CC Shorter Highlights Flashcards
Turn Spot:
Betting on turn, what is purpose of B33? Is it more common OOP than IP? Name three spots where it is a staple of our turn strategy.
B33 on turn when thin value/protection up for grabs.
More Common OOP than IP bc check is worse alternative from OOP (equity realization and open/closed action)
Include B33 as option when:
a) Turn Barrel OOP- want to block w/ some Tier 3 hands that would opt to check if IP.
b) Delayed C-bet Opportunity OOP- We have capped our range on the flop and might use mostly B33 in many of these spots. Small bets can be great bc opponent can really misplay against them.
c) High EV Turn Probe Opportunity Node- We are in a favorable situation such as a low-coordinated board and benefit from thin value and denial with our Tier 3 bets.
(don’t include B33 on turn probe opportunities involving higher/less favorable board. These spots are played with only B150 or X.
Turn Spot:
For Turn Barrel OOP, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. SB vs BB-
Js3d2d B33-X
4d ?
What sizings get chosen here?
In general:
B33 preferred. when OOP hero wants to block bet with some Tier 3 hands that would opt to check if IP. Best value will get bluff-raised more often when sizing is small as well, and our value in general will get calls from hands that wouldn’t call bigger.
Example:
Check- 67%
B33- 25%
B75- 7% exclude
B150- 1% exclude
Clarke’s theorem suggest we should strongly favor a small sizing here due to the equalization of polarization between two ranges.
Don’t just think not getting enough value, idea is villain will raise with strong hands and bluffs in range when you bet small. (as long as opponent is sufficiently aggressive you’re not losing EV). You get bluff-raised more often when you go smaller sizing. EV does not only come from coolering opponent when they have flush too. Small also gets calls from hands that wouldn’t call bigger.
spot is underbluffed by pop not finding medium equity hands here. if villain is not aggressive go larger!
Turn Spot:
For Delayed C-bet Opportunity OOP, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. SB vs BB
As8d4d X-X
Kh ?
What sizings get chosen here?
In General:
B33. We have semi-capped our range on the flop and might use mostly B33 in many of these spots. Small bets can be great bc opponent can really misplay against them. Delayed Cbet spot for OOP is still in general favorable world so we don’t need to be picky here, especially with a small sizing.
(check is not as capping in theory as it is in practice at lower stakes. humans are bad at building protected checks here. check is very weak at lower stakes, whereas theory has SB uncapped enough that it recommends overbetting this turn still.)
Example:
Have no Tier 2 hands at all.
Landing equity with a value betable hand is either tier 1 or tier 3
Check- 68%
B33- 22%
B75- 0%
B150- 8%
Two value regions drive this intuitive strategy. value is good Ax, more nutted hands overbet and AJ+. (don’t always bet value hands here and that’s due to check-raise opportunity)
Turn Spot:
For High EV Turn Probe Opportunity (like on on Low Connected Boards), which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. BB vs CO
8c6h4s X-X
3d ?
What sizings get chosen here?
In general:
B33 is preferred most but B150 and B75 both done half as much as B33. This is exception as turn probing is typically overbet or large bet at low frequency on typical runout. Most runouts better for IP when it goes X-X, this is exception though.
Danger zone is anything between 4-8 on this turn in SRP, in 3bet or 4bet pot these danger cards are higher up due to tighter ranges. This region equalizes equity and even nut advantage a bit.
Unique hands in CO range are many overcards demoted heavily, BB has more pairs from all the lower suited hands he calls here. BB has more diverse assortment of value hands with different needs and wants.
CO mostly calls here, so
Check- 45% (remember can checkraise since not urgent to bet OOP!)
B33- 29%
B75- 16%
B150- 10%
Choose either of the large sizings. Easier to get rid of B75 in practice. Remember you can’t upgrade weak value bet to larger sizing, but you can downgrade the nuts to protect smaller sizings.
Mixed polarized dual sizing strategy-
Good hands can do anything
B33 or B150 if really strong
B33 or check with thin value
Turn Spot:
Betting on turn what is purpose of B75? Is it more common OOP than IP? Name three spots where it is a staple of our turn strategy.
B75 is go-to replacement for overbetting on turns that repolarize Villain’s range.
Also used for semi-capped ranges (delayed c-bet for example) in position and at SPRs where overbetting is unnecessary.
A) Delayed C-betting IP w/ a semi-capped range vs semi-uncapped range. It is not worth blocking (reopening) here since check is so good IP. We can play B75 or check in most cases. B75 or check in most cases.
B) Turn Barreling when the card is significantly repolarizing for Villain’s Range (Clarke’s Theorem). Don’t want to B150 here since you will polarize villain mostly into spots where he beats your value, so bring back down.
C) Turn Probe- Where IP is too repolarized for us to B150.
Turn Spot:
Delayed C-betting IP, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. BB vs BU
AsKd3c X-X
8s X-?
What sizings are chosen to be bet and why?
In general:
B75 preferred most. Delayed C-betting IP w/ a semi-capped range vs semi-uncapped range. It is not worth blocking (reopening) here since check is so good IP. We can play B75 or check in most cases. B75 or check in most cases.
Example:
Relatively big polarization advantage despite our flop check and not worth reopening for B33.
Exploitative: Bet a lot than solver suggests because at lower stakes/ all live games BB is way too capped.
Check- 71% (remember can checkraise since not urgent to bet OOP!)
B33- 3% don’t include
B75- 13% bet
B150- 13% (choose! fold equity is huge so can do w/ air sometimes)
(don’t just have draw to bet, make sure to include trashier hands like Q or J-high. roll bluffs in for high frequency)
Turn Spot:
For Turn Barreling when turn card is significantly repolarizing for Villain’s Range, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. BB vs BU
9s9d6c X-B33-C
4h X-?
What sizings are chosen to be bet and why?
In general:
B75 preferred most. Don’t want to B150 here since you will polarize villain mostly into spots where he beats your value, so bring back down.
Example:
Here BB is too polarized in theory for the overbet to make sense, and despite its viability the B33 can probably also go. If opponent doesn’t slowplay you can go bigger
Check- 52%
B33- 22% can go away
B75- 26%
B150- 0%
Turn Spot:
Turn Probe on Repolarizing Cards for IP, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. BB vs UTG
6d5c2d X-X
Ad ?
What sizings are chosen to be bet and why?
In general:
B75 preferred. IP is too repolarized for us to B150.
Example:
Not many situations where OOP wants to use B75 (main situations here are flush turns), but A repolarizes UTG range.
Here we want to build a value range around some strong but not uniquely nutted hands. When we have like set or two pair or flush, so we want to do a not huge bet with all our value. Flushes are bad to get value with larger sizes anyhow, since calling range tends to have that suit
Solver is adamant about B75 being the choice. OOP makes check-raise trapping viable too. Slowplay checks. Middle or range like 88 is not a bet here.
Check- 80%
B33- 0%
B75- 20%
B150- 0%
Turn Spot:
On turn what is purpose of barreling B150? When do we include it as option in our turn strategy?
B150 is the sizing we use to leverage a very big nut advantage and in particular the EV of unique Tier 1 hands.
Staple for blank turns with very big nut advantage.
Fallacy- “we overbet because we’re polarizing our range”. No, we have really good hands that want to bet big, causing us to have a polarized range.
Being polar is an output of the input: Villain’s range is higher equity than ours.
Betting big is an output of the input: Villain’s range is very capped/condensed compared to ours.
Output cannot cause an output. This relationship is mostly a correlation
Case A) Turn Barreling on depolarizing card (Clarke’s Theorem)
Case B) Turn Probe in unfavourable spot- NA but not RA (See lecture 1)
Case C) Delayed C-bet w/ Big Relative NA. We’re a bit capped but villain is far more capped. Usually OOP (Remember IP we’re more capped when we check flop). If not chance to check-raise, don’t check top of range.
Turn Spot:
Turn Barrel on Brick, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. BB vs BU
Qs9d7c X-B33-C
4c X-?
What sizings are chosen to be bet and why?
B150, Here there is no limit to our nut advantage and many of our value bets are pushing extremely high equity and crave a large pot.
Check- 60% (member we can checkraise too!)
B33- 1% exclude
B75- 8% exclude
B150- 31%
Turn Spot:
Turn Probe (OOP) in Highly Unfavorable World, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. BB vs UTG
Ad6h5h X-X
Js ?
What sizings are chosen to be bet and why?
In general:
B150. Turn Probe in Highly Unfavorable Spot- NA but not RA. Here we have little interest in betting anything other than nutted hands and some selectively chosen bluffs and so our sizing is built around that idea.
Example:
Check- 83%
B33- 0% exclude
B75- 3% exclude
B150- 14%
turn probe main pointers:
use big sizings when you bet!
don’t bluff with absolute air
do slowplay better hands
do bet some of higher ev draws with better blockers
don’t feel like you need to do much betting at all! (don’t just bet cuz they checked)
Turn Spot:
Delayed Cbet OOP w/ Big Relative Nut Advantage, which sizing (B33, B75, B150) is preferred the most?
e.g. SB vs BB
KsJd3d X-X
4s ?
What sizings are chosen to be bet and why?
In general:
B150 for Delayed C-bet OOP w/ Big Relative NA. We’re a bit capped but villain is far more capped. Usually OOP (Remember IP we’re more capped when we check flop). In general, if not chance to check-raise, don’t check top of range.
Example:
Both ranges are somewhat capped, but SB’s range is less capped.
has some block here. good top pair is cutoff for overbet. KQ is pretty nutted here all else be coolers like them binking set on turn etc. That’s poker but not often.
Still check most of time, still condensed range. lower bet frequency in general on turn than on flop as well.
Check- 75%
B33- 11%
B75- 2% exclude
B150- 12%
still check most of range
What is the River Blunder Theorem? (MEGA IMPORTANT)
It is a blunder to check the river in a favorable situation with very little showdown value.
If fold equity is above the pot odds norm, then bluffing is comfortably +EV.
If we have very little SDV the checking is close to 0EV.
+EV is better than 0EV, therefore you must bet.
Generally does not apply to favorable flop or turn spots bc we will have a later opportunity to bet and we may or may not delay to the next street. However, there are Extremely Favorable worlds where there is so much fold equity that we want it now (e.g. when solver range bets everything). Other way to understand why we range bet favorable situations is because the amount of money we can make by bluffcatching and playing passively is drastically reduced in an extremely favorable world since opponent won’t drive much of the action by probing turn with a wide range, in this case we do better by denying equity to worse but live hands in opponents range and seizing all fold equity by bluffing immediately than we do by slowplaying and delaying any of these actions. Remember in extremely favorable worlds, you don’t want to check since so much fold equity and profitable betting.
(look at EV of each hand in solver, e.g. no SDV look at EV of check vs EV of bet for bluffs)
What are the Tiers 1-3 (value bets), 4 (check), and Tiers 5-7 (bluffs) in terms of EV and SDV?
Tier 1: Huge EV, Loads of SDV
Tier 2: Very High EV, Loads of SDV
Tier 3: High EV, Loads of SDV
Tier 4: Decent EV, Some to Loads of SDV
Tier 5: Medium EV, No SDV
Tier 6: Low EV, No SDV
Tier 7: Very Low, No SDV
What worlds do Tier 5-7 get bet in Pre-River? (7 is worst EV of bluffs, 5 is best)? What are examples of these hands?
Tier 5 (great blockers)- all worlds pre-river
Tier 6 (neutral blockers)- can’t bluff in unfavorable, optional in netural
Tier 7 (negative blockers) - optional in favorable world.
Tier 5 bluffs often in all worlds pre-river.
is best bluffs, creme de la creme of bluffs you fire in all worlds (bad, average, good) have enough EV and implied odds to handle deficit in fold equity, and still won’t cause us to become too low EV even if we include a lot of them. Typically FDs, OESDs, gutters to nuts, gutters w/ fd blockers to potential flush completing, and hands of this nature. Also possible to have Tier 5 hand that is really good blocker-wise
Tier 6 is going to bluff often in favorable worlds, can bluff in neutral, and cannot bluff in unfavorable. e.g. probe turn spot with really bad gutter and 2 fds present and landscape bad for range, don’t bluff w/ that flimsy draw.
Tier 7 can bluff in favorable world, cannot bluff in neutral, and cannot bluff in unfavorable worlds. are either hands w/ absolutely nothing going on where most of your range has something, like if you have a very wet texture w/ almost anything having a straight draw and you have nothing, prob tier 7. Tier 7 on flop or turn could mean blocking the folding range?
What is pot odds norm (aka bluff breakeven percentage) for B33?
25%
What is pot odds norm (aka bluff breakeven percentage) for B50?
33%
What is pot odds norm (aka bluff breakeven percentage) for B66?
40%
What is pot odds norm (aka bluff breakeven percentage) for B75?
43%
What is pot odds norm (aka bluff breakeven percentage) for B150?
60%
What is pot odds norm (aka bluff breakeven percentage) for B400?
80%
River Spots:
What is the most common neutral spot?
Neutral spots, most common is spot where cbettor has barreled multiple times and the caller has been calling (neutral EV for both players generally, since the condensing means RA and the other player polarizing means NA)
Neutralization can happen when a player bets in unfavorable world, since the range they choose to bet with has to be very picky so the range they continue(bet) with turns the world from unfavorable to neutral.
River Spot:
When in doubt whether a situation is favorable or unfavorable in making a bluffing decision, is it better to bluff than to not bluff?
If in doubt, best to bluff river.
While in theory, very common to commit atrocities by not bluffing when we should, rare to be making massive mistake by bluffing in a world where bluffing is optional or even slightly a bad idea. You will always have bluffs available to you even in unfavorable worlds, and your opponent will always be folding reasonable amount of the time unless they are exploiting you. GTO opponent folds reasonable amount as they expect you to not be betting unreasonable hands in unfavorable world.
River Spot:
Is Double Delayed C-Bet IP river spot a favorable, neutral, or unfavorable world?
Checking behind preserves range advantage and leaves the spot favorable.
Remember that turn probers (being in an unfavorable spot) need to be careful with the hands they bluff. This leaves a lot of weak hands in their range for checking multiple streets.
e.g. hero (CO) vs BB
KcTs5s X-X
Jh X-X
5h X-?
don’t completely miss point that poker is a game of two ranges, not just ours. We still have RA (even though range is capped and slightly weaker than it would be, range maintains equity by shifting towards showdown value and not air; if range shifts towards air here you are not protecting checking range well enough) and they have weakened their own range further by not betting in this unfavorable world.
River Spot:
Is River Probe Opportunity (e.g. after calling flop cbet and turn checks through) in general a favorable, neutral, or unfavorable world?
Favorable. Having Condensed and Been Checked to Case 1.
Remember that calling actions condense our range in a major way.
When we call a bet and then face a check on the next street from the polarized range, we should expect the situation to be favorable.
e.g. SB vs. Hero (BB)
AhQh6s X-B33-C
9c X-X
2c X-?
hero calling condenses range on flop. villain checks means we’re in favorable world after they check since they did a B33 which contains a lot of air still, and now they are declining to bet for the second time.
River Spot:
Is River Float Bet Opportunity (e.g. after calling turn IP and villain checks river) in general a favorable, neutral, or unfavorable world?
Having Condensed and Been Checked to Case 2.
Favorable.
Remember that calling actions condense our range in a major way.
When we call a bet and then face a check on the next street from the polarized range, we should expect the situation to be favorable.
River Spot:
Triple Barrel Opportunity
Are Triple Barrel Opportunities in general a favorable, neutral, or unfavorable world?
Classic Neutral World in general, while you have been betting villain has condensed twice. In this world neutral blockers usually bluff.
River Spot: B/X/B opportunity (when hero is OOP) [bet flop, turn checked through] on board that doesn’t help with range from turn onwards.
Is this spot a favorable, neutral, or unfavorable world?
CLASSIC UNFAVORABLE RIVER SPOT. Do not bluff without amazing blockers (don’t interfere with their folding range)!!!!
Make sure your blockers don’t block gutshots etc too when bluffing.
What is the Interference Theorem with regards to bluff selection when repolarizing and raising on the river ?
(Repolarize means to raise a bet having condensed your range by calling an earlier one, e.g. raising river after facing a triple barrel)
e.g. BB vs CO
Jd3h2c- X,R33,C
7d- X,B75,C
Ks- X,B75,R4x
Interference Theorem-
When you repolarise on the river, you will want to bluff with:
a) Pairs on blank runouts
b) flush/straight blockers on wetter runouts.
e.g. BB vs CO
Jd3h2c- X,R33,C
7d- X,B75,C
Ks- X,B75,R4x
bluff raises here would be J8ss, 43ss, but not QhJs since Q is bad blocker to bluffs.
River Bucketing
BB vs CO
QhTh7s- X,B75,C
5d- X,X
3h- ?
How does our thought process go for bet sizes in this favorable situation where we must bluff wherever possible?
In spots where toolkit can be simplified to 3 bet sizes and we have EV advnatage and must therefore bluff wherever possible, our thought process will go as follows
a) We have a lot of Qx and Tx so B33 will be common, bluffs will be rare.
b) We have a little bit of AQ KQ so B75 will be for rare value, bluffs will be rare in this size as well.
c) We have a lot of 2pair+ so B150 will be common, so this is where my bluffs will go.
NO REAL STANDARD REASON TO CHOOSE ONE BLUFF SIZE, with exception of when going big you need good blockers.
Ask what tier is my hand?
Tier 1 B150
Tier 2 B75
Tier 3 B33
Tier 4 Check
Bluffs- IS there a sizing my hand has negative blockers for? If yes, roll between 2 other sizes. If no, roll 3 sizes but weight the preferred size most (like weight 50% B150, 30% B33, 20% B75
If ranking 3 types of bluffs that all block X calls:
A= highest bluffing EV that blocks Y-1 (least) folds
B= middling bluffing EV that blocks Y (some) folds
C= lowest bluffing EV that blocks Y+1 (most folds)
Which Grades do we bluff in each of these worlds?
a) unfavorable,
b) slightly unfavorable,
c) neutral,
d) slightly favorable,
e) favorable world
a) UNFAVORABLE- sometimes bluff A
b) SLIGHTLY UNFAVORABLE- Always bluff A
c) NEUTRAL- Always bluff A, sometimes B
d) SLIGHTLY FAVORABLE- Always Bluff A & B, might bluff C
e) FAVORABLE- Always bluff A, B, C
Grade A always bluffed except in worst worlds (worst bluffs A sometimes).
Better and best worlds A & B always bluffed.
Grade C only bluffed in better and best worlds.
Double Delayed Stab Example for Unblockers-
What are the hands we want to unblock in villains folding range when bluffing here?
SB vs BB 3BP
7d7s5c- X,X
Jh- X,X
Js- ? (X,B75,B150?)
villain will fold mostly Ax and Kx, so avoid blocking them!
slightly favorable world w/ 54.55% EV. Bluff all class A and class B, and stay away from Class C hands. here 4s4h has 6.3% EV and QsTs has 3.5% EV
In highly unfavorable world where we B150, how do we choose our bluffs?
BB vs UTG
Ad6h5s- X,X
Ks- X,X
Kd- (X, B33, B75, or B150?)
At all costs avoid hands that block middling underpairs but not broadways.
bluffs here aren’t in Tx8x or 9x region, not bluffing anything in the middle range. villain is supposed to fold 77-JJ even QQ, and a lot of Ax. So don’t block this region
a) T9dd is grade C to never bluff
diamonds are particular bad since spades will prob get bet on turn, so diamonds block air here!
b) T9ss is grade B, since villain declined to bet on turn (flush draws common) you unblock more air now.
c) 75hh is grade A sometimes bluff, they don’t arrive here with a 7 and then folding! they don’t have a 7 or 5 all that often
when checks til the river you want to have the busted flush draw!
don’t bluff here w/ T9 just to recoup money
Five parts of a Flop X/R Range are?
1) Thick Value Region (sets, two pair on dry or flush, straight on wet)
2) Thin Value Region (TPDK, TP+BDFD, Mediocre Overpair on low board) kinda entitled to 70%ish of the pot. not mandatory on flop, but want to raise eventually.
3) High EV Bluff Region (nut flush draws, combo draws, flush draws, even good gutters). Hands perform well in giant pots when they can leapfrog villains bluffcatchers. Mix call/raise
4) Hybrid Region (made hand with some redraw, example low pair low kicker which actually has 5 outs to two pair or trips, can get better to fold.
5) Low EV Bluff Region (mix call/fold/raise)
people don’t find 2,4,5 enough
EV Spectrum goes
1 starts near 300% pot EV
2 starts near 100%ish pot EV
3 starts near 66%ish pot EV
4 starts near 15%ish pot EV
5 starts near 0%ish pot EV
3 is only loosely a bluff in the sense that villain commonly folds significant equity vs the raise
4 combines reasons mainly value and extreme denial. lower the EV of call and the more useful the fold equity, the closer a hand gets to qualifying as a hybrid raise.
5 is sometimes +EV but in other cases 0EV. sometimes mix fold/raise and sometimes mix/call/raise
Flop X/R
- Thick Value Region
How is this region played on the following boards?
a) unpaired multitone textures
b) paired or monotone textures
a) on unpaired multitone textures, raise or call depends on how polarised c-bettors range is. Against merged range you want to raise yourself.
b) on paired or monotone, indifferent to calling and raising since it pushes villain towards air with its blockers.
Case A
Pure Raise on unpaired/multitone facing R33 BB vs BU
As9s4d w/ 4s4h
urgency is high to build the pot now against this merged range. huge EV loss to not raise.
Case B
Mixed Raise on unpaired/multitone facing B75 BB vs BU
KhJh4d w/ 4h4c
more polarized range will put in money for you, don’t get their air to fold
Case C
Mixed Raise on Paired Flop facing R33 BB vs BU
JhJc7d w/ 7h7c
incredibly polarizing flop. normally on multitone texture 77 would be a raise, paired flops are exception. Villain is incredibly polarized by this flop. While a jack is unblocked by our hand, so too are the bluffs in villains range that will fire future streets at high frequency. Hand has polarizing blockers, meaning we block hands that hands that would only invest by calling, so very likely we will face aggression in a checkback line.
Case D
Mixed Raise on Monotone Textures facing B33 BB vs BU
Tc6c4c w/ A5cc
Most of range that calls you has a club, but villain won’t just bluff only clubs on turn so you block villains future air bluffs.
Flop X/R
What do we do with Thick Value Region after raise gets called on:
a) Wet Turns
b) Dry Turns
(Cobra’s Rule)
a) Wet Turns give the check-raiser a big RA, but equalize the NA. So bet frequently w/ small sizing.
b) Dry Turns give the caller a RA, but preserve the raise’s NA since the higher EV draws have bricked but they still have medium hands. So bet very big or go for snake in the grass w/ check-raise
BB vs BU
As9s4d- X,R33,R4x,C
Compare following turns:
7h (dry/3tone)
2s (wet/2tone)
7h-
IP is largely ahead rangewise, causing OOP to have to check-fold a lot. but they have nut advantage.
MIX check (checkraise) and B120.
Region 1 which unblock villains calling range will pure bet, just as it pure raised flop. like 4s4h.
With blockers to calling range Region will will have as much EV by checking, like Ah9d.
2s OOP largely ahead, but NA for IP.
simplify to B33. Our range is MERGED and POWERFUL now (as opposed to polarized and air-heavy)
Our Region 1 hands have now become much thinner value bets (like 4h4s). this set can turn into boat as well!
Flop X/R
- Thin Value Region
How does it raise in following situations
a) vs merged range
b) vs polarized range
c) vs B33 paired
d) vs B33 monotone
Thin Value region has less urgency to build pot. Always mix call/raise regardless of texture.
a) raise then don’t barrel off large if called, check or go small later.
b) Much less raising vs bigger sizing as our range deploys less raise frequency. thin value hands raise w/ similar frequency to global frequency.
c) mid freq for denial
d) not often, focus on removing continues/ unblocking bluffs
Case A facing R33 BB vs BU
As9s4d w/ A8hh raises like 20%
great to unblock diamonds here as a sidenote
raise then don’t barrel off large if called, check or go small later.
Villain range betting, they must continue lots of weak/merged hands.
Case B facing B75 BB vs BU
KhJh4d w/ Ks7s raises like 9%
Much less raising vs bigger sizing as our range deploys less raise frequency.
Raises to get called by worse, or for denial against Ax or gutters for instance
here thin value hands raise w/ similar frequency to global frequency. (high EV bluffs, hybrids, low EV bluffs often bet way more than global)
Case C
facing R33 BB vs BU
JhJc7d w/ 9s9d raises about 50%
Denial is biggest role here, as long as we don’t get out of line later.
Case D
Facing B33 BB vs BU
Tc7c4c w/ 64ss raises about 12%
Not often so we don’t want to do this all the time.
Again removing continues and unblocking bluffs
How Thin Value Hands React to Different Turns
BB vs BU
JhJc7d- X,R33,4x,C
compare turns
a) 4s
b) Td
Cobra still applies.
a) dry turn bets larger and less often
b) wet turn bets smaller and often but mixing check.
a) 4s lets us remain far more polarized than villain but his range is still quite polarized given Jx is so much better than all other regions.
MIX B75 and CHECK
Hands like 9s9d (that were Tier 2 or 3) now drop to Tier 4.
b) Td. He the polarization gap closes and the cobra insists we bet smaller. Not such a great turn that we can range bet though.
MIX B33 and CHECK
Hand like 9s9d becomes a Hybrid.
Flop X/R
- High EV Bluff Region
How does it raise in following situations
a) vs merged range
b) vs polarized range
c) vs B33 paired
d) vs B33 monotone
High EV bluffs are already very high EV, so can be seen as value-bluff hybrids
a) raise a lot (technically value)
b) raise quite a bit but not as much as they put $ in for you
c) HIGH EV BLUFFS RAISE MOST ON PAIRED
d) raises mid-low freq and can raise later too
Case A
facing R33 BB vs BU
As9s4d w/ Qs8s about 80% of time
Hands entitled to majority of pot are value raises- these ones just get very useful fold equity
Case B
facing B75 BB vs BU
KhJh4d w/ A6hh about 40% of time
Again overal raise frequency is lower so this hand is actually far above the mean global freq.
Case C
facing R33 BB vs BU
JhJc7d w/ Th9h near 100% of time
We have more raised on paired boards than any other rough texture. Some high EV draws become pure raises under these conditions. Global raise range on this board is high too, as you’re facing range bet and easy to have random J
Case D
facing B33 BB vs BU
Tc6c4c w/ Kc9s near 25% of time
Again our pot entitlement makes this a literal value-bluff. Can raise later too.
How High EV Bluffs React to Different Turns
BB vs BU
KhJh4d- X,B75,4x,C
How are different turns played?
a) 2c
b) Qh
a) when we suffer this brick turn card our range is now in unfavorable world. Mix 75 and Check
Note: due to larger flop c-bet no need to overbet despite large NA
We have a low global betting frequency here so even this hand checks frequently (30ish%)
b) Qh brings in flush and straights so we’re now in highly favorable world where solver bets range.
Solver chooses 34% B75 and 66% B33, 0% check.
We can simplify to 100% B33 w/ almost no EV loss.
Flop X/R
- Hybrid Region
How does it raise in following situations
a) vs merged range
b) vs polarized range
c) vs B33 paired
d) vs B33 monotone
Marginal made hands which benefit a lot from fold equity and retain decent equity when their raise is called.
More vulnerable these are and the weaker they play as calls, the more often they will opt to raise.
a) raise a lot
b) raise quite a bit still
c) raise quite a bit
d) can raise small freq
Case A
facing R33 BB vs BU
As9s4d w/ 43hh raises near 80% of time
Fold equity is fully denial based, no element of bluffing yet but could change on turn.
Case B
facing B75 BB vs BU
KhJh4d w/ Ad4s raises near 50% of time
This hand unblocks a lot of Villain’s bet/folds. 4 doesn’t interact with much and the Ad doesn’t really either. But we would not raise Qs4s as it is not overpair to board.
Case C
facing R33 BB vs BU
JhJc7d w/ 2s2c raises near 45% of time.
Again elements of value w/ huge spread of denial. Our range is most polarized here. Villain is meant to call a bunch of unpaired hands here so denial is huge.
Case D
facing B33 BB vs BU
Tc6c4c w/ 6d5d
Again lower kicker makes hand vulnerable enough to hybrid raise.
Flop Hybrids on Turn after Raise
BB vs BU
Tc6c4c- X,R33,4x,C
How are different turns played?
a) Jh (brick turn)
b) 2c (wet turn)
a) brick turns can continue to bluff as they unblock a lot of folding range.
b) wet turns disaster to continue bluffing (BU has best big cards/overpairs to make flushes)
a) neutral spot but our hand plummets in EV further.
Hybrids oftem become useful bluffs (tier 6) on worsening cards for their equity as this hand now unblocks a lot of Villain’s folding range.
6d5d would raise about 45% of the time. (neutral world where low EV bluffs can bluff sometimes)
b) BU has monopoly on offsuit big cards and overpairs, so actually is a disaster for BB range of low flushes and lower EV bluffs (33% OOP EV)
This spot is so unfavorable Tier 6-7 must be given up and this hand is certainly no Tier 5 bluff.
Flop X/R
- Low EV Bluffs
How does it raise in following situations
a) vs merged range
b) vs polarized range
c) vs B33 paired
d) vs B33 monotone
Low EV bluffs usually close to 0EV and indifferent between call/fold/raise. May even be losing calls but breakeven/winning raises
Low robustness but some distant nut potential.
If these 3 things are true, you want to raise instead of call
1) Pot odds are bad
2) OOP so less future fold equity
3) hand is frail and not surviving in terms of SDV
Case A
facing R33 BB vs BU
As9s4d w/ T8dd raises near 10%, calls like 55%, folds rest.
Two backdoors alone are barely enough to break even vs even a range bet. Profitable riving bluffing opportunities when they check back turn. Not just backdoors here but also pair draws.
Case B
facing B75 BB vs BU
KhJh4d w/ Th9d raises near 40%, folds otherwise
Illustrating that raise can be better than call. Raises way more than global frequency as a hand here.
If these 3 things are true, you want to raise instead of call
1) Pot odds are bad
2) OOP so less future fold equity
3) hand is frail and not surviving in terms of SDV
Case C
facing R33 BB vs BU
JhJc7d w/ Kh5h raises near 4-5% and folds rest
Would not raise 6c5c since 6 not high enough of pair to be worth it.
Case D
facing B33 BB vs BU
Tc6c4c w/ 6d5d raises near 40% and calls rest.
We stay away from backdoors here as they are just too insignificant on monotone boards.
Flop X/R
How to play Low EV bluffs on turn after raise gets called?
(Judgmental Crow’s Rule)
Having raised the flop, do not bluff again with low EV bluffs that missed on a neutral or unfavorable turn card. The fact that
a) villain called
b) unfavorable turn
means you should give up a lot with huge deficit in fold equity and nothing going on with your hand! (kinda like turn probe opportunities where board favors PFR where BB should just give up a lot)
Judgemental Crow says “Were you thinking of bluffing just there? Were you? That’s a horrible blunder, you idiot”
Don’t pile money in spots with air when spot is unfavorable for you.
Case A
BB vs BU
As9s4d- X,R33,4x,C
Kc- ?
T8dd checks always. OOP EV is 40% so highly unfavorable world so can’t choose T8dd as bluff.
What 3 elements make raise way better than call against a flop cbet?
If these 3 things are true, you want to raise instead of call
1) Pot odds are bad
2) OOP so less future fold equity
3) hand is frail and not surviving in terms of SDV
Catching System
What do the following hands do against B150, B75, B33?
Value Beaters
Bluff Catcher A (Good)
Bluff Catcher B (Average)
Bluff Catcher C (Bad)
Frail Hands (not always folded)
Don’t just look at hand against specific sizing! Make sure to be elastic to have a good defense frequency.
Value Beaters call all bets
Catcher A (Good) mixes call vs B150, calls all rest
Catcher B (Average) mixes call vs B75, calls vs B33, folds vs B150
Catcher C (Bad) mixes call against B33, folds against B75 & B150
Frail Hand folds against all.
Bluffcatching Counterintuitive Defense!
SB vs HJ 3bet Pot
Kd4s3c- R33,C
4c- B60, C
4d- B67(all in), ?
Which hand would you rather call with?
99 or QQ?
Remember you want to unblock bluffs when bluffcatching!
QQ blocks AQ which is large portion of bluffs.
99 does not block bluffs.
A bluff catching spot often requires counterintuitive defense
Many lower absolute hand strength combos have higher calling EV than combos of higher absolute hand strength.
99 has 0.5bb call EV since it doesn’t block bluffs.
QQ has -2.1bb call EV as it blocks a lot of bluffs! Don’t be fooled. QQ blocks a lot of AQo
How does relative hand strength change when bluffcatching in regards to the following? Meaning to we call more or less in the following situations?
a) wet runouts
b) dry runouts
(Mantis Theorem)
a) Fold more on wetter textures & when ranges are tight.
b) Defend well on dry textures when ranges are wide.
Bluffcatching:
DOWNGRADE HANDS FOR WETNESS
UPGRADE HANDS FOR DRYNESS
Triple Barrel Opportunities
What happens on a blank river like this? What’s the world favorability?
CO vs BU 3Bet pot
Td9h4c x-b33-c
4d x-b60-c
2c x-(b117 or x?)
these worlds are usually SLIGHTLY UNFAVORABLE since condensed range prefers blank runouts.
To reach triple barrel, our range is significantly polarized and villain’s is heavily condensed
blank river, we tend to arrive w/ large range disadvantage but large nut advantage. only we have a large batch of hands that are entitled to way more than pot in EV
Button mostly had a bunch of tier 1 hands, and tier 4 hands in the middle.
rest of range is a large majority of bluff tier hands!
Plotting the bluff tiers.
What do we do with the bluff tiers in triple barrel node?
Tier 5 Slightly winning
Tier 6 0EV
Tier 7 Losing Bluffs
e.g.
CO vs BU 3Bet pot
Td9h4c x-b33-c
4d x-b60-c
2c x-(b117 or x?)
Tier 5 Slightly winning bluffs MUST BET
Tier 6 0EV bluffs MIX
Tier 7 Losing Bluffs MUST CHECK
Tier 7 is garbage at bottom, tier 6 is just above, tier 5 is near middle and close to SDV, then Tier 4 is SDV
Tier 5 Winning QJhh (check is 0 EV and b117 is 16.68EV)
Tier 6 Breakeven KcJd (check is 0EV and b117 is -0.10EV)
Tier 7 Losing KdJd (check is 0 EV and b117 is -9.59)
KdJd has bad blockers!
Triple Barrel Opportunity/ 3bet Pot/ IP/ Dry Runout
HEURISTIC?
e.g.CO vs BU 3Bet pot
Td9h4c x-b33-c
4d x-b60-c
2c x-(b117 or x?)
Tier 5- Positive combo of right suits to block TP and unblock high SDV busted draws that get to river and fold
Tier 6- A neutral combination of above factors.
Tier 7- negative combination of above factors.
Triple Barrel Opportunity/ 3Bet Pot/ IP/ Wet Highly Unfavorable Runout
HEURISTIC?
SB vs BB
9h7h4c x-b33-c
Kd x-b70-c
Th x-(b87 or X?)
WET BLANKET’S RULE:
It is a horrific blunder to bluff without very positive blockers on wet unfavorable runouts.
Spot: Triple Barrel Opportunity/ 3Bet Pot/ IP/ Wet Highly Unfavorable Runout
Tier 5: Nothing should be winning in these spots as fold equity is below pot odds norm
Tier 6: Very Best Bluffs will always block the newly completed nuts
Tier 7: Everything else
Tier 5? No such combos here
Tier 6? Ah3d is breakeven even w/ great blockers
Tier 7? Jc5c is HUGE blunder to bet.
et
BB is in really unfavorable world where his best bluffs break even. BB doesn’t make many flushes bc preflop defence range is loaded w/ Axs and suited broadways.
Places People Under-Protect Their Checking Range
Name 6
a) Flop IP in 3BP
(should check OP sometimes allows OOP to probe too effectively)
b) Float Flop in 2BP
(checking back w/ top pair gets SB to lead bad hands on turn that would’ve check-folded flop)
c) Turn Barrel OOP in 3BP
(a lot of check-jam, when cbet’s been called OOP you lose RA so you want to check a lot, now some hands are not good enough to bluff w/ now due to meh world. IP will then do small bet for thin value/denial when checked to and we check-raise for value & semi-bluff)
d) Turn Float Bet After Call X/R in 2BP
(Natural instinct after calling x/r to bet when checked to, shouldn’t so you avoid x/r on turn as well as realize more equity against villain’s top part of range. Wait til next street to take stab so don’t reopen action)
(also if you have good top pair, you may be tempted to stab IP when OOP checks turn having x/r flop but you can make $ against villain’s hands that bet later)
e) Turn Delayed C-bet in 2BP
(slowplay w/ top pair weak kickers this is pretty standard)
f) Turn Probe (must protect checking range as OOP, x/r is just as good as overbetting now for value. don’t always check weak hands)
What is more important when defending unpaired hands in 3bet pots, bigger cards or backdoor potential?
Brute’s Rule: Bigger cards more important when defending unpaired hands in 3bet pots.
When defending the flop with unpaired hands (either by calling or raising) favor those with bigger cards. Making 1 pair and dominating a large region of Villain’s cbetting range is far more important than backdoor potential.
e.g.
CO vs BU 3bet pot
3h3s2s x-b60-?
T9hh loses -2.6bb EV
JThh loses -1.9BB EV
QJhh loses -1.4BB EV
KQcc doesn’t lose. 0EV
(KQcc looks like an ogre on this 2tone board w/ no bdfd, but it’s the best you have to defend here of the hands above)
(since your backdoor draw won’t get there very often you need frontdoor draw to be great)
(implied odds and reverse implied odds are huge here)
Facing Range Bets/ Pot Odds Norm & Texture
Facing R33,
e.g.
CO vs BU 3bet pot
For Following Boards
1) KsQh8h
2) AsTh7s
3) Qs5h4d
4) Ks2d2c
5) JhJd6c
Match following frequencies as defender.
a) Raise40 38%, Call 52%, Fold 10%
b) Raise40 0%, Call 37%, Fold 63%
c) Raise40 16%, Call 28%, Fold 56%
d) Raise40 8%, Call 64%, Fold 27%
e) Raise40 43, Call 6%, Fold 51%
(look at fold frequencies)
Solution (got em mostly right! and really close answers):
1) c. Raise40 16%, Call 28%, Fold 56%
2) e Raise40 43%, Call 6%, Fold 51%
3) a Raise40 38%, Call 52%, Fold 10%
4) b Raise40 0%, Call 37%, Fold 63%
5) d Raise40 8%, Call 64%, Fold 27%
against range bet.
1) bad for our range but we have polarization, bottom is 66-99 not including 88, top is KQ or 88. how often you raise is not equity v equity, but if we have tier 1 region. if we have tier 1, we can raise it and add bluffs. not exploitable, it’s OK to have capped range and do this (OK to have capped ranges in GTO, e.g. it’s ok to raise a set in SRP and leave calling range capped, esp. OOP)
2) same range vs range equity, here BU is blasting merged range into pretty polar CO, that’s why raise so much here in addition to CO OOP and can’t close action on turn when they call here so realization on later streets is poor. when CO raises in this spot, BU is not 3betting a lot since CO is polarized when doing so.
3) board is good for CO range since so many Q. so raise this a lot and call a lot. all AQ here since AQo is supposed to call often. 99, TT, JJ got destroyed. Defend a lot against range bet.
4) this board has no sets for CO. QQ, JJ, TT, all got leapfrogged and all the air in CO range (primarily queens) is not good here. no raising at all since paired board makes 2 pair outs of unpaired hands and backdoors much worse (no live runner runner two pair draws against AA) and K is not present much in CO range. no sets possible for CO either! that’s why no raising too. don’t defend MDF here.
5) not as bad, we catch up a little bit on NA and RA, problem is we don’t hit J often since we tend to 4bet bluff or 4bet w/ JJ or Jx. Big nut disadvantage. BU has AA-QQ, even offsuit Jx which makes J more prevalent in their range. but their unpaired broadways miss out and we still overfold compared to MDF.
Worse a flop is, more we fold. Look for how much folding vs MDF.
my guess:
1) e
2) c
3) a
4) b
5) d
Defending 3bet Pots
What type of hands do we raise against range bet
a) Neutral Boards?
b) Unfavorable boards?
a) Thick Value- AQcc is mixed raise
Thin Value- QJdd is mixed raise
High EV Bluffs- 76cc is mandatory (combining OOP w/ frail hand without SDV, if we call struggle to continue later since SPR won’t be big enough for bluff shove w/ just OESD and bad realizability.
Hybrids- 7h7d (texturally dependent. more overly merged opponent is compared to how they should be, more you get away with hybrid raising. fold equity against 99 for instance, raising for value if villain cals w/ AK or Ax bdfd
Low EV bluffs- JTss (must bluff these to remain indifferent. don’t shirk away from this)
b) all we need are some Tier 1 value holdings in our range to go ahead and bluff raise, OOP this becomes necessary.
Defending 3bet Pots
What type of hands do we raise against range bet
a) Neutral Boards?
b) Unfavorable boards?
a) Thick Value- AQcc is mixed raise
Thin Value- QJdd is mixed raise
High EV Bluffs- 76cc is mandatory (combining OOP w/ frail hand without SDV, if we call struggle to continue later since SPR won’t be big enough for bluff shove w/ just OESD and bad realizability.
Hybrids- 7h7d (texturally dependent. more overly merged opponent is compared to how they should be, more you get away with hybrid raising. fold equity against 99 for instance, raising for value if villain cals w/ AK or Ax bdfd
Low EV bluffs- JTss (must bluff these to remain indifferent. don’t shirk away from this)
b) all we need are some Tier 1 value holdings in our range to go ahead and bluff raise, OOP this becomes necessary.
Raising on Unfavorable Boards/ Range Construction OOP 3bet pots
What changes then, when we’re constructing raising range on a less pretty flop for our range?
CO vs BU 3bet pot
KsQh8h x-r33-?
Think of examples of each of 5 raise categories on this flop?
Thick Value-
Thin Value-
High EV Bluffs-
Hybrid-
Low EV Bluffs-
Thick Value- 88 (raising limits EV for villain)
Thin Value- KTdd (has same frequency as range around 10-15%)
High EV Bluffs- JTss (ayy got it right. has HUGE EV tho so not rly bluff lol)
Hybrid- QJdd (10-15% raise frequency, raises same amount as range)
Low EV Bluffs- A8dd (also has global raise frequency of 10-15%. don’t feel great about raising this, relies mostly on fold equity)
usually Low EV Bluffs, Thin Value, and Hybrids raise same as global frequency.
Note we raise less on boards where villain isn’t really range betting.
My guess:
Thick Value- KQ
Thin Value- KJ
High EV Bluffs- JTss
Hybrid- 77
Low EV Bluffs- 76dd
Donking on favorable boards OOP defender 3bet pots
CO vs BU 3bet pot
7s6s5d very favorable to donk (CO EV 64%)- donks 100%
8h7d5d favorable to donk (CO EV 59%)- donks 65%
9h8h4d semi-favorable (CO EV 57%)- donks 35%
Why do we donk here?
solver doesn’t think of “initiative”
Don’t let live hands in BU range like A2ss check back and realize equity.
Don’t routinely check flops like 765tt or 875tt
if not betting entire range OOP, you are playing a mixed polarized strategy where you split between slowplaying and fastplaying your best hands.
Jamming Turns OOP defender 3bet pots
CO vs BU 3bet pot
9s8s4c x-b60-c
5d x-b60-?
In repolarizing turn jam spots we have 3 types of shove. Name a hand in each category and talk about why?
Thick Value
High EV Bluffs
Hybrids
After we call flop cbet OOP, Turn SPR is usually 2.5-3.5
When villain double barrels, SPR reduces to 1.5-2.
(all solver cares about is SPR)
Jamming is a very natural play against these bets- we risk relatively little to gain denial in a large pot. (can’t do this with middle of the range as it’s polarization error)
Thick Value- 5s5h
massive pot entitlement, go ahead. slowplay more w/ bigger hands in absolute terms, and fastplay more flimsy strong hands right away.
High EV Bluffs- JThh
call or jam, jamming more natural.
Hybrids (don’t try at home til good)- 8s7s is mandatory. value, denial, bluff. not much bluffage here.
We are not inclined to jam median hands like TsTd! big mistake to raise.
Call-Only Turn Strategies OOP defender 3bet pot
In general when do we call only?
CO vs BU 3bet pot
9s8s4c x-b60-c
5d x-b60-?
When board texture makes equities run further apart, denial will be smaller part of picture.
Look out for PAIRED TURNS where villain’s range is much more polar and our range more condensed.
here our Tier 1 hands do not benefit from denial (in fact they suffer from it) and our semi-bluffs are doing much worse against Villain’s bet/call range.
Why does unfavorable world encourage not bluffing with very low EV bluffs?
Fold equity is way less against advantaged villain here. You don’t bluff your low EV bluffs in unfavorable worlds, because you put those in your check-fold range to strengthen your betting range.
In a delayed c-bet opportunity like the following, does range advantage belong to IP or OOP?
BU vs BB
AsTsTd X-X (BU has before check 57% equity)
3h
Range advantage remains with IP as checking behind is mildly condensing.
Note: this is not a node for IP.
Global betting frequency is determined by what?
Range advantage.
Bet sizing is determined by what?
Nute advantage.
EV is much higher than equity for IP in delayed cbet line for which reason?
- positional advantage
- nut advantage
BU vs BB
AsTsTd X-X (BU has 57% equity)
3h X-?
Delayed c-betting, what is the favorability like and what strategy/size do we choose to bet?
Situation is highly favorable and able to even bet 86s at some frequency. in less favorable spots these low EV hands will be pure check. MAKE SURE TO BLUFF A LOT OF AIR IN FAVORABLE WORLDS
Is a turn barrel IP a favorable spot? Is fold equity higher or lower than pot odds norm here?
BU vs BB
AsTsTd X-B-C (BU has 57% equity)
3h X-?
spot IP EV= 52.6% of pot- slightly favorable
Pot odds norm is 42% fold equity, the fold 44% which is close. No abundance of fold equity we do not bluff the very worst candidates often like Jd5d, Qd4d
do bluff reasonable candidates like 9h6h.
Monotone flop, do you want to bet big?
No, neutral flop. Not too polarized compared to each other, so you bet small.
Four straight board BU vs BB
5s4s3d X-B33-C
6h X-?
who’s more polarized?
small bets since BB more polarized and BTN is not in favorable world
Paired Board BU vs BB
Js9d7c X-B33-C
9h X-?
Who’s more polarized?
BU still more polarized even though nut advantage not as good anymore due to turn but we still have overpairs, betting medium bet size since nut advantage is still good enough.
Nut advantage still so go larger, more frequently. can’t bet giant.
Flush turn and paired turn reduce nut advantage by similar margin.
What types of turns reduce polarization gap for IP cbettor by a similar margin? e.g. in BU vs BB double barrel spot
Paired or flush turns Flush turn and paired turn reduce polarization gap by similar margin.
big bets but not overbets as a result since not HUGE nut advantage.
