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krazyjohnny · Pair Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 36

Ok, this is a very basic strategy question, and i'm really just looking for different opinions.
Say I'm playing low limit holdem, online, and don't really know anything about my opponents yet.
I'm dealt 99 in middle position, and am the first to enter the pot, and bring it in for a raise. Only the button calls, and both blinds fold.
The flop comes something like K,7,4 rainbow. I'm out of position, so i lead out with a bet, hoping to get information, and the button raises.
In order to get a positive equity situation, should I call the raise on the flop, hoping to hit my set on the turn, or should I fold right there, figuring my opponent has to have at least a king, and I am behind.??
Or, is this a situation where i should just call my opponent down because my 99 may very well be good, and my opponent may have been raising with something like 55, or AJ, and wanted to see where he stood?
Is folding to the flop raise giving up too soon, or, is it the right play considering I know nothing about my opponent?
In a NO limit game, I would probably go with no set, no bet, and throw the hand away, and wait for a better spot, but is that the wrong play in limit?
I think I know the right answer, but want to see what other people think.
thanks,
Krazyjohnny.

ridic x · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject:

I do one of 2 things here. I 3 bet and if it gets capped I check/fold to a bet on the turn or I call his raise and go for a check/raise on the turn no matter what hits, If I get 3 bet there I'm def beat but still gotta look at the river. This is why being OOP sucks but usually one overcard on the flop doesn't scare me too badly.

craigo6x · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

Unless that overcard is an A or K. This is where I go into check call mode and see what happens. If more overs hit, I'm done with the hand.

fire_eyes_2k · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject:

Well in the scenario above, I would go for a reraise. Villain has called 2bets cold preflop, so what could he have? AK would reraise preflop, so it's an unlikely holding, Ax you have beat, so not a problem. KQ and KJs are possible, particularly if it is a loose opponent, so they should be feared. pocket 77 or 44 is unlikely to be strong enough to call 2 cold preflop. So the only hands to be concerned about are KJ or KQ.

Calling with the hope of hitting a set on the turn would be a mistake as you are 22:1 to hit your 2 outer for a set, and the pot isnt even laying you half those odds. You are raising because you believe you have the best hand, or you should fold if you think you are behind. A small pot of (I think) around 5 big bets means you don't need to check/call 2 more big bets on the turn and river to find out you are beat.

AllInDrawinDead · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:40 am Post subject:

I believe that 77 or 44 are very likely holdings considering he said this is a low limit game. Any K is more likely. it's unlikely this is a bluff since there are no draws on the board and if the opponent is making an outright pure bluff well good luck to him. i think calling down is a losing proposition in the long run although there are times when you will lay down the best hand. three betting will not do you any good because if the opponent has a K10 or K8 he's not folding it but probably not raising either. you will only waste bets to get bad information. with no information to go on early in the session, the very least I give my opponent credit for is A7. Anything other than that and you're beat. I'd lay it down rather than try and get too fancy in a small stakes game. Save those plays for later when you have more of a line on your opponent's play.

griffinlord · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:39 am Post subject:

It really depends on villan at low levels. I've seen 22 call down and a lot of these folks are playing any A or K to the river trying to draw out. Some of them will play A-high very aggressively.

If villian is tricky he could just be making a play for the pot. Or has a middle pair of his own and is raising for information.

There is no one correct play. In general I am either reraising, folding, or calling depending on what and how much I know about villian. (Wow, that's informative!)

Against someone who will play A-high or a baby pair to the river I am calling down unless more overs hit. They might have a king, but I win often enough to make it worth it. (they might have pocket kings, even loose players catch hands sometimes.)

Against a passive player I'm laying down right now.

Against someone prone to bluffing I am reraising and leading out on the turn. (or check calling and letting him keep bluffing--depending on whether he folds his bluffs or keeps firing.)

If villian is unknown and I am doing okay I might decide to call down and see his hand.

AllInDrawinDead · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:23 am Post subject:

All those plays are read dependant and based on information you have gathered about your opponent. If you don't know anything about your opponents the best thing you can do is sit back and watch them play each other and gather free information. If you pay for information and then that player leaves soon after then you didn't really pay for anything at all.

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