Check-Jamming a Combo Draw for 100 Big Blinds? A GTO Analysis

2 min read
Check-Jamming a Combo Draw for 100 Big Blinds? A GTO Analysis

Say you find yourself playing from out of position in a three-bet pot holding a combination draw. What would be the "game theory optimal" or GTO approach to playing your draw?

Poker coach Gareth James of MTT Poker School tackles that very situation in a new video in which he uses PIO Solver to walk us through a GTO approach to the question of whether or not to check-shove our stack.

Over the course of the hand analysis, James seeks answers to three questions:

  1. Are we ever check-jamming at 100 big blinds?
  2. If so, with what hands should we do it?
  3. How do we play our combo draws?

Here's an overview of what James covers:

0:06Introduction: How to play out of position in a three-bet pot.
0:30The Hand: Hero opens from the cutoff to 2.1x from a 40 BB stack with 9?8?. The button three-bets to 6 BB, Hero calls, and the flop comes 7?J?9?. Hero checks, Villain bets about half-pot. What should Hero do?
2:07Exploring a GTO Solution (at 40 BB): Gareth explains how he used PIOSolver to compare the strategies at 40 BB vs. 100 BB in this same situation �� i.e., CO vs. BTN in a three-bet pot on 7?J?9?. He discusses the importance of having some very clear questions to which you want answers when doing such an analysis �� otherwise you can end up down several rabbit holes.
5:34Exploring a GTO Solution (at 100 BB): Now he looks at the same situation with 100 BB and aims to answer the same questions.
7:32Playing combo draws: Gareth brings up Range Explorer to look at how we should play our combo draws specifically.
8:57Comparing different hand strengths: Gareth explains how it can be useful to compare strategies across different hand strengths �� e.g., how you should play straights, sets, two pair, flush draws, straight draws, etc.?
9:39Putting it all together: Finally, Gareth brings up an in-depth analysis of all hand strengths at both 40 BB and 100 BB to give you an idea of something you can do to help your study.

And here's the video:

Gareth James coaches at MTT Poker School and is the co-author with Dr. Tricia Cardner of Purposeful Practice for Poker.

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