I'm in "study mode" today. I've been thinking about this theoretical hand, and I'm stuck. How would I go about playing it?

No-limit $100. Party network. No reliable reads.

We'll assume a player limps from EP. I limp from MP with a pair of black 5's. SB completes and BB raises 3xBB. We all call.

Flop is [4h][5h]. Four players. Stacks range from $90-$110. Pot is $12.

SB checks, BB checks and EP bets $12. Now what?

I raise to $36 to see where I am at. With 2 people still to act after you I don't want to give anyone any kind of odds to draw to the flush by just calling. If someone comes back over the top of me, then I have a decision to make.

How loose were the other players? What would they limp with and then call a x3BB? Do you put them on AJ or other pocket pairs?

My guess is at least one of them has limped with a SC that hits either the straight or the flush.

Personally, I look for a better spot to make my money. You're either winning a small pot b/c they're scared of the board or losing a monster because you have trouble letting go of your set. yuck.

I used to raise there, but TUP made a long post once about how calling and waiting for a non heart turn to go crazy. After reading his post and thinking alot about it, he is definately right.

Ive had a couple 2 pair hands with a montone baord that Ive been playing the same way lately. I had one tonight. I had [8c] in the BB and the flop was [8h][2h]. I let it check around to see the action and to look for a non heart turn before deciding to get deep into the hand.

This is an education opportunity for me here.

I understand the idea behind waiting for the non-heart turn before making larger bets.

My question is why do you assume you are ahead with your set here with 3 others in the hand and one guy leading? thoughts....

Tim

The only thing I know for sure is that I put BB on a big pair, say JJ-KK. Even though his raise was smallish, that's the type of hand most people raise from the blinds with (or is it just me?). He will probably fold to a pot bet and a call unless he has a heart, so I don't worry about BB. SB could have anything, he probably just stayed in the hand because he got decent odds - he will fold too. EP, on the other hand, could have a wide range of hands. If he has made the nut flush, he probably wouldn't lead out with a pot bet, as most people slowplay their monsters. I put him on a smaller set (with or without a ) or and a face card. This looks like either a semi-bluff or an attempt to protect a vulnerable big hand. So I guess I call and see what the turn brings. If it's a heart, I'm done with my hand. If it's not, I call him down if he keeps firing. If he checks the turn, I'm betting the pot.

Thoughts on this? It's a really tough hand, and in real life I would probably ghastly misplay it and end up a stack shorter.