PokerHandRx

I’m playing 1/2NL and have about $550.

Early position player w/$700 stack limps, I pick up in middle position and raise to $10,  player calls from SB w/$200 stack, EP calls.  (Pot $30)

Flop

Player from the small blind leads for $11, other player calls, I raise to $35.  The plan here was to raise and get value from lower pocket pairs because I really don’t think anyone has a 2.

The small blind calls and the other player calls as well.  This over call from the second player looks super strong to me and I feel like he has a very strong hand, but just can’t see what limps pre, just calls a small bet, then just calls my raise with that is strong.  I guess that is possible, but that is a weird line and he had been playing

Here’s a hand from one of our PokerHandRx readers, who plays professionally in the mid stakes games in Vegas.  While it’s not a huge pot, it illustrates an important example of making well timed river bluffs to take down a hand and add $$$ to your bankroll.

I’m playing 2/5 NL in Las Vegas, with about $1400 behind.  An early position tight-ish player w/$1000 limps, I raise to $25 with , and 5 players call. (Pot $150)

Flop

First player checks, I bet $100 with my straight draw hoping to pick up the pot. Everyone folds back to the original limper, who calls $100. (Pot $350)

At this point, I’m putting him on a queen, flush draw, or  pocket pair.

Turn

He checks to me, I think about betting here but figure that he’s either just hit his flush and is

I’m playing $1/$2NL, both players involved in the hand have about $260.

I have in late position.  Two limps to me and I make it $12, one caller. Pot $30.

Flop

Villain checks, I bet $20 into $30, he raises to $50, I call given the good price. Pot $130

Turn

Villain bets out $127, I raise all in to $197, villain calls with , I brick the river and lose the pot.

Can I ever just flat the turn and fold the river when I miss? Should I just fold the turn?

I’m fine with your isolation raise to $12 with , though I’m not sure how effective isolation raising these types of hands (vs limping behind) are at 1/2NL–where people are less likely to fold, and stacks are often shallow.

Your bet on the flop looks good,

Here’s another installment of a PokerHandRx “High Stakes Hand with the Pro”. This hand was played by a high stakes, super aggressive and very successful professional.  Here he illustrates the in depth thinking that goes into his reads and sometimes “crazy” plays. Not for the faint of heart…or your local 1/2NL game.

I’m playing 10-20-40NL and I’m the BB (40). There are 2 EP limpers and my friend limps in the CO. Everyone else folds and I look down at . My image is maniacal–> the ep limpers likely limped good hands expecting a big raise from me. I do not oblige at this time and instead check my option. Pot is $190.

The flop comes .

I check, the two EP limpers check, and my friend bets $120 with about $1500 behind.

I’m playing 1/2 NL at the Venetian with around $250.  A player raises from under the gun to $15, 2 players call, I call with from late position, and the button calls as well.  Pot $75

Flop

First player bets $40, 2 folds to me, I raise to $100, and he went all in for an additional $150 on top.  I didn’t feel great about it, but just said “whatever” and called for my last $150.

Did I play it ok?   Should I have done something differently?  I’ll send you the results after your response.  Thanks!

This is a common spot in no limit when you “slow play” a big hand preflop and then find yourself in a more difficult spot later in the hand facing a lot of pressure.

Some high stakes pros are sending us some interesting hands for our PokerHandRx members.  They will give their thought process throughout the hand and reasons why they make the plays they do.

Disclaimer: Some of their plays are not standard, and should not always be applied to lower stakes games.  That said, they’re really fun to hear about, and they absolutely crush the games.

I’m playing $5/$10NL in a 7 handed must move game. 5 players have less than $2,000 in front, I have $7,200, competent young player to my right has about $10,000.

Two middle position limps, competent player to my right raises to $40. Seems small after two limps. I flat . Both limpers call. Pot $175.

Flop:

Checks to me, I bet $100 assuming to win the pot there a high % of the time. Two folds, back to