XIXDANMANXIX

Thanks for the replies.

Thanks for running this Raoul. I will review.

Here is the reasoning on the result:

1. We are doing a range 33%-35% PSB Cbet on that board. The flop is so dry that it creates a "way ahead way behind" dynamic where either BB or CO is a huge favorite and the other is dead to basically 2-5 outs. In these types of spots we either want to be checking or betting small because opponent can easily play perfectly against a large bet - and we go with the small bet option because the pot is bloated from the 3bet.

The small sizing works well on this type of board for entire range:

Polar bluffs (45s, A2s, etc): Allows us to stab with combos that cannot win at showdown targeting the part of CO's range that completely missed flop, but would win at showdown if we both went unimproved (and denies some equity from this part of CO's range). But most importantly, the sizing allows us to make this stab profitably as it only has to get through about 25% of the time to break even.

Value (AA, KK, etc..) drags along CO's wide range where he doesn't have the right equity and allows us to play play a big pot on later streets.

Linear/Merge (AK, AJs, 44 etc..), admittedly this part of our 3bet range benefits the least from taking this line OTF, but 2 things to consider:
1. We start becoming exploitable if we only check OOP this part of our range and CO can start betting 50% PSB OTF with any two cards when we check to him and we have to fold. Even worse, CO can start calling our 3bet with his entire RFI range looking for our check OTF to take it down (as this part of range has to check/fold).

1. Even combos like AKo benefit from firing small OTF because it takes away CO's ability to turn his snap folds into bluffs. If you think CO has QTo here, he likely has hands like JTs that have to fold to any bet, but are also happy to take a shot if 3bettor appears to be giving up. The reality is both CO and BB should have relatively wide ranges as it is 4 handed on the Q53r and because of that, both CO and BB have a ton of airballs in their respective ranges that cannot continue in a 3bet pot against any bet.

Long story short - I am taking this line with range and I just so happened to be in the exact spot within my range where the line may not appear advantageous on its face.

Are you suggesting bifurcating your BB preflop 3bet range between either (i) checks; or (ii) large flop bets? I am not sure that is a flop you want to be large on.

Thanks for the reply Raoul,

Good point about the top pair disadvantage that CO will have more Qxs in flatting range. I have 2 follow up questions for you:

(1) I understand your comment that we should 3bet more polar to mean we are incentivized to just call CO's RFI rather than 3bet because as BB, we close the action preflop and are laid a price from the dead blind. But because we are 4 handed and CO is likely opening a standard 30%-ish of hands, shouldn't we respond by 3betting CO's wide range with a wider linear range for? While I agree that QTo and Q9s would certainly play as calls from the BB, because of the short handed nature, I think BB can (depending on CO's stats) still have KQs/KQo/QJs in preflop 3bet range. No?

(2) Despite BB having more Qx than AQ in range, I agree that CO will have slightly more combos of Qx in his range as the RFI/caller. But isn't alot, if not all, of CO's top pair advantage offset by the fact that BB has all 12 combos of AA and KK and CO's range is at least discounted if not capped with respect to these over pairs? In other words, CO will have a few more Qx than BB, but BB will have more AA and KK. This seems like it would shift any range advantage/disadvantage back to neutral or make it very close.

I agree and appreciate your thinking with respect to the X or bet bigger OTF when we have a disadvantage - but it doesn't seem like we do....

Spoiler: I was 3betting relatively polar and held AKo.

Great video! Thx.

Hi Owen,

When I open the linked spreadsheet, I receive a message that the file is in owner's trash. Any chance you can re-link the spreadsheet from this video? Thank you.