Hero (Button) ($48.75)
SB ($10)
BB ($48.25)
UTG ($60.25)
UTG+1 ($23.75)
MP1 ($50)
MP2 ($10.70)
MP3 ($37.10)
CO ($23.70)
Preflop: Hero is Button with A
, A
2 folds, MP1 raises to $2, 2 folds, CO calls $2, Hero raises to $8, 2 folds, MP1 calls $6, CO calls $6
Flop: ($24.75) J
, 2, 8
(3 players)MP1 checks, CO checks, Hero bets $15, 2 folds
Total pot: $24.75 | Rake: $1.20
This is the perfect of a hand that is either way-ahead or way-behind. With a rainbow, uncoordinated Jack-high board, the only hand that will be calling me on that flop is JJ. Any other likely hand will fold. (AK, AQ, 1010 and 99. I don't see 88 calling that raise and 22 is definitely out.)
There are no KK or QQ out there since those will be reraising preflop, and an AJ will not be calling my substantial preflop reraise unless they're complete idiots. With my reraise I basically turned my big pair hand face up.
By checking, two favorable things may happen:
1. I may get them to see my hand as an overplayed AK, AQ or small pair. This would be great because this may:
Induce them to bluff on the turn. They may think they can get me to fold with a good size bet on a blank turn when I'm basically pot commiting myself to this pot already.
Get them to call a bet. If they check again on the turn, I can lead out for a small bet which they may decide is a bluff and should call with a medium pair.
2. An overcard hits them. They may have AK, AQ, or even KQ for some idiots and one of those cards comes on the turn. Bingo!
In addition to those two, there's another bonus: If I check the flop and get to show out my hands on showdown, I will be showing my opponents that me checking the flop doesn't always mean I'm weak. Checking doesn't give them the green light to bet out on me with any two cards, they'll need to be wary. It'll be an effective mechanism for varying my play.
Basically what I'm trying to get at is that on that flop and with those effective stacks, I want to put all my money in as quick as possible. Now I just need to make sure that someone else will be willing to put at least some of his money in along with mine. Checking the flop instead of continuation betting would have had a better chance of accomplish that for a miniscule risk.
