Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em

In my head, I think I have a sense of this section. I understand that balancing your plays (in general) makes you tougher to figure out, and has a substantial impact on your win rate… I get that.

I'm having a hard time understanding what is meant though, overall, as it relates to this section, and the concept of polarizing. (I've also tried to read other forum posts on it, but again: somewhere in there I get confused by what they mean. Can someone explain, in poker scenarios.)

Polarizing, generally… is when your actions can be classified (narrowed down) to opposite categories (i.e. nuts/air). Correct? The moral being, you need to mix in (with the nuts, and air) other hands of varying strength, when it comes to value-betting.

…I don't know …I just feel like I'm missing something in this

Post edited 7:52 pm – July 12, 2009 by Sh0e
Post edited 7:53 pm – July 12, 2009 by Sh0e

Sunny Mehta said:

 Can you give an example of a hand you played recently where you had an interesting river decision?

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Sunny,

(*BTW, sorry–hand history doesn't come out. I will try and figure how/where to post hands on this site. Til then, please bear with me. Thx)

Here is a hand where I tried/failed 3-barreling bluff. I'm not sure if you can analyze it as it applies to this concept, but it was a situation where I had an interesting river decision.

 

The opponent was 23/6 over about 200 hands… seemingly straightforward player (other relevant stats: AF ~3, AF% 44, fold CB 63.

I was running 23/16, been sitting for a while, 3B 6%… I will admit that I was feeling my oats a bit; reading hands pretty well (multi-tabling), and had a couple earlier barreling episodes on other tables. So I was feeling good.

It's not standard for me to 3B K9s either, but it is something I will do in POS.  Thoughts of mine–I'll insert in the hand. Thx for reading.

No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) – [url=http://poker-tools.flopturnriver.com/Hand-Converter.php]Hold'em Manager[/url] Converter Tool from [url=http://www.flopturnriver.com]FlopTurnRiver.com[/url]

MP ($50)
CO ($138.65)
Hero (Button) ($53.60)
SB ($13.50)
BB ($63.45)
UTG ($98.80)

[b]Preflop[/b]: Hero is Button with K[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif[/img], 9[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif[/img]
[color=#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP calls $0.50, [color=#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $2.25[/color], [color=#666666][i]2 folds[/i][/color], MP calls $1.75

[b]Flop[/b]: ($5.25) J[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/heart.gif[/img], J[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif[/img], Q[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif[/img] [color=#009B00](2 players)[/color]
MP checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $3.50[/color], MP calls $3.50

Flop certainly deserves a CB; I don't know how much I expect him to fold, but any small, med-pair would be hard-pressed to call all the way. I did think this would be a case where I would need to barrel to win.

[b]Turn[/b]: ($12.25) 2[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/diamond.gif[/img] [color=#009B00](2 players)[/color]
MP checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $7.50[/color], MP calls $7.50

Turn is blank; normally (when I barrel and turn is blank… I tend to check behind, and tend to fire when scare cards come). But on a paired board like this, sometimes I think I can fold his little pairs, etc. Clearly this is the type of hand I put him on (and I thought AK as well).

[b]River[/b]: ($27.25) 7[img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/club.gif[/img] [color=#009B00](2 players)[/color]
MP checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $18.50[/color], [color=#CC3333]MP raises $36.75 (All-In)[/color], [color=#666666][i]Hero folds[/i][/color]

River brings a flush, but otherwise is another blank. (Again, I like to try and fire when scare cards come.) I didn't really think about checking down…  which is notable since I normally tend to conservative style. I can't tell you my precise thought processes… I did want to make it look like a value bet… (bet-sizing an issue? …honestly, I'm not terrific when it comes to that)

[b]Total pot:[/b] $64.25