7 handed $1/$2 game last night at a very active table. $15 opens would typically go 5-6 ways to the flop, and I have noticed each of the other 6 players call down all three streets with middle pair or worse. Hero has been playing fairly TAG but it is unlikely the rest of the table has noticed.

V1 BB (~$300) - 30ish black guy playing ATC and very sticky post-flop. Recently called large turn and river bets into my full house with just bottom pair. Just tripled up off a $100 rebuy the previous hand.

V2 UTG (~$150) - older gentleman seeing most flops, but does seem to have a fold button post-flop more so than the other players.

Hero SB ($550) - Js8s

OTTH

V2 opens for $10 UTG, 2 MP callers, Hero completes out of SB, V2 calls from BB.

Flop ($50) - 5h7d9c

Hero ???


Interested to gets people's thoughts given the table dynamics. Will post flop action and turn card after some discussion.

X/c. Hope you're not thinking of donking this flop 5-way

Pre is also a fold vs a 5x open. J8s is not a hand where you want to head to a flop to with an SPR of 3.5-4.5 from the SB

So your first villain is very sticky post flop and the second never folds post flop, and you're considering betting flop with Jack high?

Check/Call, and then if you hit bet big.

Also fold pre - SCs play badly out of position, 3 gapper connectors play even worse.

I probably should have specified in the OP I was debating between a x/c or x/r.

Thought process for a x/r being that V1 likely isn't going anywhere and I want to set up a spot I can get it in on the turn if I hit. Is my thinking off here?

Yes, the whole point of check raising your draws is as a semi-bluff. You are almost certainly behind in equity so some of your value has to come from fold equity.

Against a calling station, keep the pot small until you hit, and then start piling it in.