profit opening JTo from the cutoff (It's profitable on most, but not all, of my screennames, according to Holdem Manager).
I believe in opening a wide range of hands from the cutoff and button. There are several reasons for doing so: you can steal the blinds, it disguises your range and you'll often have position postflop when called.
I can imagine circumstances in which opening JTo from the cutoff may be bad. For example, if you're against frequent 3-bettors from the button and the blinds.
But for the most part, raising J9o+ is my default play from the cutoff.

Greylocks said...

Well-played.

Did you consider raising on the river in case he had a small singleton diamond?

Gnome said...

I river raise would have been a strong play. I didn't really consider it, but I should have.

Greylocks said...

If you can make that play, you belong on HSP.