QJs UTG+1 (1 Viewer)

[DrStrange]

We are playing 1-2 live, nine handed. It is early in the session, but already the character of the night is taking form. A loose, passive, "small ball" sort of night. The normal lunatics are not playing like I would expect.

This session is all about QJ for hero. I think Hero saw some version of this hand seven times over the session, this is the second of several hands

Cast of characters:

It is early and the players aren't buying like normal. Average stacks are ~$140, no one holds a big stack. I am not offering details yet, too many players, not enough data to figure out what is going on anyway.

Hero in playing $200 on a $360 buy-in. I think Hero has lost every hand he raised preflop and there have been a number of them for so early in the session. We aren't talking any more about the last hand Hero lost.

The hand:

UGT folds. Hero is UTG+1 and has Limp, raise or fold? If raising, how much? Don't expect to get folds from a reasonable sized raise. Hero might get called if he made it $30 to go hoping to gather up the $3 in the blinds. Reminder, the 72 prop is in play.

DrStrange

 

[Mr Tree]

Is hero UTG+1?

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

I'm still in BBotB spewtard lag monkey mode, so take this with a grain of salt. Jam.

 

[DrStrange]

Yes, Hero is UTG+

 

[Mr Tree]

Man I see no value in raising here with a mediocre hand and a whole cast of characters left to act in a hand where you will not have position. Not really opposed to just folding here, but that would make a dull strategy thread so call.

 

[BooRayUSA]

Being suited improves this hand but for me only in late position and UTG+ I would fold or limp normally and if raised fold. But Since we may or likely will see a call on a raise as noted I see no reason to continue with these cards. Fold

 

[AlPresidente]

I hate open limping & folding QJs at a passive table is madness. Make it $8 to go.

 

[MegaTon44]

Although it wouldn't be posted if further action wasn't taken, I say fold. A raise will not likely thin the field and a limp from UTG+1 just fattens the pot for a late position raise, to which hero may very well fold to anyway. Unless everyone limps and hero smashes the flop, I don't see this going too well in most situations.

 

[Ronoh]

I don't think I've ever folded QJs without a raise in front of me. While you may get callers with a raise to $30 the table itself is passive. Raising here is only building the pot making for more difficult decisions later on in the hand... easy call.

 

[DrStrange]

*** Well what did we expect? ***

Hero limps. Crazy Jr makes it $17 to go. Two callers, a calling station and loose/semi aggressive both cover Hero.

Action on Hero. $15 to close the action, $56 in the pot. Fold, call or raise? If raising, how much?. If jamming, don't be shocked to get called by any pair or ace rag.

DrStrange

 

[AlPresidente]

call; check blind to crazy.

 

[MegaTon44]

Fold. Hero tried to see a cheap flop, but proceeding in poor position with a mediocre hand can lead to big problems.

 

[Ronoh]

Easy call

 

[BooRayUSA]

In it now with the limp and the raise and as I stated before if limped raised I would fold. Sticking to my play

 

[AlPresidente]

Our hand's far too strong to fold for $15 into $56 imo. Particularly with crazy making the action. & I can't see any reason to raise. Seems a super clear call to me.

 

[10centguitar]

umm...were any of the callers in the blinds? didn't see this mentioned, sorry if i missed.

however, anyone who has commented on the action without knowing this info clearly shouldn't be trusted. lol

 

[DrStrange]

Both blinds folded.

 

[Chippy McChiperson]

Squeeze, they will respect your image. Make it $199, and start talking about fold equity.

 

[Ronoh]

Squeeze, they will respect your image. Make it $199, and start talking about fold equity.

I don't think they're respecting anything

Action on Hero. $15 to close the action, $56 in the pot. Fold, call or raise? If raising, how much?. If jamming, don't be shocked to get called by any pair or ace rag.

 

[Ben]

I'd open to $10 and take my 5 callers happily with the lead in the hand. As played OOP to the raiser, fold.

 

[DrStrange]

*** results ***

Hero folds. Crazy Jr has Calling station has The board runs out [ ] for a several hundred dollar chop.

DrStrange

 

[MegaTon44]

*** results ***

Hero folds. Crazy Jr has Calling station has The board runs out [ ] for a several hundred dollar chop.

DrStrange

Nice fold!

 

[MegaTon44]

Does it make me pathetic that whenever the Dr posts strategy questions, I'm checking my phone obsessively until every street is revealed?


Yeah, I thought so. [emoji1]

 

[DrStrange]

I didn't much care for playing QJs from bad position and a SPR of 3, which is what happens when calling a $15 raise. Most likely hands are TP/GK or second pair / good kicker. Neither one is something to stack off 100bb, but that is what happens if Hero flops top pair.

I do not mind limp / folding to Crazy Jr several times a session because it only takes one check raise preflop with a big hand to make up for a half dozen $2 limps being lost. He likes to sit on my left and feast off my one dollar chips. I like for him to sit on my left so I can occasionally feast off his $100 chips.

Except this session Hero didn't get a premium hand -=- DrStrange

But Hero did get lots of QJ hands.

 

[BooRayUSA]

Are these actual hands played live? How do you keep track of all this? My memory does not last past 2 hands

 

[DrStrange]

Live hands, in this case from a Friday night session. I play bridge and blackjack too - all places where it helps to remember the cards played and how the other people act/think. I'd consider my memory skill as average plus. There are people with amazing skills well beyond what I try to do. I need a "starter", a little something to spark the memory. I have played bridge with people who can remember every hand of a session - Who bid what and the order all 52 cards were played for 24-30 hands.

DrStrange

 

[moojersey]

DrStrange

Are your hands from casino play or a home game? I am a bit curious.

 

[DrStrange]

I almost never play at casino or underground games - less than once a year now that the casinos don't love my wife enough to comp our rooms. There was a day when we could fly to Las Vegas on our FF miles, stay in a fancy hotel for free (because slot players are solid gold) and eat good food for almost nothing. It was a rare trip where my poker winnings could overcome the losses at the slot machines, but occasionally my wife would win enough from the one-armed bandits to cover all the expenses.

These days I play about 100 sessions a year of home poker, hosting 40-50 of them plus another 75 bridge games a year. That is enough (I could play another 75 sessions or so in two more games). Why would I want to play with casino degenerates and pay $10+/hr in rake when I can play with Crazy, Crafty, the Alpha Male and the rest of the gang?

DrStrange