Hate these situations.

Bad guy I have no reads on, he was about 11 hands in at the table but had done nothing goofy to this point.

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (10 handed)

BB ($98.50)
UTG ($84.95)
UTG+1 ($148.65)
UTG+2 ($69.50)
Hero ($98.25)
MP2 ($51.20)
MP3 ($102.25)
CO ($21.55)
Button ($27.60)
SB ($34.55)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
3 folds, Hero raises to $4, 4 folds, SB calls $3.50, BB calls $3.

Flop: ($12) , , (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $11, SB folds, BB raises to $35, Hero calls $24.

Turn: ($82) (2 players)
BB bets $59.5 (All-In), Hero folds.

Final Pot: $141.50

Results below:

No showdown. BB wins $141.50.

I hate my flop play but I am not sure what else to do.

Rich

That's tough. You have the Ad, so that makes it less likely that he is on a flush draw. He's also out of positiom, which makes a semi-bluff less likely (though certainly possible).

I don't think you can makethat turn call, so the real question is if you could have done something different on the flop. The original $11 bet is good, but I'm not sure I like the call of his re-raise. Did you call hoping he would check a non-diamond on the turn? It might b e weak but I would probably fold the flop. He has to put you on a standard raising hand, many of which would like that flop. Most players will not invest that much money on a pure bluff, so you are most likely beat or he has a good draw, or he has something like KQ or QJ. I don't like it but I'm not sure it's worth it to find out.

But if you do feel you are ahead I like a re-raise more than a flat call.

I agree with Jav. If you think you are winning, you should reraise that flop but I don't think you are so I fold to his check raise.

I understand the flop call. I make it myself pretty often.

This is why I make it. I say to myself, he's representing a big hand here. But does he really have it -- or is he just check-raising with a low unimproved pair thinking I may have AK and lay it down?

If he has a real hand, he'll bet big on the turn. If he doesn't he'll check the turn unless he's really brave. It's very tough to check-raise big and then fire all-in with nothing.

So I probably play it exactly the same way, and then hate myself afterward.

Looking at it I think I should have folded to the check raise. It might be weak but anything I am scared of is not going to get better. Plus it seemed a weird play for a draw, more likely someone scared of the draw driving everyone out. I try not to tangle for my stack with TP as it kills me too often. On reflection I am looking for a reason to like my hand and with no read I cannot see one.

At the time to be honest I felt like a rabbit in the head lights when the flop raise happened and was caught in two minds whether to fold or raise, hence the call. I guess I was hoping he might be looking up my skirt so to speak and seeing if I connected. I do this sometimes, firing one across the bows of a raiser though not as aggressive, just enough to know I have something. I figure by calling he might check the turn then I bet, foolish in retrospect. I didn't really have a clear plan in my head, hence why I wanted to post this. I hate AQo.

As a point of note, I see more chk raising and chk calling with sets now. Seems everyone has got the "bet into the raiser with a set" thing cold now so avoiding it. Having said that its what I did for the big pot in my journal.

Rich

Well, if you are gonna call his flop check raise, you would have to put him on the flush draw or a weaker Q. Nothing changed on the turn so if you are continuing after the flop and see a good card, you have to call that turn. If you aren't willing to call on a safe turn, its a def flop fold.

I fold to the flop CR. In my database, flop check raises happen less than 5% of the time, and this one is no feeler, min check raise but a much bigger, I want to build a pot check raise.

My main thoughts are, "Isn't there an easier place for me to make $? Why play for my stack with TPTK when I'm not sure what he has? Don't they give me two new cards in about 6 seconds?"

Tim