Kinda lost on this one.

Note Villain's minbet on 4th.


7 Card Stud High ($1/$2), Ante $0.20, Bring-In $0.25 (converter)

3rd Street - (1.6 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 3 ___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 2 ___brings-in
Seat 3: xx xx 6 ___folds
Seat 4: xx xx T ___calls
Seat 5: xx xx 8 ___folds
Seat 6: xx xx A ___folds
Seat 7: xx xx 9 ___calls
Hero: A Q 2 ___calls

4th Street - (2.6 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 2 9 ___folds
Seat 4: xx xx T T ___minbets
Seat 7: xx xx 9 3 ___folds
Hero: A Q 2 7 ___calls

5th Street - (2.3 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx T T 5 ___bets
Hero: A Q 2 7 4 ___calls

6th Street - (4.3 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx T T 5 4 ___bets ___calls
Hero: A Q 2 7 4 8 ___raises

River - (8.3 BB)

Seat 4: xx xx T T 5 4 xx ___checks ___raises
Hero: A Q 2 7 4 8 6 ___bets ___calls

Total pot: (12.3 BB - $24.60)

I lean towards raising third.

A read would be nice. How likely is it that this guy limped with split Tens when looking at that board on third? How likely is it that he's trying to suck you in with the min-bet? Or perhaps he's one of those that doesn't like to bet double. Maybe he hit the wrong button. I'm going to guess that at this level, he's got trips about often enough that you should give strong consideration to folding fourth, especially since you had the foresight to keep the pot very small. The rest looks pretty standard. I wouldn't expect you to be good after the river check-raise very often, but there's no way I'm folding a flush for one more bet unless I'm very certain of my opponent.

No specific reads at all unfortunately, just a typical low-stakes table with a bunch of people limping and then not folding no matter what, so raising 3rd seemed pretty pointless when my hand is useless if I brick.

4th is a PITA, I'm close to crushed by trips with crappy reverse implied odds, but I'm flipping otherwise.

Just wanted to make sure I didn't do anything LOL.

A raise on third would be for value. Any diamond, Ace, or Queen will usually give you a strong hand. That's a lot of cards.

Also, with diamonds this live, you're going to want to see fifth street more often than not. It's just that here you ran into a paired door card.

I see your point, get value now plus pricing myself in to see 5th in any case, but I'm still only hitting 1/3 of the time on 4th. OTOH I improve over half the time by 5th. But I still will be far from crushing Villains even if I improve by 5th.

So.... IDK. Still not sold. But it's certainly a valid option as you said.

I play the hand exactly the same way you did. Maybe can get away from it on the river, but if you make it a habit to fold in these spots you are super exploitable to someone paying attention to it.

As far as raising 3rd, I'm really not sure about it. I admit I haven't done much serious thought about raising in this spot, so maybe it's an option. One of the drawbacks I can see is that when you bloat the pot on 3rd, the people who normally make loose incorrect decisions on 4th are now playing closer to correct. For instance lets say Hero does hit an Ace or a Queen on 4th, if the pot was unraised, people should fold small pairs and other hands. After the 3rd street raise it's probably correct for them to call 4th and maybe even 5th. I'm not sure the value gained on 3rd by raising (if there even is much value), makes up for this.. If against a bunch of tight players this raise probably has more value, since they might now incorrectly fold hands they should continue with.

Anyways that's just my take on the 3rd street raise.

Even though you have a very strong hand on fourth, I would insta-muck due to the size of the pot. Like you said, your reverse implied odds here are not looking so hot if he has trips (which I would assume 9/10 he does).

However, I do like a completion on third with how live your diamonds are and the fact that you have two overs (w/ an ace at that).

Don't listen to me...this is what happens when you call.

7 Card Stud High ($1/$2), Ante $0.20, Bring-In $0.25 (converter)

3rd Street - (1.60 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx J___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 3___brings-in___calls
Seat 3: xx xx 8___calls___calls
Seat 4: xx xx 6___folds
Hero: 5 A A___completes
Seat 6: xx xx 9___calls
Seat 7: xx xx 7___folds
Seat 8: xx xx K___folds

4th Street - (5.60 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx 3 5___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 8 6___folds
Hero: 5 A A A___double-bets
Seat 6: xx xx 9 3___calls

5th Street - (4.80 BB)

Hero: 5 A A A T___bets
Seat 6: xx xx 9 3 J___calls

6th Street - (6.80 BB)

Hero: 5 A A A T 9___checks___calls
Seat 6: xx xx 9 3 J K___bets

River - (8.80 BB)

Hero: 5 A A A T 9 4___checks___calls
Seat 6: xx xx 9 3 J K xx___bets

Total pot: (10.80 BB - $21.60)

Results (in white):[color:white]

Total pot $21.60 | Rake $1

Note: this site shuffles the hole cards.

[/color]

Doesnt your villian have a lot of dead diamonds to contend with. I probably dont stop betting til 7th.