We already covered multiple scenarios when defending versus c-bets from the blinds on ace-high boards, so today we will cover how to approach these situations when you defending in position against your opponent.
In this article, we will dive deeper into different board textures after you call a raise from your opponent when having position before the flop.
Playing on Dry Ace-High Boards in Position – As9h4c
Let’s look at a disconnected board texture where we are sitting at the button and call a preflop raise from the cutoff. To understand this better, let’s look at our cash game GTO preflop range from the BTN versus the CO open.
As you can see, we have a lot of Ax hands in our calling range, so the CO will have to check a lot.
Key assumptions:
- This is in a 100 bb deep cash game poker hand
- The cutoff is opening the pot
- We call his preflop raise from the BTN
- CO checks to us
Let’s take a look at the example of As9h4c. First and foremost, the solver suggests CO checking 97% of the time.
Given the low continuation bet frequency, there’s no need to overcomplicate these situations. Versus a large bet size, you can simply call with all your pairs down to pocket threes, along with a few hands that have backdoor draws. Against a smaller sizing, you can mix in some raises with your strongest hands and the occasional bluff.
So when your opponent checks, as he should do almost all the time, you will have an opportunity to take control of the pot.
In this situation, PeakGTO suggests betting around 42% of the time, distributing the bets across the range. As far as bet sizing goes:
- We should bet big one-third of the time when we bet
- We should bet small two-thirds of the time when we bet
Key takeaways
- If you face a bet from CO, just call versus big sizing and have a raising range against small bets with your best hands and a few weaker draws.
- Bet around 42% of the time if CO checks, and mix your strategy between all of the hands in your range.
- Use small bet sizing two-thirds of the time and big bet sizing one-third of the time versus a missed c-bet.
Defending on Connected Ace-High Boards – AsTd9d
When you face the same situation but see a connected board, your opponent will be c-betting a bit more often, so we can start building a strategy for that.
Key assumptions:
- The hand is played 100 bb deep
- The cutoff is opening the pot
- We call his preflop raise from the BTN
- We face a c-bet on the flop
Let’s take a look at an example of AsTd9d.
In this spot, the CO will be c-betting around 11% of the time and using small bet sizing in most situations, so we can start building our strategy for when we will be facing a bet.
As you can see, the solver suggests folding just around 21% of the time and defending the rest. To be more exact, you should be calling 57% of the time and raising with 22% of your range.
While both calling and raising are distributed throughout your entire poker range, you should be raising more frequently with your sets and some of the weaker draws. Other than that, you will still be calling with most of the hands and folding only the weakest and most disconnected holdings.
That being said, the CO will mostly check after seeing this flop.
In this situation, you should be attacking him around 40% of the time and using big bet sizing in almost all cases when you decide to take the initiative.
Betting and checking back are distributed fairly evenly throughout the entire range, and only sets bets most of the time, while all other hands use a mixed strategy.
Key takeaways
- Have a strong raising range when facing a small bet
- Bet around 40% of the time when your opponent checks
- Use a big bet sizing of two-thirds of the pot when you bet
