Have not posted for a while but had such a long table discussion about this hand that I want this group's take. Cash game at PARX 1-2 NL. Just sat down with $300 at table had have played maybe 3 hands over first ten minutes. Have no meaningful read on other players.
Hero has 7
7
in middle position and opens for $10. Two callers including the button (Villain) who has a stack of ~600 in front of him and Big blind.
Flop is 7
8
2
BB bets $15
Hero calls $15
First decision point: call or raise here with flopped set on suited board? I thought about a raise but probably not getting calls from worse unless the other guy has the Ace of Spades and I want to keep my hand strength disguised so that if board pairs I can get max value from someone who has the flush. Bad?
Button (villain) raises to $45
BB calls (another $30)
Hero calls (another $30)
Second decision point: I see no value in raising here -- the pot is already growing nicely and nothing short of a shove is going to get either of these guys off a big draw if that's what they are on.
Turn is J
Pot =$150
BB checks
Hero checks
Third decision point: The Jack on the turn is basically a blank. my plan is to check-raise if the original raiser fires another bet. I put him on a big spade and perhaps top pair or an over pair to the board with a spade, so something like A
8
or T
T
If he fires, I want to push him off the flush draw but get some value, and if he calls on the draw, I'm happy. He might have a small flush, like 3s-5s and be protecting his baby flush against a 4th spade hitting the board, but he might even fold that to a big re-raise. If he checks back and we see a free river, that's OK also.
Villain bets $50
Hero raises to $150 (pot now $350, with Hero having ~$110 behind)
Fourth decision point: given my stack-to-pot ratio, I'm not really leaving myself another bet if he calls, and I'm committed to calling if he pushes, so I probably should have just shoved here, but I wanted to induce a call if he was on a draw on the theory that I could get away from it if the river were a spade that did not pair the board. I think in hindsight shove is better here, but want other views. Other option is to just flat the $50, keep the pot smaller, and see what happens on the river.
Villain goes all-in (has Hero Covered)
Hero calls for ~$115
This is not really a decision.
Thoughts on better way to play this one?