Calling Light early to avoid being Bluffed Later
 

A bit long, but I think the topic is a good one... so read through and comment

Playing a 1/2 NL $500 Max Buy In. Standard raise $15-$20, straddles 25% of the hands

Opponent is deep stacks ($1500) as I am ($1800). We've gotten involved in quite a few pots.

Early on I called a PFR with A8s, flopped an Ace and check called a small flop bet, blank turn I check called a medium bet, another Ace on the river and check called a medium bet and scooped it (missed draw)

Another time I called his PFR with 76s flop 886 with two diamonds, check called a small bet, blank turn check called a small bet and River Ace and check called a small bet , he had Diamonds with an Ace and he scooped it

There were another two instances as well that I became a bit of a Station against him.

Now keep in mind we're very deep stacked for this game (and for the blinds especially) with 750 and 900 BBs respectively, so the last thing I really want to do is get involved in a big pot with this guy with a large overpair, since I'll be folding it too often to aggression

Two instances:

1) I raise with QQ to $20 and he repops it to $60, I call.

Flop comes Jack high, I check he bets $60 I call

Blank turn, I check he checks

King of River, I check, he checks I scoop

2) I have JJ in the SB. Straddle to $5 and restraddle to $10. Before the hand is dealt I say aloud "There's a 100% chance Im bumpin this to $65" Two limps and I follow through with my preflop threat (I wasnt really gunna bump it, I just happened to get a hand). BB calls, Restraddler (villian) calls and 1 limper calls

Flop: Td 9d 3h. I bet $200, Villian calls the rest fold.

Turn: Q (not diamond) I check he checks

River: 3 (not diamond) I check, he checks, I scoop


I think with his deep stack, aggression could have easily taken both of these pots away from me... but perhaps my calls a bit light early on in smaller pots, detracted him from trying to steal these (larger) ones, thinking that I call down too light.... this made me start to think that this strategy may not be half bad, to avoid shitty situations with marginal overpair hands or other types of decisions, especially when both you and the villian are deep stacked (in this case super deep stacked)

Im hoping (although not expecting :cool: ) that some good discussion can come about this and opinions can be given.

Let's go...

I think your strategy is fine. In most of these situations you only had 1 pair, so controlling the pot size is pretty important. One pair, even if it is the overpair, isn't something I want to get stacked with.
Your play was careful and probably missed some value, but in all a very solid choice.

I'm ok with the earlier plays and I agree that they probably slowed him down in these later hands, but I still think you missed some value and played your hands way too passively. I'm certainly ok with you checking the turn for pot control and that sort of thing - but I think you missed at least one bet in both hands.

Remember, you've set him up to know that you will call him down light, so I don't think it makes sense to immediately turn ultra-passive against him because you are afraid he's going to raise you. If anything, it's going to be less likely that he's going to raise you, but he very well might pay you off with hands worse than what you were holding.

This is going away from the original discussion I was intending on (the concept of calling down light to avoid tough situations later) but since it's turned that way I'll comment

Exactly where do you think I missed value? Bc I dont see it

With QQ after being reraised preflop, calling the flop bet, Do I lead the turn? (seems crazy) After check checks behind and a King falls on the river do I lead the river? (seems crazy)

With JJ do you bet the turn again when the Q drops?

Also do you bet the river? (I planned on check calling to induce a buff out of missed diamond draws)

If you do bet anywhere I didnt please indicate the range of hands that I beat that you expect him to call with, and how you react if you are raised (I assume you fold)

On my way out for softball now, but here's my quickie reply:

First, I'm not sure who had position in Hand #1. It looks different on the flop than the turn/river.... and that's pretty important if you want me to tell you where I think you should have bet.

On Hand #2, I think you COULD have bet the turn if you were willing to play a big pot, but I'm fine if you decided to check/call instead. When he checks behind though, I think yopu might get a call from a T if you make a nice value bet. That looks like a good spot for a blocker bet, and it might look to him like you are repping a busted draw.

Playing it your way, what would you have done had he bet the river)? You're not throwing your hand away there, are you?

I think you are on to something, and against an observant opponent I think I may try it. I'll have input after I try it for a while.

Sorry that was a typo. The flop was correct, I was OOP that hand

No Im calling

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So now that we have the hand 1 mixed up cleared up (and you're done with softball), you can continue

Hand 1 is fine then, I guess. I thought you had position, since you did for most of the hand the was it was originally written, and I thought you missed out on some value on the river.

I plan on commenting on this thread, I just haven't found the quiet time needed to think about it. Sorry for the delay, it is an awesome OP and it is threads like this that make this place great.

Ok, I'll put away the pompoms and try to find some once the kiddies are in bed tonight.

*ahem*