[fivebyfive]

I think there is a typo and we mean BTN raises to 3BB, over which we 4x 3Bet from the SB, but assuming that is correct, here is what I’d say.

Preflop: all seems good, although with these depth and with the limpers, we could even go bigger.

Flop: This is tricky when the BB overcalls. What kinds of hands do this? Against a more standard opponent, we’re up against a lot of hands like 77-JJ and some hands that don’t quite know where to go, that maybe should fold or 4bet, but aren’t quite comfortable so are going with that “compromise” flat: AQs-ATs, AQo, KQs, QJs. It is a very narrow range, at least should be. On the AJ9 flop, there are some scary hands in this range (JJ/99/AJs), BUT we are ahead of a lot of it. The BTN overcall complicates this even more, but if we ignore the BTN, we’re about 70%/30% against this BB range. If we’re heads up, this is a mandatory bet. But we’re not. We’re now OOP against two players with a very strong, but vulnerable holding. Both ranges have strong parts of their range that beats us. I still think we need to bet the A-high board, but it is already getting tricky. So we bet, half pot, which in this dynamic seems okay, but I actually like a larger bet here. I’d continue for around 75-80% pot on this very dynamic board while we’re still thinking we have a decent advantage.

Turn: we get called in two places. On the surface this seems ugly, but against passive players (that may be calling 3bets too much), I think we see them raise their sets and two pair on flushy/straighty boards. Let’s say they are always raising AJs and 99 and trapping with JJ half the time. Even with some of that JJ in range, on this 7c turn, we are miles ahead of this range. We’re better off than on the flop. This starts to fall apart if our villains can flat with their sets and two pairs, but that is a rarer opponent. Especially multiway. Look at the equity graph highlighted in red, Again, I’m just kind of ignoring the BTN for now, but if calls can be polarized, these are polarized calls. But there isn’t much to their top and they have a lot of bottom (the dream is AQ). So what does this mean? Even though this is multiway and a scary board, and especially because we only went half pot on the flop, I’m going massive here. Overbetting the pot. Our opponents have a lot of hands that want to see rivers, either because they have a dominated ace or a flush draw. We want to give them a bad price in this spot and we’re mostly ahead, go big!

River: Well, it hit, we really didn’t want to see a spade. But what spade combos does our opponent have? I think it is only really two combos KQs and QJs. Maybe a little JTs/KJs/QTs. That’s five combos max. But I don’t think any sets or two pairs get here this way, so this isn’t that bad. They either have a flush, we’re chopping with a little AK that didn’t raise pre, or we’re ahead of some AQ/AT. Because we didn’t go big on the flop or turn, they probably have most of those combos in range. So I like your river check with the intention of calling or folding. When we bet here, we’re putting ourselves in a pickle. If they check back, we almost always win. Great!

And here’s the big point, it would not be GTO to raise this river. I’d never do that except with the goods or as a bluff. As a bluff, I would need to be holding the Ks in my hand. I think the best river bluff here would be KsKx. We’re unlikely to win at showdown, but we block the nuts (even so, this is a tricky bluff because what exactly are we representing? I guess KsQs/KsJs). Our exact holding is a terrible candidate to turn into a bluff. Why? Because we still beat some of V’s value range and all of their bluffing range. And we lose to the nutted flush value. So we either need to fold or call (and never raise). Given the price we’re given, this is a tough spot. It feels like we’re being milked. In game, I’m probably still calling because V can overvalue their AQ type holdings and we’re so unlikely to have a flush that they might think they can push our better hands out.

[black_spruce]

I do that all the time. Yes, typo, thanks for interpreting my mess. BTN raises to 3BB. Hero, who is in the SB, 4x 3-bets, the BB calls, the limpers fold, and the BTN calls.

This is an amazing response, thank you. It’s a lot to take in. Clearly, I don’t think on this level yet (been playing 14 months – like with a baby, I’ll stop counting by month once I hit two years), but aspire to.

I feel better about my river call, while regretting not betting bigger on the turn. I let him hang on to his flush draw at a cheap price, which he hit on the river.

Thanks, again!