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AlexScottUK · Last edited by AlexScottUK on Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:24 am; edited 1 time in total

This got a good response at another forum I posted it at - lets see what the tilters think!

This hand is from the WPT's 'Poker by the Book' special event. You play the part of legendary author David Sklansky.

Its six handed and the blinds are $3000 / $6000 with a $1000 ante. You have just less than the $250,000 starting stack.

The pot is $15,000 to start and you are in the big blind.

Phil Hellmuth, Mike Sexton and Mike Caro fold. Doyle Brunson raises to $26,000. TJ Cloutier folds. You are in the big blind with the 3s 3d and decide to call for $20,000 more. The pot is $61,000.

The flop comes 5s 4c 2s. You check. Doyle bets $30,000 and you call.

The pot is $121,000 and the turn comes the 7d for a board of 7d-5s-4c-2s. You check and Doyle checks.

The river is the 3h for a board of 7d-5s-4c-3h-2s. You check and Doyle bets $35,000.

The pot is $156,000. Do you call, raise, or fold? Would you have played the hand any differently on the earlier streets?

Jaconda78 · Message Board Junkie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4177

I would have raised on the flop - a pair with an open ended draw against a hand that likely missed the board entirely and is being bet only as a continuation bet? That's a good place for me to get my money in. I think you have to call on the river - yes, he may have an ace for the straight, but you can beat just about anything else that's remotely likely, and I don't think you can fold to a player as aggressive as doyle in this situation. However, I don't like raising either, as the only hand that can call you is the straight. You're stuck calling while kicking yourself for your earlier play.

jlove57 · Pair Joined: 07 Aug 2005 Posts: 33

Thats certainly a tough one. I think in the end I would have to fold it. Im just not sure Doyle would try a bluff here when he knows you could easily have made a hand with that river card. Raising here is completly out of the question, there is no chance a player of Doyles cailber is going to call with a hand worse than trips in this situation. Calling is one opition. Doyle could have raised pre flop with something like KQ, made a continutaion bet, checked the turn when you smothed called putting you on a big hand and then bet the river when you checked it to him, putting you on a big pocket pair which you would almost certainly lay down.

But he just as eaisly could have played AK the same exact way. Or he eaisly could have 66 and played it the same. I would say its slightly more likely than not that Doyle has a hand here. Seems like a pretty risky call ( which of course is the exact reason Doyle could be bluffin') This is pretty much a 50 50 between calling and folding, I would probably fold rather than take a risk.

GxHxOxSxT · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:20 pm Post subject:

I agree with Jaconda. When I look at the texture of that flop I am thinking it had to totally miss Doyle. Throw in a nice sized "value" bet there and see where you stand. If he fights back, maybe he has the 6's (or another pair) or a set and you need to reevaluate the whole situation.

At the end, the pot odds to call are just too high not to give it a shot. Only Ax or a 6 have your set beat. Honestly, I am a bit worried here because we all know what an incredible player Doyle is, yet he has been leading us along, keeping us in the hand with smallish bets; giving us the odds to call and chase. For all you know, he may have been slowplaying pocket Aces and ran into a straight. Still, I'd have to call his bet then either cringe or smile.

Ghost

Kloaked Spirit · Royal Flush Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 869

I'm going along with the "Call this, but really I should've been more aggressive earlier," crowd.

FatStacks06 · Royal Flush Joined: 26 Jan 2006 Posts: 736

I would raise. If you are calling you most likely are appearing to also be chasing. If he has an A, you have to assume that he would think you also have one. The only way to keep him honest would be to raise, but if he pushes all-in, then you have a problem. I would put him on a medium PP like 8's or 9's. He hasn't really increased his bet size and I think a raise would make him fold.

jack-actionhero · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject:

I think I would consider doing just about everything EXCEPT raising.

JS13_TPS · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject:

I think this is one of those times if you raise the only way your getting called is if your beat. If your going to win the hand, your going to win, no way you make any more money in this hand.

IAmTheVietcong · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:20 am Post subject:

I'd probably fold. Looking at how strongly the hand was played preflop, he probably has an ace and checked on the seven to get a feel if you hit anything remotely decent on the flop.

At least that's what I think.

Gypsydc · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:24 am Post subject: Re:

GxHxOxSxT · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:29 am Post subject:

So Alex, are you going to tell us what happened in the hand?

Ghost

AlexScottUK · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject:

Well, Sklansky called and won. Doyle had king-rag.

I agree with those of you who suggested being more aggressive on the flop.

Those of you who wanted to bet or raise the river - what does a bet or raise actually achieve? What big advantage does checking the river have compared to betting?

Darkside112 · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject:

I would have called on the river, knowing that most Pro's dont play rags. Now if it was Matusow on the otehr hand...

Jaconda78 · Message Board Junkie Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4177

allintime333 · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

i would raise on the flop as much as i can

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