Strategy question: Following preflop aggression with postflop aggession

[PShabi]

I use this strategy in both NL and limit games. Mainly I play 2/4 and I wanted to get some feed back about my strategy.

Scenario:

I am in 7th position with A 10 suited in a full 2/4 ring game. The action is folded around to me with no limpers. I raise here, to try to close out the rest of the field. My goal is to either steal the blinds or at worst, buy the button and play with postion.

So let's say I buy the button, and both blinds are in against me.

Now the flop comes 2 6 9 rainbow and the blinds check to me. I ALWAYS bet in this case, trying to take it down right there.

However, where I need advice is if one or two players call. Let's say the SB folds, but the BB calls my flop bet.

Now he checks on the turn again. WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO IN THIS SITUATION? I check here 95% of the time, and try to catch on the river. Do you guys ever continue with a bet here when you don't hit?

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The other situation I need help with is if in the same scenario, you fail to close the field out and get a caller behind you for two bets.

He has position, the flop is a rainbow of blanks. Do you bet out on the flop if it is checked to you with someone behind you?

I used to play it the same way, regardless if I had the button or not, but when someone behind me calls, I am at a serious disadvantage.

Thanks for reading and I can't wait to here some expert responses.

Phil

[eddo31]

i think your actions have to be drastically different depending upon if you bought the button or not. with a player behind you, and having completely missed the flop, you have to be a bit more cautious. i think you have to check it here, and wait to see what happens behind you. it is probably a check-fold, unless you have a backdoor flush/straight draw to go along with your overcards. then you might think about calling to see what the turn brings.

if you did buy the button, then i think you should stay agressive when the other opponents are passive. i think you should bet the turn again in this situation. if you dont bet, then you invite the blind to steal from you on the river. if you do throw the bet out there, you have a number of options left.
1. you can win the pot right there.
2. you can improve on the river and win.
3. you can miss and check the pot down.
4. you can miss, and still fire out at the pot, trying to win on a bluff.
i think keeping the agression going on the turn will help you win the pot more often than not, and that even if you dont win that pot, it creates a good table image for you.

[PShabi]

This is strategy I've been thinking to going to. I've already made the change to what you suggest when someone is behind me, but currently in situation 2, I check the turn and feel like people are stealing from the big Blind on the river. I'd like to hear what everyone else says but I'm going to go with that strat tomorrow.

[eddo31]

obviously other people might have other ideas here about how to play this situation, but i think that by not betting the turn you just ask the bb to steal from you. the bigger bet on the turn might be enough to get the bb to lay down middle or bottom pair, which is defintely good for you.

i think also having more options on the river definitely helps you out. i would be interested in hearing what higher limit players (TP) say about this though.

[Talking Poker]

Good thread.

It's late, and I have a plane to catch in the morning, so I can't respond now.... but I will tell you that this is VERY similar to the subject for an article I plan on writing soon. There are a few things I'd like to explore in detail... things that I think could help the average player's LIMIT game a lot. They aren't common sense at first, but once you understand them and see the light, you'll be surprised at how many more bets you'll win... and I see players NOT doing these things all the time.

The biggest one is "The check and call." This is when you are first to act with one opponent and have a medium to good hand after the river card is dealt. Don't bet! Check to your opponent. I'll go into more detail on this someday, but just wanted to mention it now so you can start thinking about it.

The second situation is pretty much what was described above, but more specifically, what you should do if you have a medium pair, for example - say 88 and the flop comes Q75. I believe you need to bet the turn every time. I didn't used to, until I gave it more thought, and now it's clear to me. Bet it. Is this the same for your AT hand above? Not quite, because the free card is more useful in that situation (there are only two 8s left in the other scenario, so you're not likely to improve).

Again, I'll go into more detail when I have the time.... I'll be itnerested in seeing others responses here too.

[PShabi]

Not getting too many bites here. TP, you gotta elaborate more! What a cliffhanger! Why do you suggest this check and call play? Hoping to hear back soon on that one.