Poker-hand analyses
Analyses in Texas Hold’em no limit.
Top pair vs. over-card bluff
Game / Stacks 6-max NLHE $0.50 / $1 – Hero $100 (CO) • BB (loose-aggressive) $100
| Street | Pot | Action & Board |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | $1.50 | Hero A♦ J♦ raises $2.50 (CO); BB calls $1.50 |
| Flop | $5.50 | Q♦ J♠ 4♣ – BB checks, Hero bets $3.50, BB calls |
| Turn | $12.50 | 3♥ – BB checks, Hero checks behind |
| River | $12.50 | 9♣ – BB bets $8, Hero calls (profitable bluff-catch) |
• Flop: value-bet top/middle pair + back-door nut-flush draw (≈⅔ pot). • Turn: pot-control & induce bluffs by checking behind blank. • River: call needs 28 % equity; LAG over-bluff range implies call is +EV.
Facing a donk-lead on monotone flop
Game / Stacks 9-handed NLHE €1 / €2 – Hero €280 (BTN) • UTG+1 loose-passive €250
| Street | Pot | Action & Board |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | €5 | UTG+1 limps; Hero raises €9 (BTN) with K♣ K♠; UTG+1 calls |
| Flop | €23 | 9♣ 7♣ 3♣ – UTG+1 donk-leads €15 outcome: Hero raises to €45 (value / info) |
• Donk-lead ≈ strong (small flushes, top-pair+club) or blocker-bluff A♣x. • Hero lacks a club and raise €45 to charge draws, fold to shove. • Blank turns: barrel; club turns: pot-control.
Deep-stack triple-barrel value vs. top pair
Game / Stacks 5-max NLHE $2 / $5 – Hero $1 000 (SB) • BTN $1 000 (elite reg)
| Street | Pot | Action & Board |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | $7 | BTN opens $12; Hero 3-bets $45 with 8♠ 8♥; BTN calls |
| Flop | $95 | K♦ 8♦ 2♣ – Hero bets $60, BTN calls |
| Turn | $215 | Q♠ – Hero bets $140, BTN calls |
| River | $495 | 4♣ – Hero shoves $750; BTN calls with A♦ K♠ outcome: Hero wins (set) |
• Plan: build pot for set value while protecting vs. diamonds/straight cards. • River sizing: over-bet shove polarizes; 2⁄3-pot may earn more calls from Kx. • Deep stack: ensure SPR<2 by river to avoid awkward decisions.
These were some short sample examples of how to analyze a poker hand based on the phases in a hand and the actions of the players.
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