Effective stacks of $350. I'm in the SB. 3 limpers. CO just sat down a few hands ago, looks like an average player nothing special. Button has been raising light on the button for 5 hours, usually to $20 PF but I haven't had a chance to trap yet.

Hero has 5 7 and completes blind. BB checks.

Pot: $10

Flop: 2 A T

I bet $10, BB folds, MP folds, CO calls, Button raises to $40

*this was my likely mistake*

I call $30 more, CO calls $30 more

Pot: $130

Turn: T

I check, CO checks, Button bets $75

I tank for 2 minutes and call, CO tanks for 2 minutes and calls

Pot: $350

River: A

I check, CO checks, Button moves all in for for $235 more

I fold, CO folds.

- - - - -

So I think my major mistake here was not raising the flop from $40 to $130-$150. If I was committed to calling a half pot bet on the turn should I just move that action forward and get the betting out of the way early? That would probably give me some FE and possibly a free card after the turn for taking initiative correct?

I don't see the button going anywhere if I raise him though so I guess it comes down to is it better to call $40 and $75 later or just raise now if the money is going in one way or another?

I also think at the lower limits like $1/2 it's okay to overbet the pot on the flop a little bit and make KcX type hands pay a little more to draw. I'm so used to just betting 2/3 - 3/4 - pot bet on the flop and not thinking about the fact that it's only a few more dollars on the flop but can set me up for a bigger bet on the turn if the turn bricks.

If you don't think he's going anywhere otf you should 3bet

You still get value from 2p and NFD+pair

Is there ever a situation where you would just call? Maybe if it was heads up rather than 3-way or you thought he only had something like AK?

I disagree with this unless he's an idiot.
I think the only thing raising does is folds out his sets, 2 pair, ax, and bluffs. I also like the idea of keeping the pot small. After the board pairs and he doesn't slow down I probably let it go.

there's a wide gulf between "idiot" and "able to fold pair+NFD".

Agreed. But is this really the only thing in his range?

no, I agree that sets and 2pairs are there. And those things are also hard to fold, which are more reasons to raise.

I disagree with the idea of keeping the pot small. We likely have the best hand now, and an opponent with lots of hands that want to see another card. Raise it up. If we're flush over flush, well that's a cooler and we take our medicine. I don't think we should play 5 7 and then fold after flopping a flush.

"Waiting for a safe turn card" is not the correct strategy. Once the turn card comes "safe", villain often gives up on the pot, meaning we get no more money.

Hard to fold? We are telling this guy we have flush with our 4bet. This is where him being an idiot comes into play. We're oop and vill knows what we have(maybe)

What's you're plan for if the board pairs or club comes if he flats? By this time we've invested so much of our stack, do we ship it or c/f?

Up until this point we've invested 6 BB's. We have 175 BB's. Is getting stacked here really a cooler or just getting owned?

Shove to his raise on the flop. You will get called by a wide range in 1/2 because they will often level themselves into thinking you are semi-bluffing, and/or this is 1/2 and they can't fold a set or 2 pair, or even pair + NFD. You want to get the money in now because a lot of turn cards either kill your action or improve your opponent's range, so your opponent is more likely to call with a wider range on this flop than on later streets.

If you are overflushed and get it in on this flop, you didn't get owned. Getting owned would be flatting his raise, and then getting it in on a later street when the board pairs or another club hits.

If you hate variance you can also just fold and move on, but I think this is a massively +EV spot.

So you're sticking in 175 bb's to win 35bb's?

More like sticking in 175 BBs to win about 2/3 of his stack on average when he calls, and win 35 BBs when he folds. The key is that most 1/2NL players have a wider calling range here than you think. Do you really think 1/2 players are ever folding a set? LOL

Its very easy to type LOL and not think about **** but honestly, how often does he have a set? Maybe 22. The op said he's been raising light. That means he is likely raising TT or AA pre.

Do you even read the op

OTF i think his range is 22 A2, numerous made flushes as well as a few k9 k10 type hands with the k of clubs, ott you're not looking great vs this range, so maybe I fold but in game I call and c/f river.

Overall I think you played this hand well, out of interest what was your plan on a blank turn, c/r or lead out? 3betting the flop puts your hand face up whereas flatting (in villains eyes) keeps your range much wider and you can get tons of value on lots of turns.

On another note, I'm slightly confused as to what the button reps on the river, as far as I can tell he reps A10 and thats it, but you said he was raising his button loads, so A10 surely isn't in his limping range? I mean if he had 22 he wouldn't value shove the river, same with 102s. What A does he have that shoves the river, after raising the flop and betting the turn as well?

If you're this worried about flush over flush then just fold 57s pre. When you called, what kind of hand were you hoping to hit? You're only getting it in with a straight flush or a 775 board?

You don't worry about bad cards coming on future streets when you think you're ahead now. Get the money in as a favorite and you will profit in the long term. It doesn't matter if he sucks out this time.

bingo

Yeah cause folding for one dollar is reasonable.

No one is worried about getting sucked out on. As stated above many times. 4betting tells him what our hand is and allows him to decide if he wants to get out of the hand cheap. Where as calling keeps our range wide. Say he does have 2pair or 22. By calling it looks like we have kcx.

This allows him to call our bets later in the hand. Shoving makes it obvious we have a flush and we're never making it like 150 and folding. I still like the small ball approach to this hand. Going ape**** and 4 bet shoving is just over playing our hand imo. We fold out worse hands and get called when we're beat.

In hindsight I like a 3 bet otf but I don't hate the call. If you shove/4bet I think V folds all Ax hands and only calls with 2 pair+ (which you still beat but V would have ok equity with these hands)

My plan was to c/r any non-paired non-club board card on the turn. 22 seemed pretty well within his limp range there considering how light he was raising the button.

AT didn't seem as likely to me since his past behavior would indicate that is a button raising hand so I thought calling the turn was worth it to see what he did on the river and the river just sealed it.