Protection of Top pair, over pair into str and flush draws?
Recently I have taken a horrible run of bad luck, and I am wondering if I have to change the way I am playing... feedback needed.
This is lower limit (1-2nl) or <$100 Sit'nGoes...
4x BB in Mid position with AK, AQ, QQ, JJ etc ...lets assume this hand is AKo
typical 3-4 callers,
Flop comes A89 with two of one suit
First checks, action to you -
Here is my dilemna;
Checking gives the flush or Str draw a free card, I would not be surprised to see JTo or Kxs, Qxs, or I get raised by the same hands out of position.
Half pot bet -I get raised by above or Ax (or AA, KK AQ) so I lose defintion, and for sure will get called
Pot bet - I get (wrongly) called by str or flush draw, sometimes raised either by a complete donkey or a hand that has me in trouble
2X pot - very rarely gets called by the morons, but does get called with a hand way ahead ie 67suited, a set. Or even gets raised.
I have lately been going with the potsize bet, and had to fold ALOT of hands when the flush or str hits. Or losing more when I don't believe it and call to be shown down with a better hand.
Solutions I have thought of, going higher preflop. But either I dont get action or get called by a hand that beats me or is 50/50
Not playing these hands without better position, which I think is giving away opportunity (not saving BB's)
Be very prepared to drop these hands quicker into 4 way fields, play it alot more passively.
Other solutions?
This is lower limit (1-2nl) or <$100 Sit'nGoes...
4x BB in Mid position with AK, AQ, QQ, JJ etc ...lets assume this hand is AKo
typical 3-4 callers,
Flop comes A89 with two of one suit
First checks, action to you -
Here is my dilemna;
Checking gives the flush or Str draw a free card, I would not be surprised to see JTo or Kxs, Qxs, or I get raised by the same hands out of position.
Half pot bet -I get raised by above or Ax (or AA, KK AQ) so I lose defintion, and for sure will get called
Pot bet - I get (wrongly) called by str or flush draw, sometimes raised either by a complete donkey or a hand that has me in trouble
2X pot - very rarely gets called by the morons, but does get called with a hand way ahead ie 67suited, a set. Or even gets raised.
I have lately been going with the potsize bet, and had to fold ALOT of hands when the flush or str hits. Or losing more when I don't believe it and call to be shown down with a better hand.
Solutions I have thought of, going higher preflop. But either I dont get action or get called by a hand that beats me or is 50/50
Not playing these hands without better position, which I think is giving away opportunity (not saving BB's)
Be very prepared to drop these hands quicker into 4 way fields, play it alot more passively.
Other solutions?
Comments
And, there are lots of players at this level that will NEVER lay down a str8 or flush draw. Against those monkeys, wait until the turn to lower the boom when your odds are better.
Say you've got TPTK on the turn when the str8/or/flush hits? Action....? reads....?
I was gonna say something like this. Give them the 3-to-1 pot odds, price them in and hope the cards go your way.