Level One - Julian Thew & Surinder Sunar
Level Two - Julian Thew & Surinder Sunar
Level Three - Jerome Bradpiece & James Mitchell
Level Four - Jerome Bradpiece & James Mitchell
History: We’ve been quiet for the last few orbits, the loss of the blinds meaning our stack has dropped to 17,000. Former GUKPT champion Marc Goodwin recently joined the table, but has been equally quiet. He has 16,000 and is seated directly to our right. The rest of the table are solid, but not aggressive.
The blinds are 150/300 and you are in middle position.
Goodwin raises to 900.
You look down at 6h-5h.
What’s your move? Have you played with Goodwin before? What do you know about him as a player that might assist us in the hand?
Kevin says:
“I would call here. I haven't played Goodwin before but from what a few mates have told me regarding his play he often plays pretty tight, but when the moment’s right and the blinds start to increase, he does change gears, like all good poker players do.”
Chaz says:
“I’ve played with Goodwin a few times and I know he has a wide opening range. In this situation you could three-bet, fold or just flat call. I like flat calling in order to hit a big flop and win a big pot.”
You call.
Flop: 3c-4d-6s.
Pot = 2,250, You = 16,100, Goodwin = 15,100
Goodwin bets 1,000.
What’s Your Move? Why do you think Goodwin has bet so small?
Kevin says:
“When you call raises with hands like 6-5 of hearts and the flop comes 3c-4d-6s, you have to be willing to go with the hand or otherwise it’s totally pointless in calling raises with these hands in the first place. You also have to have a back up plan if you don't hit, like sometimes floating or reraising air, just calling to hit is a huge leak. Goodwin’s bet is slightly smaller than normal; usually players continuation bet around two thirds of the pot. As he has only bet a suspicious 1,000 I would just flat call.”
Chaz says:
Goodwin is a tricky player so his small bet could mean a number of things: it could be a monster or it could be a complete bluff. It’s more likely he has missed the flop and is just putting out a standard continuation bet, so I would usually raise and then reevaluate if he shows resistance.
You call.
Turn: 5c.
Pot = 4,250, You = 15,100, Goodwin = 14,100.
Goodwin checks.
What’s your move? Do you consider this turn to be a bad or good card for you?
Kevin says:
“The turn is gin, there are very few hands that Goodwin would have raised in early/mid position that would have made a straight or a set. I would bet the turn hoping to find Goodwin with an overpair.”
Chaz says:
"I think it’s a good card and putting out a standard three quarter pot bet will usually take down the pot."
You bet 2,825.
Goodwin calls.
River: Jh.
Pot = 9,900, You = 12,275, Goodwin = 11,275
Goodwin checks.
What’s your move? What range of hands do we put Goodwin on?
Kevin says:
“I'm now pretty certain Goodwin has an overpair so I would value bet the river for around 4,400, against some players (calling stations) I would value shove the river, but against Goodwin I would just price him in.”
Chaz says:
It feels like Goodwin has an overpair so betting on the river for value isn’t too bad but as I mentioned he is quite tricky so him checking with a straight or set is also a possibility which makes checking behind another option. What I do would depend on how the situation feels at the time but value betting half the pot seems good.
The Reveal:
Goodwin called, and did indeed have an overpair in the shape of aces.