analusis of one situation. it’s about the danger of slow playing!

12/09/2025 artem analysis of hands 0

1. Preflop

Situation: Hero (UTG+2) opens to 375 with K♠ Q♠ with an effective stack of 9000, blinds 75/150. The cutoff and button call.

Analysis:

  • The preflop raise is standard, especially given a tight-passive table.
  • No 3-bet indicates opponents are likely holding weaker pairs, suited connectors, or medium cards.
  • The chance that someone holds a premium hand (AA, KK, QQ, AK) is low, especially without a 3-bet.

💡 So let’s learn the lesson: Preflop raise is optimal.

2. Flop Q♣ 5♠ 4♣

Action: Hero bets 600 into a 1350 pot.

Analysis:

  • Hero has top pair with a backdoor flush draw.
  • A smaller value bet (~45% of the pot) allows calls from marginal hands (7-7, 6-5, weak queens) that might fold to a larger bet.
  • A large bet (1200+) would only get called by top pairs and strong draws, reducing value.

💡 So let’s learn the lesson: Bet sizing is correct for value.

3. Turn 10♠

Action: Hero bets 1000 into a 3150 pot.

Analysis:

  • Hero now has top pair plus a flush draw.
  • Value betting is still appropriate: if behind, Hero has implied odds to hit the flush on the river.
  • Cutoff raises to 3000, signaling a strong hand — likely a set, two pair, or a strong draw.

Call odds:

  • Pot: 7150, Call: 2000 → needs ~21% equity to justify a call.
  • If opponent has a set, Hero has ~18% equity → slightly below threshold, but with flush potential and implied odds to win opponent’s remaining stack, calling is justified.

💡 So let’s learn the lesson: Calling the turn with a flush draw + top pair is mathematically and strategically correct.

4. River A♠

Action: Hero shoves all-in and gets called by the opponent holding 4-4.

Analysis:

  • The river completes Hero’s flush. All-in is logical to extract maximum value, leveraging the opponent’s fear on a dangerous board.
  • Opponent with a set did not expect the flush and calls.

💡 So let’s learn the lesson: Excellent value extraction on the river.

5. Key Mistake by the Cutoff

Mistake:

  • On the turn with a set on Q♣ 5♠ 4♣ 10♠, the cutoff makes a small raise (3000 into 3150).
  • Optimal strategy: bet/raise on the flop or turn to win the pot immediately, not give Hero a chance to improve.
  • The small raise allowed Hero to call with top pair + flush draw → cutoff loses the tournament.

💡 So let’s learn the lesson: The cutoff’s mistake was not maximizing the strength of their hand and letting Hero catch up.

6. Main Lesson

  • Slow-playing is dangerous when opponents can make strong draws or top pairs.
  • Small bets on a strong board can cost heavily, especially if the opponent can improve to the best hand.
  • Sometimes it’s better to take the pot immediately rather than try to trap.

If you want, I can also make a visual diagram with the pot sizes, bets, and equity to make this hand even easier to understand.
interesting analysis of one situation. it’s about the danger of slow playing