Question of the Day - 09/09/08

[muzzington]

Game: Six-handed No-Limit cash game

Your hand:

Your stack: $200

Villain's stack: $150

Background:

Early on in your six-max game online there’s a raise out of the cut-off to $8 and the button and small blind fold. You three-bet to $25. He flats and the flop comes . You check, and he checks behind. The turn is the and you check; he bets $35 and you call. The river comes .

Options: Bet, check-call, check-raise, check-fold.

[David]

Check-Call

[krunchie]

check call

if you bet you will likely get called by a winning hand

[rcon]

Check-Call

ditto.

I'm putting him on AK/KQ/KJ/78s/67s, and you're only going to get a raise called by a winning hand.

edit: or an overpair to the flop is always possible - you're still only going to have your raise called by a winning hand.

[Bacon]

Check-call. I have a feeling he missed his flush.

[Garth Kay]

I know this probably won't be the right answer but here's my reasoning.

I would bet 30% of the time, check call 25% of the time and check raise 45% of the time. Just my breakdowns, I won't go into too much detail as to why.


But in this scenario he doesn't have AK, AA, KK, QQ either of these hands and he is three betting pre flop. Although I am starting to see a lot of internet players starting to flat these hands if guaranteed position and heads up.

The K on the turn makes my hand, any hand with a 7, pocket two's or KK are beating me right now.

Deuces is a big call, I think this might be a fold preflop, any hand with a 7? Possible suited connectors?? KK I have rules out.

I am thinking that with his bet of almost two thirds the pot that he has hit that K as well, I am thinking KQ or KJ suited or a possible flush draw. Suss call pre flop though.

When the river lands a blank I am fairly certain I am ahead. I am seeing this one out, folding is not an option for me unless something hinky goes down on the river.

[muzzington]

Answer:

Check-call. Betting out puts you in a tough spot should you face a raise. Also, it allows your opponent to fold his weaker hands. By check-calling you give your opponent the chance to bet his bluffs, plus you avoid the potentially sticky problem of getting raised on the river.

Results: Bet (38%) Check-call (36%) Check-fold (2%) Check-raise (25%)

[Todd Rivers]

Answer:

Check-call. Betting out puts you in a tough spot should you face a raise. Also, it allows your opponent to fold his weaker hands. By check-calling you give your opponent the chance to bet his bluffs, plus you avoid the potentially sticky problem of getting raised on the river.

Results: Bet (38%) Check-call (36%) Check-fold (2%) Check-raise (25%)

Im interested in how the answer is actually check-call.

If 38% say bet, then isn't that the answer? Or are you taking into account that 62% said checking was the best option, then the biggest check first move was check-call with 36%

For my 2-cents worth on the question,
I like putting people to a decision, because players tend to make more bad decisions than good. Plus, you can only win a pot two ways - Betting or showdown.
I'd rather bet.

[Garth Kay]

Ring games are effectively all about making the most accurate play at the time.

The play that is +EV and will see you win the most chips or lose the least.

In the above scenario check calling gains you the maximum amount of chips, if he bets the river. If you lead out he may fold (more than likely) or he may raise (what's he raising me with, am I really that strong?)

For me check calling is only an option a small percentage of the time.

In this scenario I would prefer to lead out or check raise, if he has a weaker hand than me and he folds so be it. It means I'm not having to showdown and reveal more information about my hand selection and betting patterns to the table.

If he comes over the top, then I have lost 3/4 of my stack as I am calling that bet. There are only a few hands that have me worried, but I honestly believe in this situation I am ahead of whatever my opponent is holding.

[AceLosesKing]

Check-raise. For every reason Garth said.