no reads on Villain

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

MP1 ($4.19)
Hero ($5)
MP3 ($3.49)
CO ($1.36)
Button ($3.05)
SB ($1.80)
BB ($4.96)
UTG ($3.05)
UTG+1 ($3.03)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K, A.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.02, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.08, 5 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.06.

Flop: ($0.19) 7, 7, A (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($0.19) J (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.12, Hero raises to $0.38, UTG+1 raises to $0.94, Hero?

Why on Earth did you check the flop? You think he has a 7? If you are going to have two pair with top kicker and be afraid to bet, we'll you'll never make any money in poker.

Was the check to induce a turn raise? If so, why are you know second guessing? Any J is likely to bet since you checked behind on the flop.

Yes I did check to induce more money out of him. But now that I have ben 3-bet I think I am behind. Is this a clear fold or what should be my line with this from now on. I know what you are saying but I will make no money with raising pf then betting out after that flop. Most likely villain will fold. I want him to think I have a weak ace so I can beat a better ace. You know what I mean. In general when people 3-bet at this level they have something.

One of the reasons you want to bet the flop, is so you can C-bet flops when you don't hit and still take the pot.

Look at what hands you are behind.
AJ, or any hand with a 7.

There are still more hands you beat that will bet on the turn, the problem is you don't really know where you stand because you didn't bet the flop.

Likely villain has a J, or went for the CC or CR on flop, the latter you can't know, the former is what your check meant to induce. So now you pretty much need to call or raise again.

QJ, KJ, JT or Ax will go nuts in this spot at this level, in fact, really dumb hands will go nuts, but let's pretend villain is not completely stupid.

You're ahead of most hands that will bet this way.

you really think a single jack will go nuts here? I raised villain and he raised me back. He has to be stronger than the range you are giving him.

or why would he 3-bet me then?

It's NL2, people go nuts with J high, much less a pair of jacks.

Let's say villain has a J, what does he see. Well, you don't bet the flop, now he thinks he has JJ77 with an A kicker. He thinks two pair with best kicker, he's not even thinking about what you could have really.

I see people go nuts in those spots with a J at NL50, where you'd think people would at least give some thought to what others hold.

Yes, villain could have a 7, but without notes or stats you can't really know at that level.

Since you gave no stats, I suspect you're not running pokertracker or something like it. You should really invest in it, it will help you in many ways.

Plus, start making notes on people, what will they 3bet, some will never 3bet without the nuts, some will 3bet with nothing.

Here, you don't know. You have no read, and what you tried to induce on the flop check actually happened, if you want more pot control, you could call, then call a reasonable bet. If he has a 7, make a note on the player.

Perhaps you'll never see that player again, but at least taking notes puts you in the mind set of how people play. I take notes when I'm not even in the hand (when I can since I multi-table).

Try and track player tendencies, how they play, it makes these decisions easier.

I understand the desire to maximize the value of an individual hand played, but I think sometimes we have to remember poker isn't just one hand played in a vacuum. It really is a series of hand played and many times that image you project during that series will allow you to maximize your profit not just over one hand but all of you hands, and especially you big hands.

I make money by raising preflop and then betting on the flop and them folding. I don't want most of my cbets called, when you keep pounding and putting the pressure on them they will break and make a big mistake. If you start checking behind flops like this because your cbet wont get called, so when you raise with your SC's or pp in late position people paying attention will give your cbets no respect and in turn you will start to get played back at much more.

I would cbet this flop all day with ATC I raised with and just because I happened to hit, all the more reason to bet. Also by cbetting you are gaining information much needed info that will make this turn easier to play.

I know its 2NL, by eliminating weakness here, these will be leaks you don't to plug and worry about being exploited by better players as you move up.