Since you're all talking ****E this morning....

NickyOD

I thought I better post something ACTUALLY related to poker strategy.

Ok here's a hand I played last night in the $150 on Party poker. I actually misread my hand for Q9 initially but stole the pot on the turn anyway since my plan was always to check raise if the SB didn't stay in the hand.

http://www.pokerxfactor.com/servlet/pxf?t=hand&handid=1596

Some of the most interesting and difficult poker scenarios involve paired flops.

It's very rare that I will bet on a flop with a high pair already on the board (I'm more likely to bet with trips that without them)

On paired flops you will almost always find out where you stand on the turn, or not as the case may be in the hand above.

What are your thoughts on how to play paired boards 1) with trips, 2) with an overpair and 3) with an underpair?

ditpoker

i like the pokerxfactor thing... makes it more fun!

how to play paired boards 1) with trips, i like to raise, almost like a continuation bet, or as if im trying to see where i am. generally people assume you check to trap but i prefer the bet to trap...

2) with an overpair, i'm more likely to check with this. again depending on preflop raises etc, if the flop is 244, and there was abig raise preflop and i'm holding TT, my read would 9 times out of 10 be that no-one is in the hand with a 2 or a 4. i'll let someone else bet and come over the top i think, because i want to win the pot but dont want them to catch up on the turn.

3) with an underpair, if i can stay in the hand cheaply so be it, but it obviously depends on how much is in the pot and the other players, but i have no problems mucking an udnerpair. main reason for this, for example, if i have 66 and board is 997, if the 7 pairs im calling the board, and there's too much thats ahead of me.

Jaden

Paired Boards:

1) With Trips.
If the trips are low set (K6) on a 6,6,A board, I bet half the pot. Makes it look like a continuation bet. The A,X holder is going to get himself into trouble. If he has A,6, so be it.

If it's top set, (KQ) on a 4,K,K board I place a small bet out, trying to get re-raised, or allowing someone to catch up a bit. I almost never check trips.

Flush and straight flops can slow me down.
Yer almost certainly ahead, so get yer money in.

2) With an overpair.
This is the toughie. If you have raised preflop with TT or JJ, then the field should be thinned out to premium hands, and madmen. A Low flop like 2,7,7 with TT in the hole should be bet out, just to discourage 2 overcards getting tricky. You are probably ahead now, but this is likely to change, take it down here and now. If you get called by A,X or KX, you're in good shape. If you get reraised, he may have hit his set - let it go if you think this is the case. Slow playing an overpair postflop gives your opponent a chance to overtake you. The tough bit is being able to lay it down when the overcard hits on the turn. If you can do this all the time, when you think your behind, then you have disipline in abundance.

3) With an underpair.
Stay in cheap, play for set value. Drop them at the first sign of danger. In a 4 way flop, three overcards to your PP mean that you *are* behind to someone, let the rest fight out over small edges.

Incidently, as for the hand Nicky - You got lucky, what do you think he limped with? My guess was AJ or AQ.

NickyOD

Jaden wrote:

Incidently, as for the hand Nicky - You got lucky, what do you think he limped with? My guess was AJ or AQ.

Judging by the time it took him to fold I'm certain he had a pair. 77/88 or TT.

Culchie

NickyOD wrote:

Judging by the time it took him to fold I'm certain he had a pair. 77/88 or TT.

He folded quite quickly on my PC, broadband is great.

Ste05

I must say I love random low paired boards when I'm in the blinds.

Check call the flop, lead the turn, and you'll know exactly where you stand.

Obviously all that is depending on respective images, etc. etc. but very generally this is what I do.

NickyOD

Ste05 wrote:

I must say I love random low paired boards when I'm in the blinds.

Check call the flop, lead the turn, and you'll know exactly where you stand.

Obviously all that is depending on respective images, etc. etc. but very generally this is what I do.

That really depends who you are up against. Leading the turn is fine against an "average" oponent, but not against a calling station or a player who will slowplay to the river, nor is it clever against a very good player who will know exactly what you are doing. That would be an excellent play though if you actually had trips against an experienced player. Like HJ says, betting for info sucks.

Ste05

Absolutely, I agree, maybe my cavaet wasn't strong enough at the bottom. But it's hugely dependant on who you're up against.

And also leading the turn, does a few things not just info gathering, it sets up a play on the river if the timing + opponent is right.

Again all this is hugely general, and normally I make all my plays based on the exact situation I find myself in and so I usually hate talking generally but anyhow....