PokerCoaching.com: Tough Spot With An Underpair

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Key Concept: Tough Spot With An Underpair

You are six-handed playing in a $1,000 buy-in tournament with a stack of 2,500,000 with blinds at 25,000-50,000. It folds to you in the hijack and you raise to 120,000 with 7 7. It folds to a tight-aggressive player in the small blind who three-bets to 400,000. The big blind folds and action is on you.

Question 1: Should you fold, call, four-bet to 1,200,000, or go all-in?

Answer: You are in a position where you have several strategic options with the best one heavily based on your opponent’s tendencies. Although your opponent adheres to a tight-aggressive strategy, if they were wild and splashy, going all-in would be the best play.

Against your tight-aggressive opponent, even though you could be crushed by a big pair, you cannot fold due to your excellent pot odds and position. When you flop a set, you stand to win a large pot and when you fail to improve, you may be able to see a cheap showdown and win the pot.

You call, the flop comes 10 8 3, and your opponent checks.

Question 2: Should you check, bet 80,000, bet 160,000, or bet 475,000?

Answer: When your opponent checks, it is safe to assume the flop does not connect well with their range. However, they could also have a premium hand like pocket aces with intentions of check-raising. At your stack depth (56 big blinds) it is ideal to be cautious and check it back to ensure you do not get blown off your hand, while also keeping the pot size manageable.

You check, the turn is the 2, and your opponent bets 325,000.

Question 3: Should you fold, call, raise to 750,000, or go all-in?

Answer: There is no point in raising because you open yourself up to having to play for all your money with a marginal made hand. While you lose to top pairs and all the overpairs, you have an easy call because your opponent’s range will contain many unpaired high cards that will feel inclined to bluff, like K-J. Similar to calling the preflop three-bet, you are being offered excellent odds to the point that you cannot fold. 

You call, the river is the 2, and your opponent checks.

Question 4: Should you check, bet 125,000, bet 275,000, or bet 775,000?

Answer: If you are facing a weak, straightforward opponent who would always bet all better hands, there is merit in betting small to try to extract value from hands like ace-high. However, facing a competent, tight-aggressive opponent, you would much rather check and see a free showdown.  

You check it back and your opponent reveals A 6 for a busted flush draw. Being able to realize your equity and not falter to aggression rewarded you with a nice pot.

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