So here is my dilemma. How do you play a monster hand given that you're not only out of position, but we're also in a 4 way pot?

The 2 villains are unknown, as I have less than 20 hands with them. The late position villain seems to be decent and a pretty solid player.

Here's my thought process for this hand. In a multi way pot, my goal is to get paid by as many hands as possible, ie keep them all in the hand. Additionally, I do not want to play this hand "face up". I KNOW that a lot of you will simply say bet/bet/bet, which is partially correct, and I WOULD, if we were either IP or HU on the flop.



Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BB): $32.45
UTG: $25.00
UTG+1: $9.50
UTG+2: $19.45
MP1: $25.45
MP2: $50.75 is prob a reg, 11.5/6.6 after about 200 hands
CO: $25.00
BTN: $16.25
SB: $29.80

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with K 8
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, 2 folds, SB calls $0.15, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.00) 8 A 8 (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.50, UTG+2 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, SB folds

fairly typical 1/2 pot bet here, I'm going to get called by (probally) any pair, or draw. Obv any 8 will raise. Also a weak A might raise ..??

Turn: ($2.50) Q (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 bets $1.50, Hero calls $1.50, UTG+2 folds

I didn't bet because of consealing my hand strength, and to allow any draw + any A to bet. If i RAISE, I'd imagine all those hands will fold. My plan is to bet any non- river, asuming that at least 1 of the opponnents are flush drawing here.

River: ($5.50) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $2.75,

What do I beat on the river? would a weak (or any) Ace have limped pre? more likely is that soooted hands may have, I think an A would check the riv. Is the riv an easy fold?

My read on MP2 tells me weak Ace or nothing at all (though "nothing" would be strange if your read on him being a reg is correct). It's possible he was slowplaying pocket Aces and flopped a full house, but that would just be a rare and unfortunate outcome. KQs is a possible limp-hand, and your actions by the turn say you don't have an ace. So if MP2 is holding a Queen, they probably think their two-pair is the best hand. If they're holding AQ, they're probably so in love with their hand that they'd shove all-in if you raised on the river, putting you in a tough position. But then, AQ isn't much of a hand to limp with, even in middle position, so this risk may be low.

I'd call the river. MP2 probably hit an Ace or Queen, but probably not a flush (I'd have expected a semi-bluff on the flopped four-flush instead of starting it at the turn). It's even possible MP2 had 87s or similar and hit trips with a lower kicker. Regardless, you're getting better than 3:1 pot odds for a hand I think you're better than a 3:1 favorite to win.

Edit: I'd be interested, if you played the showdown, if you could reveal what MP2 actually had. Maybe after a few more replies, though.

I think easy call. Your hand strength is concealed because you checked a harmless turn. MP2 didn't raise preflop, if he was a reg, he would have raised AA or QQ. I also don't think a reg is going to semi-bluff the turn. I think this is only a flush 20% of the time, KhJh looks about right if it is a flush.

Stop worrying about disguising your hand and go for the fat value.

I'll learn some day, i'm sure.

Sadly I'm in the minority in this hand, and folded to his river bet. The only hand I could put him on was something like 56 or something like that. Limp/calling with weak Aces .. maybe, but doubtful.

Also, I'm trying doing better at NOT paying off on river, and think it's helped my game overall, although maybe I lost some value here....

Not raising this turn is just horrible. You had a 4 way pot on the flop, and got called. Villain isn't floating here, he's got something. Value bet the turn.