Poker Stars, Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Preflop: Hero is BB with J
5
4 folds, SB raises, Hero calls
Flop: (4 SB) Q
9 5 (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls
Turn: (4 BB) K (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks
River: (4 BB) 7 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks
Final Board: Q 9 5 K 7
Unknow opponent.
SB steal.. So why not raise the Lower pair?
Turn bet or check behind?
Main argument is that raising flop makes your calling range too weak unless you balance somehow. You are likely to be ahead, but not by much, so just calling isn't "giving free cards" as much as "inducing further bluffs".
Hi!
Yohan said it right. Bottom pair is generally the hand to go into you bluff-inducing part so that it makes this range a bit stronger.
It really is the question how you play this flop though. If you have a flop raising range, then I would definatelly do it with 9x+,draws(mostly gutshots and SDs).
But since you wont raise 100% of your continuing range you should also have a calling range. This will include Ax,some Kx,prolly some FDs, so this range is generally pretty weak since there are not many Ax due to preflop and FDs are often raised on the flop. So you will call here when pretty weak,which makes 5x a pretty good add-on to make this range stronger.
If you callF/raise T with Qx+ then it makes sense to call 100% of that you want to continue with....therefore 5x is again not good to raise.
Also raising bottom pair is problematic since its not clear what it want to accomplish. You clearly are not bluffing, and if you raise for value then I doubt you really have 3 streets of it....and when you dont its often better to let him bluff. Its also problematic when you encounter further action since on this drawheavy booard there are so many possible worse hands he can do that with.
Correctly evaluated by dawnfall! With small pairs like third or 4th pair you just want to induce bluffs since you cant go 3 streets for value, not many better hands are folding. Sometimes 66 77 88 when the turn is a King but on the other hand the K has improved many hands and the few Pocketpairs are just a few combos which might be even calling the Turn again and decide on the River.
I'd design my raisingrange similiar to what dawnfall said. Good 9x combos and Qx and Draws like 76 or JT 78 for raising the Flop and 9x with weak kicker you'd be calling down too. You can have a raising range but it need to be balanced. You can balance your call and raisefrequency on the Flop by mixing up your strategy. sometimes raising Qx and K9 on the Flop and sometimes just calling and waiting for a good turn to put in a raise (just with Qx). As played i like that you did checkback with the intention of realizing your Equity. The K is a decent card for his range you since you can't be bet/folding , checking back and see what happens is the line to go. With 65 or something like that you can simply b/f the Turn.
Really weak Pairs and Ax are hands you basically want to be playing a passive approach and you don't want to pay more than 1SB or 1BB on each street so call call call is the line to go. Depend on the boarddevelopment. If he is a tag i would call the Turn again and fold to another bet on the River. You still have enough 9x and Qx to be calling down with and the weakest hand like this hand you'd fold to a riverbet.
