Stuck in the Middle Set (1 Viewer)

[Kain8]

The game is .25/.50 NLH / PLO. We're 6 handed and for the most part, the table is relatively transparent when it comes to PLO, which makes it easy to assess if you should draw against a supposed made hand / nuts.

Characters of Interest:

Hero is sitting on $350 from a $100 buy-in. Hero got off to a blazing start as soon as the game started, busting a couple $50 and $60 stacks in the first few hands of NLH. Hero is UTG and puts on a $1 straddle.

Cutoff is sitting on $160 and is about even on the night so far. He hardly ever bluffs and his bets are usually repping something pretty worthwhile regardless if it's NLH or PLO.

Button is sitting on $210 and is up about $60 on the night. Button is not afraid to bluff if he smells weakness and his bets can represent a wider range than normal, but he reins that in during PLO.


***Preflop***

One fold to the cutoff who raises to $2, the button and the blinds all toss in a call and I look down at:



I toss in a $1 to call and we're off to a flop five-handed.

Pot: $10

Flop:

Blinds both check, and the Hero's action?

 

[joker80]

Not the best flop for QQ. I pot and proceed with caution

 

[DrStrange]

So, the CO will tell us if he has top set or the flopped straight and likely not c-bet if he has a hand worse than middle set? How would he value a hand like on this flop? Is the nut flush draw + gut shot + over pair a "good hand" to bet in his eyes?

And we might expect Button to bet a high fraction of the time if everyone checks to him?

And neither villain is likely to play tricky-trappy, (something almost always unwise in PLO)?

This sounds like a great place to check and see what information we glean.

I do not want to play a big pot with middle set, unimproved. Hero is often the best hand here, but not many worse hands are committing a lot of money to the pot except the nut flush draw and bottom set. If the betting gets fierce, hero needs to be planning on finding a fold.

 

[AlPresidente]

(not my game, but I'll chime in anyway): Looks like a really clear check to me...we have a medium strength hand 5 ways with limited chance to improve & 2 players to act behind. Board is draw heavy, KKxx & JTxx have us crushed and are plenty plausible; I'd prefer to muck this and do some washing up while I wait for the next hand to be dealt than to bet it.

 

[Jimulacrum]

I like a check here too. You really want to fill or quad up here to deal with any real action. Otherwise, opening the betting is just asking to get raised off the pot when you could have drawn profitably.

 

[Kain8]

After flopping middle set, I decide to protect my hand and check, intending to call a $10 pot bet. To my surprise, both the cutoff and button check as well. Off to a turn we go!

Pot: $10

Turn: ( )

Both blinds check again, I check as well, the cutoff bets pot of $10, to which the button re-pots to $40. Both blinds fold and it's back on me. What's the play?

 

[krafticus]

Fold

 

[Chris La Mantia]

I'm folding this.

 

[joker80]

Fold

 

[thorwilliam]

Easy fold

 

[DrStrange]

fold

 

[Kain8]

****Results****

Seeing the $10 bet I was happy to call that to draw, until of course the $40 raise. With the possibility of the cutoff reraising and not getting good enough odds, it was a pretty easy fold.

The cutoff flatted the $40 and then a river fell of:

River: ( )

The cutoff and button both check, with the cutoff having broadway and the button having only a king high straight. I then ask the cutoff if I called the $40 would he then have reraised? He said he would not have still so that stings just a little. On to the next hand and finished the session cashing out $395 from my initial $100 so can't complain too much!

 

[bivey]

Don't judge that decision in the rear view mirror. And don't ask about the action that the original pot bettor would have made. Only serves to tilt you and expose your play.

Good fold.

 

[Chris La Mantia]

Gotta play the math. Tough break.