1/2 NL, bought in for 200, had been sitting about an hour when this hand came up, played laggy so far (though maybe two players tops were paying attention imo). The only time I've had to showdown so far I'd flopped TPTK and runner-runner-ed broadway, so I probably have as much respect as one can get at this table. I'm sitting on about 250

CO - has about 300 behind, just sat down

Btn - only other LAG player at table, sitting with about 600 behind - he had his stack when I sat down and I haven't seen him play any big pots, but he's C-bet every time he's raised pre so far, hasn't had to showdown anything

SB - weak, loose passive (as was most of the table), sitting b/t 100-150

BB - loose passive, i have him covered as well.

I'm dealt 9c9d in MP, raise to 5, CO, btn, SB and BB all call.

I'd seen SB call a flop with a gutshot to broadway and then call an obv river value bet when he hit second pair-no kicker with a K on the river, so I'm hoping he sticks around, and BB has shut down and folded most flops. At this point I plan to proceed with a little more caution against unknown CO and BTN.

Flop 2c 5c 8c
SB and BB Check
Hero bets 15
CO folds
BTN instantly cuts out a raise to 45
SB and BB fold

I'm thinking that calling would be the worst play here, as there are really only two cards I like on the turn - 9s 9h, anything else sucks (and I may even still be behind if I spike a set), and then I'm either betting into him on the turn facing a likely re-raise for all my chips with nothing but 9s, or else I have to check-fold the turn and wish I had my 30 dollars back. Calling was out - anytime it's the right play here?

I could fold, which was my initial instinct, but the speed with which he raised made me pretty sure he didn't flop a flush, so I think there's a good chance I can push him off of his hand. Of course, I can't rule out a baby flush that he was trying to protect.

As far as raising, I could either shove or raise to about 120-150. I ruled out the shove because he's obv calling when I'm crushed, and if he's folding to a re-raise he'll fold to a much smaller re-raise than my entire stack.

Basically I narrowed it down to fold or re-raise about 3X more - I think ordinarily I fold without much thought, but the way he insta-raised made me think Ac-? Even so, considering the weaker players at the table, I could definitely wait for a better spot to play a big pot.

Live to fight another day with ~230 and a pretty weak table, or make a move for his $45 plus the dead money in the pot? I don't play much live at all so I don't have much of a feel for the range of hands that will make this play at a 1/2 table.

raise more pre. this is live, not online.. hell raise to 5 online is really small to given that you're 100+bb deep.

and flop is an easy fold. you're either crushed or flipping.

As was said above, raise to 4-6xbb pre.

As played this is a terrible flop for you even holding the 9c. You are crushed against his value raise range, and you are flipping against his semi bluff range.


There will be a better spot.

thx for feedback. I searched out some threads about pre-flop raise sizing at these games for further reading

also sounds like I maybe should have just checked the flop - odds of all 4 folding is very slim, and if anyone raises I'm facing the ugly decision described above

Check / folding this flop would be very weak. Check calling would be a much better line if you thought you were up against a pair with the Ac flush draw. With a board like this a bit of pot control goes a long way.

at 1/2 I like a bet/fold in this spot without better reads. It sounds like your brief time playing with BTN is certainly not enough to think he is getting silly with a bad hand here.

Against a range of 22, 55-TT, 85, T8o, T8s, Ac8x you are 62 percent

The question is would he really be raising hands like 66, 77 on this flop? I think they have to be discounted and sets/pairs with strong flush draw are more likely.

You're flipping against 2 pair no flush draw and against flipping against a pair w/ flush draw. You're 35 percent against a set.

He's put you in a tough spot where you are out of position and have too much left behind due to not betting enough pre.

I fold here if I am thinking clearly. You've invested $20. You can get away from this and continue to note villains future actions/holdings.

oh gahd i didnt see all three were clubs...

i still think b/f >>>> checking

*grunch*

This looks like an insta-fold to me. You're either crushed, or he's semi bluffing with a big club and two overs or a small pair with Ac behind. Bet sizing leads me to believe he's an internet player, also, or at least has done some reading, so I expect a shove on just about any turn if you call.

Best case scenario, you're flipping. As you said, its a pretty weak table. You'll find better spots.

Hero raises to $5 with 99, CO calls, Villian calls, SB calls, BB calls.
Pot is $25

Given the players, stack sizes, and the loose-aggressive button, the open is too small. Not sure what the average raise is, but $8-12 would be more likely to thin the field.

Flop 258
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $15, CO folds, BTN raises to $45.
Pot is $70

He could be fast-playing a flush or a set, combination draws, and top-pair.
losing to: 34-A10:club, 22, 55, 88, 58, possibly 1010
beating: 86-8A, A2, A5, possibly 66-77.

A. Raising
If you raise it is possible that it would fold a small flush, but never something of medium strength. Highly unlikely to stack off with top pair but a combination draw is within reason.
B. Calling
While this is technically sound since he will continue firing with the bulk of the range, the issue is with stack sizes. Flat-calling denies information and balloons the pot to $100. Unless he checks behind, the situation is likely to become highly marginal.
C. Folding
This is least costly option. Losing equity against top pair against the combination draws, but saving money from when you are crushed.

Raising is least profitable since there are few worse hands that call and flatting creates an awkward turn situation, so I would lean towards folding.

IRL I raised 3x (partly based on his mannerisms when he made the raise and when he was waiting for me to act), he took forever, asked me "do you have set?" talked to himself a little while and finally folded, so I'm guessing 2 overs with a big or maybe even a bare A. Nonetheless I'm pretty sold on folding as the better play here - I didn't think his body language was strong but I can't say my read was confident enough for the re-raise to be +EV. I hadn't attempted even a semi-bluff yet that session and probably let my adrenaline get the best of me.

Thx for all the feedback.