Low linked boards usually create misleading conditions. At first look, a flop like 6♠5♥ 2♦ appears to be like comparatively protected, however solver outputs reveal simply how slender the margins will be. With 5♠5♦ in hand, Hero holds center set, which is a really sturdy however nonetheless weak holding towards LJ’s vary. The next breakdown reveals how GTO technique treats this actual combo throughout every road and why persistence on the flop, managed aggression on the flip, and most worth on the river create the best EV line.
Hand setup:
- Stacks: 60bb efficient
- Positions: LJ vs BTN
- Motion: LJ raises to 2.2bb, BTN calls with 5♠5♦
- Flop: 6♠ 5♥ 2♦ (Pot 7.1bb)
- Flip: 2♠ (Pot 21.3bb)
- River: 8♥ (Pot 31.9bb)
Flop: 6♠ 5♥ 2♦
PeakGTO prefers that LJ checks on this texture about 81% of the time, betting solely 19% and largely at bigger sizes. On this runout, LJ takes a type of much less widespread strains, betting pot for 7.1bb. The solver does combine this sizing in round 18.7% of the time, typically with a polarized vary.
For Hero holding 5♠5♦, the choice is evident: proceed at all times. Solver reveals BTN folding 42% of arms on this spot, however units are by no means a part of the folding vary. Apparently, solver doesn’t encourage frequent elevating with units right here—elevating happens at basically 0% frequency—as a result of calling has increased EV. The decision retains Hero’s vary balanced, disguises the energy of the hand, and permits weaker LJ holdings reminiscent of overcards or semi-bluffs to maintain firing on later streets. Elevating would threat isolating towards solely the highest of LJ’s vary (overpairs or high set), which is pointless when Hero already has the efficient nuts.
Flip: 2♠
The board pairs, which is a dream card for five♠5♦as hero now has a full home. PeakGTO reveals LJ betting right here 59% of the time, normally with medium to bigger sizing, whereas checking 41%. On this case, LJ checks.
Going through the verify, the solver has BTN betting at a excessive frequency, mostly with the small sizing of 5.3bb (65%). 5♠5♦ falls cleanly into the value-betting area. Betting achieves a number of targets: it extracts worth from overpairs like AA, KK, and QQ, offers a superb worth for the villain to proceed with what they assume is respectable fairness with poker arms like overcards and flush attracts, and begins to construct a pot for river play. Solver likes small bets right here as a result of they strain LJ’s vary whereas nonetheless maintaining BTN’s vary uncapped. By betting small, BTN forces LJ to proceed with weaker holdings whereas clearly getting known as by stronger however dominated arms.
When LJ calls, BTN maintains important nut benefit. Full homes and quads are closely weighted towards BTN’s vary, whereas LJ’s check-calling vary now consists largely of overpairs, weak sixes, and attracts.
River: 8♥
The river modifications little. Some two-pair combos enhance, however most attracts miss. Solver reveals BTN polarized right here, betting huge (45.2bb) about 57% of the time and checking 37%. With 5♠5♦, Hero is close to the very high of the worth vary, making this a pure shove for max worth.
Solver expects LJ to fold about 66% of the time, persevering with solely with journeys, boats, and powerful overpairs. That is precisely the kind of vary that pocket fives dominates. Jamming permits Hero to extract most worth from arms like AA or KK, whereas nonetheless maintaining bluffs credible within the total technique. By together with 5♠5♦ within the value-jamming vary, the solver ensures BTN’s river shoves are balanced and tough to take advantage of.
Key Takeaways
- Flop: LJ bets sometimes, normally giant. 5♠5♦ is a pure proceed, at all times calling to entice and defend vary.
- Flip: The two♠ improves Hero to a full home. 5♠5♦ turns into a transparent small worth guess, concentrating on overpairs and attracts whereas blocking quads.
- River: Solver polarizes BTN to giant bets. 5♠5♦ is at all times a worth shove, maximizing EV towards LJ’s persevering with vary.
- Total: With 5♠5♦, BTN holds a top-tier worth hand. Solver emphasizes slow-playing on the flop, betting small for worth on the flip, and shoving river blanks to attain stability and most payoff.
