The best way to improve at poker is to learn from an experienced coach. And that's exactly what we're going to do today.
For today's article, we will be looking at a massive $100/$200 ($200 ante) pot that Upswing founder and Lab coach Doug Polk played on stream at Lodge Card Club.
Let's dive in.
Note: Want to peek behind the curtain to learn how Doug Polk approaches live poker games? Today's analysis comes directly from Doug Polk's new Upswing Lab module “Live Cash Lessons” where his teaching emphasizes things live poker players see regularly like multiway pots, straddles, and more. Access these lessons now by joining the Upswing Lab and using the code DOUG50 for $50 off.
Preflop Action
Goofy raises $600 from UTG with 5c 5h. Taras 3-bets from the Hijack with 9d 8d. Curtis calls from the Button with Qc 9c. Doug calls from the Small Blind with 7c 7d. Tesla calls from the Big Blind with Jh Ts. Goofy calls.
Doug's Preflop Analysis
Here is Doug's preflop analysis of his decision to cold-call with Pocket Sevens:
Typically speaking, the GTO answer to how you're supposed to play Pocket Sevens here is to primarily fold. And then occasionally cold 4-bet. But mainly just fold. But when you're in a game like this where people are getting in there with weak hands and you have a player behind who's very likely also going to continue, I think it makes a little more sense to open things up outside of our normal range and go for the cold-call. If I call $1,800 here, I think it is very likely I win a sizable pot. The amount of action in this game is crazy.
The downside of cold-calling is you might get squeezed. But it's not a very good squeeze spot for Tesla. He has to face the opener and the 3-bettor. There are a lot of good hands here, so a lot of incentive to just call. So, ultimately, we do decide to get in there for just the call. I would like to see occasional 4-betting with this hand but primarily call.
Flop Action
The flop comes As Kd 7h. The pot is $9,200.
Everybody checks.
Flop Analysis
There isn't much to say here. Even though he flops a set, Doug checks as he would with all of his hands on this board. Nobody else has much other than Tesla with a gutshot straight draw and Taras with a backdoor flush draw.
Turn Action
The turn comes the Qd making the board As Kd 7h Qd. The pot is $9,200.
Doug bets $3,500. Tesla calls. Goofy folds. Taras calls. Curtis folds.
Doug's Turn Analysis
An action turn gives Tesla the nut straight and Taras a flush draw. Here is Doug's analysis of playing his flopped set on the turn:
So a couple of things we're thinking about here as I bet $3,500. To start with, you typically speaking want to avoid doing all too much slow-playing, particularly in multiway pots. But once it checks through, a lot of the players behind will be very weak. The player on the Button checks back. He should be very weak on the flop.
The other players have not signaled anything about their hand strength by checking, because they would check to Taras no matter what. But, you know, it's a spot where we typically want to be betting and driving the action. I don't mind occasionally trapping some very good hands here to check-raise. But Pocket Sevens doesn't really function well there.
Let's just say I check-raise. It's possible someone has Ace-Queen. Maybe they have King-Queen. But a lot of the time, they're going to have either Pocket Queens or Jack-Ten. Of course, both of those scenarios are bad. So when our hand is not quite good enough to check-raise and our hand is definitely ahead of the field, we want to be betting.
Over to Tesla here with Jack-Ten. Kind of an interesting situation. He could go ahead and raise. Or he could just slow-play and hope some other people get involved. He decided just to go for the slow-play. This is actually a pretty interesting decision from Tesla. He makes a lot of raises, so I find it a little interesting he decided just to trap here.
Over to Taras now with a flush draw. He almost has to call. It's worth noting this situation is not very good for Taras because there are some Ace-high diamonds and Jack-high diamonds. Not really very many Ten-high diamonds. But a few higher flush draws. And he does not have a gutshot to go along with it. So, I think it's actually closer than you might think on the turn, but I do like the call. Getting a pretty good price in position.
And then Curtis with a pair of queens, you know, third pair. But are you ever beating the field? What rivers can you play? He makes a smart fold.
River Action
The river comes the Qh making the final board As Kd 7h Qd Qh. The pot is $19,700.
Doug bets $14,000. Tesla raises to $40,000. Doug calls.
Doug wins the $99,700 pot.
Doug's River Analysis
Doug now has a full house vs Tesla's straight and Taras' missed flush draw.
So with a Queen river here, a lot is going on to think about. To start with, Ace-Queen and King-Queen are both hands that I imagine both players can have here. So there are certainly going to be some hands that my opponents can have to have me beat. I don't think Taras would be 3-betting King-Queen offsuit in Middle Position versus Under the Gun. So it's just a couple King-Queen suited combos for him.
I do think Tesla will basically always have Ace-Queen and King-Queen here. So he has a lot of combinations of those strong hands. He may raise them on the turn sometimes, but I'm a lot more concerned about that.
Because of that, I'm not really a big fan of going for the check-raise here. It feels a little bit too weak. I also think Pocket Queens is possible for Taras here. Not all that likely, but definitely possible. As well as Pocket Aces that might occasionally trap the flop.
So, plenty of hands that can potentially have us beat. Our hand is definitely good enough to get some value. I like going ahead and just betting about 2/3 pot here into both players.
And now over to Tesla with his straight. This is a situation that really sucks for Jack-Ten. You also have the player behind. So I think this is a pretty clear cut just a call from Tesla. He does ultimately decide to raise. I see why. He's thinking maybe I can get some value from a hand like a Queen, Ace-King, Ace-Seven, or something. But I'm probably not even betting those.
If that river was a 3x and I overbet and he jammed or raised massive, almost certainly he gets paid. So a very unfortunate river there for Tesla. It's a pretty straightforward hand from us. Just reiterating the general concept of when we have bottom set, we are betting and trying to get paid. We are not here to slow-play with bottom set.
Would You Have Played Any Streets Differently?
Let us know in the comments.
Note: As opposed to most poker coaching that focuses on Solvers and theory, Doug Polk's new Upswing Lab module will help you learn how to create good strategies while playing live poker.
Doug analyzes 19 of the most interesting hands he has played on stream while addressing many live poker specific topics. Get access now by joining the Upswing Lab and using code DOUG50 for $50 off.
