Quote Originally Posted by CreamSoda View Post
I have to disagree on both your arguments, although I do see where youre coming from.

Raising more than 3x preflop with less than 40 or 50 bbs (some will argue that you need even more) is a very common leak among both live and online players. I used to play poker online very seriously before I started grad school, and for years I took your side of this argument, even after hearing my more experienced friends tell me why it was wrong (there are also several pokerxfactor videos backing up my claim). The truth is that having WORSE hands call you is actually a GOOD thing. By raising 3.5x we are, we are costing ourselves alot of value with a hand like JJ. With less than 15 BBs im basically never folding JJ preflop (almost never, but obviously there are exceptions) and dont mind getting called by 1 or 2 marginal hands since I'm most likely shoving any flop. Slightly deeper stacked, and with a less strong hand it is even worse as you are giving up alot of chips because of the fold equity your giving the rest of the table. This subject has been all but mathmatically proven, and I can guarantee that any well educated online pro would agree.


As for calling the 200 turn bet (which although is "only" 20% of the pot, also happens to be about 25% of your remaining stack) you are basically commiting yourself. I believe he started the hand with 1100, 350 pre + 200 on turn = putting in half your stack. Unless you have a ton of history with the guy and you know hes an uber donk, you simply can't justify folding any river getting over 3-1. Also, calling off such a huge % of your stack without knowing exactly what you want to do on the river is never +ev. If youre check/folding you shouldnt of called the 200, if your check/calling all in, you should of just shoved since your going to pay him off anyway.

I don't think I realized how short he really was when typing my initial response, but I'd like to revise my advice. Best way to play the hand, raise to 250, shove ANY flop. By villian calling the 150 raise we can eliminate AA KK QQ AK AQ and prob even AJ AT, and KQs, so youre not in bad shape even on A high flop (AK flop sucks but I still just shove)
I have considered your advise and I realize that a shove would have been my best approach after the flop. The 3x vs 3.5x blind push is really mute in my mind because it was only 50 chip difference and it is quicker to hit the pot button instead of typing in a proper bet. So it was a convienence bet thats all. Plus for some reason my radar was going off. Next time I do or die on that hand.