Playing Over pairs in Texas Holdem on very dry boards
Posted by: Travis Johnston / Category: Online, StrategyI think I like how I played this hand even through it boarders on playing it too weak and not getting max value for it. The problem with over pairs is the last thing you want to do is stack off for over 100 Big Blinds with just one pair. So I no longer bet all three streets if that would leave me pot committed by the river.
Poker Stars $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold’em – 9 players
UTG+1: $14.70
Hero (MP1): $10.00
Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is MP1 with A
A
UTG calls $0.10, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 6 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.50
Flop: ($2.25) Q 9 2
(2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $1.30, UTG+1 calls $1.30
Turn: ($4.85) 7 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks
River: ($4.85) 4 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $3, UTG+1 calls $3
Final Pot: $10.85
UTG+1 mucks Q A
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
In this case I still made 50 BB with an over pair, 40 of it after the flop, 30 of it after I was 100% dead sure I was ahead in the hand. Since there is no draw on the flop it is pretty safe to give a free card on the turn and keep from getting pot committed. If I had bet 3$ on the turn and it got called then could I really fold on the river when he 5$ into a 11$ pot and I was then getting 5-16 to call. In my mind the big problem with betting that turn is I will chase out the hands I want called by and only get called by the ones that are way ahead of me.
In this case I am ahead of KK, JJ and maybe TT or AQ (less likely since I have 2 A’s), but now behind QQ, 99. If I bet on the turn I expect only get called by the KK, QQ, 99 and the less likely (AQ), with the JJ, TT will most likely dropping out.
Therefor betting the turn is slightly positive EV but leaves me pot committed if they lead out with even a 1/2 size river bet. On the other hand I can check the turn in position and either value bet on river if checked to or at worst face a 3-4$ bet on the river which I can decide if I want to call. The great thing about checking the turn is now that river bet is more likely to be a value bet from a hand that I could beat as well ( 4 – 6 cases ). If I bet the turn the bet I am facing on the river is a lot more likely to only be from KK, QQ, 99 which only 1 of those I can beat.
♣♥♦
Tags: Over Pairs, Poker, Pot Committed, Pot control, Texas Holdem