Did I play middle set correctly?
100bb effective. UTG limps, CO limps, BTN (Hero) opens KKJ5$ds, both call.
I flop middle set and backdoor flush on AKQhh board.
I bet pot thinking there are lots of straight/ flush draws and lots of hands to get value from. CO calls.
Turn: Offsuit Q.
I have the effective nuts because CO is unlikely to have AA or QQ. With SPR about 1, I decide to check it back and hope CO improves on the river.
River: brings in straight and flush draws with Th.
CO bets pot and I shove for the remaining.
Two questions:
1) Is it wise to bet full pot on the flop, given there are so many draws, or should I have bet 75% to get more action against 1 or 2 pair hands?
2) Was it wise to check back the turn hoping he improves, or should I have charged his draws?
I appreciate any feedback.
3 Replies
Personally I am not potting this flop, sometimes checking back and sometimes betting halfish in position.
Im def guilty of checking back the turn in spots like this too, but I think because I’m going to barrel all my bluffs when it pairs we should bet it a lot. And yeah obv giving a free card to draws that will just check fold river bricks sucks.
Sizing on the flop depends on quite many things and is a complicated matter. If your bets are overly big, you are making your bluffs too expensive (or for many mediocre players: have no bluffs). I think many players are way too focused on "charging draws". It's also important that dominated hands continue.
You mention that there are lots of straight draws. Well, against the current nuts they are drawing to a split hence shouldn't continue against a big bet ever. In general people should not continue with small flush draws against big bets on this board either. If they are calling light, go ahead and bet big with this hand of course, but I don't think it's theoretically a good sizing.
Sizing on the flop depends on quite many things and is a complicated matter. If your bets are overly big, you are making your bluffs too expensive (or for many mediocre players: have no bluffs). I think many players are way too focused on "charging draws". It's also important that dominated hands continue.
You mention that there are lots of straight draws. Well, against the current nuts they are drawing to a split hence shouldn't continue ag
Good advice. FWIW, this is 5 PLO microstakes so I'm expecting people to call too light with their draws.
But I agree, the board is so favorable to me, a smaller sizing is better to target hands I dominate.
Looking back, I think I should have bet small on the turn, mainly targeting draws.
Reveal: Villain had QT, no flush draw. Meaning, he called the flop with just pair of Q and gutter. Made a very weak full house on the river.
