Hi guys,

Haven't played for a while due to a hectic schedule. Played the Party $25NL's this morning. Here are a couple of KK hands I was unsure of and would appreciate your comments on how I played them:

Hand 1:
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

MP3 ($14.3)
DODGYKEN ($26)
Button ($26.81)
SB ($43.23)
BB ($4)
UTG ($32.82)
UTG+1 ($15)
UTG+2 ($19.5)
MP1 ($23.25)
MP2 ($56.28)

Preflop: DODGYKEN is CO with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, UTG+2 calls $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, 1 fold, DODGYKEN raises to $3, 3 folds, UTG folds, UTG+2 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $2.50.

Flop: ($8.25) , , (2 players)
MP2 checks, DODGYKEN bets $7.5, MP2 raises to $15, DODGYKEN raises to $23 (All-In), MP2 calls $8.

The MP2 here had a VPIP of 64% with no PFR. His PFA was 6.

-------------

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed)

UTG+1 ($70.25)
UTG+2 ($19.5)
MP1 ($23.25)
MP2 ($15.55)
MP3 ($38.7)
CO ($73.55)
Button ($26.8)
SB ($24.5)
BB ($32)
DODGYKEN ($62.45)

Preflop: DODGYKEN is UTG with , . SB posts a blind of $0.25.
DODGYKEN raises to $3, 4 folds, MP3 calls $3, 4 folds.

Flop: ($6.75) , , (2 players)
DODGYKEN bets $6.5, MP3 raises to $20, DODGYKEN folds.


MP3 had only played 17 hands since joining the table. His VPIP was 35% with 12% PFR.

------

Cheers,

Martin

As as overall comment, I think you might want to reconsider your standard PFR amount of $3. Up until recently I regularly played Party 25NL and most players will respect lesser raises. This will help you mitigate your pot commitment which looks like it got you into a little trouble in hand #1 especially.

Hand #1: Checkraising huge with a draw does not often happen at this level. The likelyhood is either he doesn't believe you connected with that flop and has a hand like [Th] or he actually has a 5 in his hand. Either way I probably would not lay this down to someone with 64% VPIP. If you had raised to $2 before the flop then your post flop bet could have been less and it would have given you more opportunity to find out where you are at (barely).

Hand #2: Again, at this level, unless this player is a tricky player, my opinion is a raise that huge indicates he does not have a made flush. Almost every player at 25NL would slowplay that. But he does likely have something good, maybe AQ with the . If he has a hand like AQ with , which short of a set is about the worst hand you can be up against, he has 8 + 3 + 2 outs to beat you with two to come which makes the hand about a coinflip. Even though you have the it is okay to fold here if you are unsure.

That being said, I sometimes like to take gambles like this to double up when I am at buyin level because the real profit at these tables comes when you are big-stacked.

Hand #1 is exactly how I would've played it.
Hand #2, I think I reraise all in there. I doubt he has the made flush, and if he does, it's a weak one. Dumping it is a viable option too though, IMO.

I play for my stack in both hands

#1 -- the min check-raise is usually a huge warning sign. But against a PFA of 6, I think you have to push. Your opponent could easily have a flush draw or an 8 or a lower pair or nothing.

#2 -- I push. I think it's unlikely he's protecting a better hand than yours here. If he is, you have outs.

I'll raise to $2 if it folds to me in late position, but most of the time a $3 raise is fine on these tables. If you don't get callers with $3, just raise more often. A $2 raise pits you against 3 or 4 opponents way too often.

I like the $3 raise that you are doing...especially against weekend players. I have been raising 2.50 recently and that has I think had an effect on my play and my decisions. I say stay at the same rate, and do not change it up.

Hand #1: I push all in as well...punish the draw if there is one, but if they have a five, this is the person you want to be playing. I was almost going to suggest raising another .50-$1 this hand after all the limpers.

Hand #2: I play for my stack here as well, maybe even checkraise the flop, but probably all my money is going in here no matter what. Good old NL $25...push, push, push!

I play my stack on both. On hand two, no way he has an ace high flush. Basically any other hand and you're either favourite or have outs. Hand one, well you got the flop you wanted, and with the party stacks, yada yada yada, I don't see how you can fold here. I assume he had the usual A5o.

Monk
xxxxx

Hand 1 my opponent had the mighty Qh 4h for the Q high flush draw. Hand 2 I felt straight away I'd been to wimpy! I will be putting my money in in future (although I did so yesterday in an almost identical situation and the guy had the flush).

Martin