Hand 1:
I open A3cc CO,
Loose fish with random tendencies and no poker logic who DGAF about money cold calls Btn,
Self taught tight aggressive-ish (slight winner to winner FR, been running good lately) cold calls SB,
Self taught rock-ish (breakeven to slight winner FR, been running bad lately) cold calls BB.

Flop:
457r (I have bdfd)

BB just bets out.
I'm pretty sure my image is I don't free card (yet I've seen all 3 players free card themselves).
Should I raise with the intention of free carding if MW and barreling down if heads up? I'd raise 88-AA as well, so my question is if it is okay to free card sometimes in this spot.

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Hand 2:
4 limpers and CO checks his option.
I look down at A2cc from the button and chose to raise.

7 or 8 ways to a flop of QJ5 with 2 clubs.
EP somewhere bets out, and 2 ppl overcall.

Should I just raise? I doubt I'm getting 3b by anyone because no one has QQ or JJ ever.
Note: I'm being a little result oriented because I just called and I ended up calling 2 cold on the turn.

I'd just call hand 1. Rock could be looking to b3b or donk into you if turn isn't scary. Your double gutter isn't great but good enough to call.

Hand 2 I like raise for value and to clean up outs. I may not take a free card depending on who's left and what comes on the turn.

Hand 1: we're happy if they all call or you get HU IP in which case you plan to check turn UI and if we end up with another outcome we are ok with our equity but kill our IO by having to put in 2-4 bets. It can work and it can not. Idk that we can give you good direction other than asking whether you're fastplaying value in this spot too. I wouldn't call it a free card play just because you plan to check turn UI but I'm a pedant.

Hand 2: yes jam your equity edge IP never expecting folds but happy to get those too. I don't have to ask whether you would play value fast here. again, just because you're going to check turn UI if checked to I wouldn't call this a free card play.

NOTE: Still to this day I rarely run the raise for attempt to free card.

Hand 1: I'd call flop.

Not certain what I would do if it comes back 3 bets to me after calling flop considering we have nut Back Foor Flush draw and low end straight gut shot. I'd probably fold flop if it does come back 3 bets to me on flop although that may be wrong mathematically.


Hand 2: I would raise for value as indicated by others.

Hand 2 you can raise for value. Nothing good comes out of raisingbthe first hand.

stop being results oriented

Hand 2 I'm just over limping. And would raise flop either way.


Hand 1. Probably not raising..unless they're almost always the check to raised type.

Hand 1: The only real merit to free carding is getting an 8 to fold and reducing your RIO if you hit the idiot end. Maybe a little protection, but it's unlikely you're ahead of the donker (especially as described). Plus a self-taught rock will have a hand that can 3 bet more often than average here. So I'd rather call, try to spike a 2 and play poker on an A or 6.

Hand 2: For sure raise. I'd also consider betting turn and assessing whether I have any shot in hell of getting folds on the river (probably checking behind on river if MW or HU w/ the flop donker, or going for a stab if I'm HU with one of the flop callers). For the record, raise and call is pretty EV neutral, but raising is way more fun.