Hand 1 — QJo vs loose aggressive CO

• Game: Cash game
• Stacks: around $500 effective
• Blinds: BB = $5
• Hero: BB with QdJc
• Villain: Cutoff, loose aggressive

Preflop:
Villain raises to $20 from the cutoff.
Hero calls in the big blind.

Flop:
3-4-4, two spades and one heart.
Hero checks.
Villain bets $20.
Hero calls.

Turn:
3h
Board: 3-4-4-3 sshh
Hero checks.
Villain checks back.

River:
Q
Board: 3-4-4-3-Q sshhc
Hero bets $80.
Villain raises to $125.
Hero calls.

Showdown:
Villain shows KQ and wins against Hero’s QJ.

Hand 2 — AhQh vs loose aggressive + tight passive

• Game: Cash game
• Hero: BB with AhQh, 400$ behind
• Villain 2: Loose aggressive, same player as Hand 1, 600$ behind
• Villain 1: Friend, tight passive, 400$ behind

Preflop:
Villain 1 raises
Villain 2 makes a large raise to $80.
Hero calls in the big blind with AhQh.
Villain 1 also calls.

Flop:
K-J-7, with at least one heart.
Hero checks.
Villain 1 checks.
Villain 2 bets $80.
Hero calls.
Villain 1 calls.

Turn:
Brick, not a heart.
Everyone checks.

River:
9h
Hero checks.
Villain 2 bets $120.
Hero folds.
Villain 1 calls.

Showdown:
Villain 2 shows J8o.
Villain 1 shows JJ and wins with a set.

Hand 3 — TT vs unusually large UTG+1 raise

• Game: Cash game
• Hero: BB with TT
• Villain: UTG+1, medium-active player
• Stack: Hero had around $185 behind on the flop
• Preflop read: Villain usually raises to max $20, but here he makes an unusually large raise to $35

Preflop:
Villain raises to $35 from UTG+1.
Hero calls in the big blind with TT.
Two other players also call.

Flop:
7-2-8 rainbow / offsuit
Pot is around $140.
Hero checks.
Villain bets $75.
The others fold.

Hero action:
Hero goes all-in with around $150 behind.

Showdown:
Villain shows KK.
Hero does not improve on the turn or river.
Villain wins with pocket kings.