Exercising pot control against loose aggressive players is a balance between getting value when you're ahead while maintaining the kind of pot control that keeps you from overplaying your hand.
One of my seminar students sent me these questions, and I think the discussion is good enough to feature here.
It centers around a discussion of a Bets-Per-Hand number. The way to count bets-per-hand is simple. Any time that a
near-pot-sized bet goes in the pot, it's +1. The value of bets per hand
grows exponentially; 4 bets is a significantly larger pot than than 3
bets. This means a flop check-raise puts in two bets on the flop. Since
your goal is to put in only two bets by the river, you're often
overplaying your hand.
My discussion in the seminar says that
you should try to get two bets in the pot with top pair, but you can
push that to three bets against a loose-aggressive opponent. Pal argues
that sometimes a check-raise is a better option than check-call,
check-call, check-call.
For me, it really depends on how drawy
the board is and how good the opponent
is. A very bad LAG or very drawy board should absolutely be
check-raised, but the best way to play a good LAG is a c/c, because a
good LAG will be more likely to fire again if you call but will likely
fold everything that you beat if you check-raise. Ideally, against a bad
LAG, you'll put in another bet on the turn and then check-call the
river.
But remember, our goal is to balance pot-control with
getting value for our hands. Putting four bets in with top pair is way
too much money, and the reason we've gone this far is because we
check-raised the flop.
If we have top pair, and we check raise our loose aggressive villain
on the flop and villain calls, how many bets can we call or make after
such a check-raise?
Remember, the bets-per-hand number speaks to appropriate pot
control, because if you routinely play pots that are too big or too
small for your hand, you're theoretically missing value. If you think
you can check-raise the flop and only put in one more bet on the turn or
the river, then that might be the appropriate way to play top pair;
putting in 3 bets against a maniac. However, if you expect your opponent
will call your check-raise and fire both of the next streets, you're
not going to be able to call the river bet, because making a bad call
late in the hand is so much worse than making a bad call (for instance,
when a check-raise would be better) early in the hand.
For what it's worth, I'd be more comfortable check-raising a hand I
wasn't sure if I should fold, like bottom pair with a good kicker. Then,
there's no question about what I should do on future streets.
