NL2, 6-max, slowplayed TP
Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 3 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
BTN: 109 BB (VPIP: 42.91, PFR: 31.46, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 271)
SB: 138 BB (VPIP: 39.53, PFR: 27.91, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 43)
Hero (BB): 100 BB
SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB
Pre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♦ K♦
BTN raises to 3 BB, fold, Hero calls 2 BB
Flop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) K♣ 6♦ T♣
Hero checks, BTN bets 4 BB, Hero calls 4 BB
Turn: (14.5 BB, 2 players) 8♥
Hero checks, BTN bets 11.5 BB, Hero calls 11.5 BB
River: (37.5 BB, 2 players) 4♦
Hero checks, BTN bets 27.5 BB, Hero calls 27.5 BB
Preflop: first, more data about the villain, at the time of the hand:
- 1. Fold to 3bet: 63% (8)
- 2. Steal: 63% (65)
- 3. Fold to steal: 67% (15)
- 4. Fold to cbet: 60% (10)
- 5. Fold to cbet in 3bet pots: 100% (2)
I could 3bet, yes, but I didn't want to be in a 3bet pot, OOP, against a quite aggro fish. This is why I called. So, the plan was to keep his range as wide as possible and let him hang himself.
Flop: He bets almost half pot. He could have any pair, FD or set. Only sets beat me.
Turn: Same plan. The bet size looks a bit big, but I couldn't let go of the hand: he could have a worse hand, see my weakness and charge on.
River: Same plan.
Opinions?
3 Replies
Slow playing can be a good plan, especially against an aggressive opponent. Generally, though, top pair is not a hand you want to be slow playing. You want to slow play more when you truly smash the flop and have a relatively invulnerable nutted hand, like top set on a dry flop, a straight on a rainbow flop or a flush, boat or quads on most flops. When you slow play you want to do so hoping your opponents hand improves on later streets. With top pair, you certainly are NOT hoping your opponent improves; you are looking to get value from him when he is on a draw or has a lesser made hand.
In the hand you posted, for example, think about what could happen if he has something like QJcc. Any ace, ten or club would be disastrous for you. In fact, while you are currently ahead, you are an underdog to win if you allow your opponent to realize his equity fully. You probably won’t be able to get him to fold such a hand, but you can certainly make it -EV for him to draw, especially on a brick turn (you become a favorite if the turn bricks). Even with his 15 outs, an overbet would be unprofitable to call.
Obviously we don’t know villain has QJcc; that’s just an example. But if he does have a lesser hand, if it improves we likely are beat. We should generally make villain pay for his chance to improve so we profit more in hands where he fails to do so (or folds rather than drawing out on us).
Pacific Poker - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 3 playersHand converted by PokerTracker 4BTN: 109 BB (VPIP: 42.91, PFR: 31.46, 3Bet Preflop: 5.26, Hands: 271)SB: 138 BB (VPIP: 39.53, PFR: 27.91, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 43)Hero (BB): 100 BBSB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BBPre Flop: (pot: 1.5 BB) Hero has A♦ K♦ BTN raises to 3 BB, fold, Hero calls 2 BBFlop: (6.5 BB, 2 players) K♣ 6♦ T♣ Hero checks,
With A,K Id still 3b pre at 2nl. Flop,bet or perhaps x. Raise. Dont overthink at this level, never underestimate what nonsense they could have.
