Nick Smith

Sean and those who have posted to fold, could you please elaborate on your thought processes in this spot. I am less familiar online as to live so maybe that is the difference here, but live and here I almost always flat call the river (which may be a leak in my play if you can explain why). I find that the lack of a turn bet puts the hero in trouble because it limits the amount of information he has about the opponents hands, so in that sense I agree with Sean 100%. A more optimal line would be bet the turn and plan for a river bet to apply pressure regardless of the card that falls unless you are raised on the turn bet. However, when we all check and then you lead out, get a fold and the CO raises you $35 on top of your $17 into $80 a flush crosses my mind but this makes me think back to the turn where everyone checks. I think its far more often you see a player in late position continuation bet to the checks to protect his bluff or drawing hands in this spot or even more likely to think he is getting value on his hands that made 2 pair or the A4 situation Aaron describes which I find likely to show up here too. I see Q10, J10, QJ as strong contenders for the raise, much more so than a made flush. I also see these players raising more on a stronger flush, but that is where I may be wrong. Your insight is appreciated.

I also am quite novice at the game but would like to put in my thoughts to see what others think.

I like the pre-flop aggression at these stakes. Its less common to get players who will call $35 with absolutely nothing or even some hand that plays well post flop against your range. If you do have one of these players at your table you most likely know who it is especially playing live in a room you are familiar with (ashadrick and I know each other in person and have discussed this hand recently). Since this is not the case in this instance I think you can limit his range to AK, AQ, and at these stakes probably anything from 5's to 10's pretty realistically. I think in this spot Ive seen so many people 4 bet your pfr with JJ and better that it limits the chances he has something like this.

When the flop comes 2-3-8 and he bets I have to start to think in your spot. Would he ever lead a worse hand for example AQ or the same hand AK. I think flopping air after calling a 3 bet most players at 1/2 shut down in live play. When he calls your re raise of $55 I almost have to put him on a smaller pair. He can't really have A8 because of the pre flop action and an over pair might call or even raise here. Seems like on such a dry board he has exactly what he has because of the call.

10 on the turn doesnt change much for your opponent if he is thinking of the pre flop action. Could you have A10? Not likely imo. If you have an over pair you might play it this way but it seems more likely with your aggression that you are protecting a hand rather than extrapolating value. For this reason alone I find myself calling your $100 bet to see the turn.

When the river comes a blank if you fire I think he does call and was not lying. Here are some thoughts on how I think you might be able to make your hand look stronger. (This is where some expert help might come in handy too). I think calling the flop in this situation and floating might be a better play. You can possibly get away with hiding the fact you raised him on the flop by doing this. Then regardless of the turn you can react to his play. If he leads out after your call you can raise to represent a trap style play that everyone is use to seeing and I think most players in this spot will sweat it and fear any move on the river. If he comes over you on your raise too you can easily fold and save yourself the river spot, otherwise you now have control of the hand. If he checks you can bet pot and he fold. However, in the event he hits a set and calls then jams your river bet we are kind of sunk here. I would like some other opinions on this line. I can take the criticism :)