1/2 9 handed game bouncing between loose passive and tight passive.

Hero ($200) hasn't done much. Been at the table about 30 mins. Raised out of the bb an orbit ago, got no callers. If i have an image it might be a tad agro.

V1 ($150) old man. Seeing some flops but no showdowns yet.

V2 ($250) MAWG. Same as old guy. Some flops but no showdowns.

V3 ($200) basically the same as v2.

All 3 vs limp. 5 limps total to hero on button who limps with j9o.

Flop ($15) 278r.

Blinds and v3 check. V1 bets $10. V2 calls. Hero calls. V3 calls.

Turn ($50)4 completes rainbow. Checks around.

River ($50)9. Checks to hero.

Edit: turn was a 4. There was no one card straight out there.

Raise/fold or fold flop. Mostly fold.

I figured flop would be a bit controversial. My thoughts were this: V's are either really weak, in which case I have close to direct odds on a 10 out draw. Or they are really strong, in which case I've got great implied odds to draw to a 4 outer to the nuts. I could've raised, but there were still a few people to act, and the draws seemed profitable.

$20 bet.

I think flop call is fine, and I like a smallish value bet on the river.

Yes, $25.

Also it's not that thin, really.

Lots of value from low pocket pairs, 8x, 7x, T9, 96, etc.

I also think you're so rarely behind.

MAWG = Is this Middle Aged White Guy/Girl ?

Yeah, it was a guy. Sorry I didn't have much for reads. All I knew so far was that no one at this table seemed like a huge whale.

Definitely betting half pot here for value.

Clear thin value, I'd go ~1/2 pot.

Given the table dynamic I think you played it fine, flop included. Table is passive, you have a GS, 2 overs and position. You can rep a stronger hand if checked to on a scary turn.

[ ] Thin Value

OK I get it. I missed a value bet. My thought process:

For value betting:
-No one has shown any strength yet aside from the initial flop bet.
-It's unlikely that anyone would check a monster on both the turn and river.
-I can't imagine any bigger 9's than mine calling otf.

Against value betting:
-I only have TPWK and am against 3 villains who are at least not complete droolers.
-The board is coordinated and 2-pair hands might be scared off of betting.

I checked back, V1 showed T8 (would've been nice if he made 2-pair), V2 and V3 turbo-mucked, and MHIG. I think my problem was that I had convinced myself that if I made top pair and faced a decent bet I wasn't going to call. I guess I forgot that I could value bet it myself.

Your comments are all good, but "I only have TPWK" is not the proper thought process.

I know you're a winning player and you know that hand strength is relative, and obviously you don't need to be reminded of that.

But I'm reminding you anyway.

I'm fine with the type of hand we're going for with the flop call, just not in this situation. For example, if we're drawing to a concealed straight via a gutshot and the board is something like 26J and we have 35, the 4 that gives us the straight isn't changing the texture much. We're trying to felt QQ+ or Jx and the 4 won't give those hands any worries. In this hand, the T is going to be an overcard to the flop and might halt the action. We're calling because of implied odds, we need to be getting called down if we hit our card.