What to do with 2 pair?

[charlton49]

Ok, so this happened early within the first orbit of a tourney over the weekend. Everyone started with T5000 chips, and Hero is in the BB with K4o. Blinds are at 25/50, there are 3 limpers (including Villain from MP), and the two buttons.

Flop comes: AK4, flush draw

Action is checked to Villain, who bets 200. There is one caller, and Hero raises to T750

Villain hesitates, then calls, the other player folds.

Turn is a 6, no flush still.

What's Hero's move?

On what range of hands do you put Villain?

[Chipless Wonder]

What is Hero's hand, or did I miss that?

[charlton49]

What is Hero's hand, or did I miss that?

Oops! Thanks for the catch, Scott! Just edited my original post.

[Chipless Wonder]

First off, let me say that I really like how you played this so far. Your check was nice for a few reasons. With several players, there's a good likelihood that someone will bet and maybe even call before it gets back to you in the big blind. And I like your large check-raise because it should end the draws.

What's Hero's move?

I definitely think it's time to lead out on the turn. There's now 1,650 in the pot, so I'd probably bet somewhere between 800 and 1,600 depending on my opponent. He got check-raised by you on the flop, so a smaller bet might be best here. It would also increase your fold equity if he raises you all-in or something radical like that.

On what range of hands do you put Villain?

I'm only afraid of two hands here. Pocket fours are the scariest because I don't know how I'm getting away from them now. A-4 for a higher two pair has to be taken into consideration, but that seems pretty unlikely since you have a four.

There are some other hands in his range that I'm not afraid of. Obviously the flush draw is most likely, but that's OK because we're making him make mistakes calling our bets to get there, and we should have some sort of feel for whether he makes it or not depending on the river card and his reaction to it.

I think the other hands in his range are A-Q, A-J, A-10, A-9, A-8, A-7, A-5, A-3 or A-2. These are the hands I want him to have, so I hope this opponent is someone who I know likes to limp with those hands.

[Lefty]

I put the "villain" on a weak Ace (A-9 or less) or a middle range type flush draw. I think anything A-10 or higher, he would have raised preflop. A suited "sort-of" connector (10-8) might also be a "limpable" hand for this guy to have and lead out with on the flop. I think a weak Ace is most likely.

[Lefty]

I would lead out on the turn for at least $1000-1400 (since betting 1000 has more oomph than betting anything in triple digits) and that should hopefully better define his hand. A bet near $1000 does not pot-commit you if he raises all-in (that sure would be tough to fold, though).

[charlton49]

Good insight so far. Well, on the turn, I bet T-1200, and got another hesitant call.

River is a 10, no flush.

First to act, what's your play?

[Lefty]

I'm pretty torn at this point (maybe b/c this is a hand posted on a message board, so the guy probably backdoored Aces up on the turn or river or Broadway on the river).

You've invest $2k out of your 5k starting stack and the pot is a little over 4k. Any bet you make practically prices you in to call off your stack if he reraises you all in, unless your you feel like he just became super strong on the river card, that all hope is lost, and fold.

Would a check by you lead to him bluffing you out of a pot if he raises all-in? Tough to say what I'd do, but at the same time, if he had a strong enough hand to beat you, I would expect him to value bet rather than raise all in. An all-in bet may actually be comforting if you check initially.

In the end, if he outdrew you, he's going to raise any river bet you make and you will be pot committed and call off your stack. If you check and he outdrew you, there's a reasonable chance that he'll only make a value bet and you can call that bet and still have some chips to make a miraculous comeback.

If you still have the winning hand and bet, he will likely go away, but may make a crying call with a pair of Aces. If you check the winning hand, he may check it down and you win, or make an all-in bluff which you could call (with your fingers crossed that he is bluffing, or fold if your Spidey sense is really tingling).

I think I take the wuss route and hope for the check-check or check-call.

[Lefty]

My guess is the punchline of the hand was he had Q-J suited (same suit of the flop flush draw), backdoored Broadway, and then backdoored Charlton with it.

[charlton49]

My guess is the punchline of the hand was he had Q-J suited (same suit of the flop flush draw), backdoored Broadway, and then backdoored Charlton with it.

Hahaha. Mr. Broderick, you're a dirty wanker.