20/40 at Commerce. The main villain (BB) is someone I've played with a lot and can't decide exactly what I think of her. She is an older lady who is a former professional athlete who talks about her experiences during table talk. She plays a fair amount of poker at this level, and she is obviously a thinking player. On the other hand, she definitely plays too many hands pre-flop and cold-calls too much-- she probably plays about 40/12 or so and probably self-justifies being loose and impatient pre-flop by thinking she can "outplay" her opponents post-flop.

Hero is in the SB with 5s5h

Folds to UTG+2, a LAG who has been burning chips, who raises, folds to MP2, a fish, who calls, folds to BUT, an unknown who just sat down 3 or 4 hands ago and bought in for only $200, who 3-bets, Hero calls, BB calls, UTG+2 and MP2 call.

Yes, I know the pre-flop call is marginal. But these guys were producing big pots post-flop and I think I will be able to win at least 25SB if I hit a set. If the table conditions post-flop were tighter I would fold this hand.

Flop 9h5c2d
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 checks, BUT bets, Hero raises, everyone calls.

Turn Qh
Hero bets, everyone calls.

River 8s
Hero bets, BB raises, UTG+2 calls, folds to Hero...

Hero yawns and calls. At most you get 2 more bets by raising, and you'll (usually) lose 2 more if she treys you (there's no way you can fold if she might be over-playing two-pair, which sounds plausible).

yeah, fold pre and call river.

FYP

or so I think. I don't play much live but I would think there is a chance the flop gets checked through, plus our relative position to the PF 3!'r will not let us trap the field for 2.

I am think "build a big pot" moreso than protect my hand so I would look to donk and hope to B/3! flop. I would C/R a TPTK type hand or an overpair with this relative position hoping to blow the field away and face them with 2.

oh yeah, forgot it was 4way, can definitely consider donking flop, good point.

1. Fold pre.

2. My default play is to donk the flop (with the intention of 3-betting). But c/r is valuable if the PFR is going to wait for the turn to raise with an overpair here, because it allows you to b/3 the turn.