Controlling Pot Size - What am I Doing Wrong?

**Mr.McJ** · 10-30-2006

Something I'm trying to work on is controlling pot size. I'm trying to avoid building big pots with vulnerable hands, hands like top pair. It seems like everytime I try and keep the pot small, however, I wind up getting sucked out on.

What am I doing wrong? Am I just getting unlucky? Should I have bet the turn in hopes of being checked to on the river? I decided not to here because I was afraid of a check raise but in doing so I gave my opponent a free card to beat me, something that seems to happen often in these situations.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed)

MP2 ($47.50)
CO ($52)
Button ($76.30)
SB ($110.15)
BB ($30)
UTG ($88.25)
UTG+1 ($37.45)
Hero ($50.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with

,

.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2, MP2 calls $2, CO calls $2, 3 folds, UTG+1 calls $1.50.

Flop: ($8.75)

,

(4 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $5, MP2 folds, CO folds, UTG+1 calls $5.

Turn: ($18.75)

(2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($18.75)

(2 players)
UTG+1 bets $5, Hero calls $5.

Final Pot: $28.75

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has Td Ks (straight, king high).
Hero has Ac Kd (one pair, kings).
Outcome: UTG+1 wins $28.75.

**OrionPro** · 10-30-2006

Not much you can do here. Some ideas, though-

1) pf raise to 2.50
2) bet closer to the pot on the flop

**Mr.McJ** · 10-30-2006

I don't like my call on the river, either. What can I beat?
I'm such a payoff wizard, sometimes. lol.

**OrionPro** · 10-30-2006

Mandatory call. He might think you have nothing the way the hand was played.

BTW that's the huge advantage if you play this way. They make a monster, but since you never really bet, they either check the river or make a smallish value bet, praying to get called or even raised. I think I made a fortune in terms of Sklansky$ already by checking behind with top pair when a danger card hit on the river.

**xxdemexx** · 10-30-2006

AK is crap in multiway pots.

The preflop is fine but you got too many callers.. There could be all sorts of trips and draws out there.

This is not your fault - if ppl have cards nowadays - they will play them.

He could have put you on QQ, JJ at the flop - and his outs built up..

Multiway in this position I'm tending to check the flop - keep the pot size small.. If someone hits later the pot is too small to recover through implied odds.. If they hit the set on the flop they are unlikely to get 10x the initial pot with a check on the flop..

One on one I'm taking it down on the flop... but with a couple of ppl in youre very vulnerable..

**Mr.McJ** · 10-30-2006

Originally Posted by DaFish

Mandatory call. He might think you have nothing the way the hand was played.

Mandatory call? You think? What do I beat here?
68 / K8 / K2-K6 / A9 / 22-66 / 88

Do we really put the villain on any of those hands?

**OrionPro** · 10-30-2006

You're right McJ. I forgot to actually assign possible hand ranges to villian.

**OrionPro** · 10-30-2006

Originally Posted by xxdemexx

AK is crap in multiway pots.

True...

Originally Posted by xxdemexx

The preflop is fine but you got too many callers.. There could be all sorts of trips and draws out there.

I tend to disagree. Sure trips are a danger, but this is a good flop for AK. No flush draw...by betting the pot SD hands cannot call, at least if we check/fold the other streets

**Pinguaq** · 10-30-2006

This is a good thread, and great example hand. Thanks for the information... all three of you.

**AP16** · 10-30-2006

i think you played it correctly. but then again if this playe rwas pretty conservative then he may have had something better than a king. if not then i thin kyou just got unlucky

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