Cash game, NL of course...$1/2 blinds, Hero has $430 , opponent has about equal amount...
Hero is on the button with J8s and tries to limp in...BB raises it to $10, the two limpers in mid position call, so Hero calls.

Dream flop ... 7, 9, 10 rainbow, BB bets $30, the two mid players fold, Hero raises it to $90...BB reraises $150 more...

Ok, what is Hero's best move? BB seems to have a set, probablyy 9's or 10's...do you shove all the rest of your stack here, hoping to take it down? (but you know the BB won't be pushed around and will likely call, he's a SLAG, but not entirely a fool) so you're making him pay for his seeing more cards... orrr
do you smooth call, hoping the turn card doesn't pair the board, then shove them all in regardless of what he does? but backing off if it does pair the board...
(unlikely that he too has J8 based on his preflop raise)

I guess i fall in the anyone category. I'm all in on the flop.

Second, if I was on the button with that hand and it was folded to me, I would likely raise or fold. I'm not a big fan of limping in on the button when folded to me.

Shove it in. You have the nuts and you know he'll call, get the money in there with the best of it.

Actually, here's the thing...if you're SURE that he's got a set, and you're SURE that he'll push in without boating...flat-calling would be a better option. If the turn pairs the board, you save money for the times you would've lost when pushing the flop. If the turn blanks, you get the money in with less of a chance of being drawn out on.

But, if you aren't pretty damned sure he's got a set, I'd favor pushing in on the flop. Otherwise, the board might pair the turn, and you wind up folding the best hand to what might actually just be an overpair.

Just the thoughts of a guy who ain't too good at NL

-TW

I agree w/ TW IFFFFFFF you KNOW he's definitely gonna push regardless... if not, put it all in on the flop...

Yeah, like I said, a couple factors really have to be in place for flat-calling to be best. Me, personally, I doubt my reading skills would be enough to really nail my opponent dead-to-rights on a set...so I'd probably just push it on the flop.

-TW

No way I push here. If he is even close to good he will fold an overpair.

He raised preflop indicating a big pair or AK type hand.
he bet the flop, you raised him and he reraised to find out where he was. If you go all in, only a fool would call with anything but top set.

hes telling you he has a big pair and youre telling him you dont care by pushing all in on the flop.

Just call his reraise. You have position. Hes going to bet the turn and pot commit himself, then you push all in.

Youre talking about double stacks here. Its rare you get this opportunity.

Ice said what I was going to say. Two points here first I think you are jumping the gun here putting him on a set. He raised from the BB, not a lot of players raise from the BB with middle PP, I would be more likely to put him on an overpair, my gut says JJ. After the flop he has an over pair and a gutshot. I just call here, if he is a half decent player he folds his overpair to an all-in bet here, especially with how deep stacked you are. He is not pot committed here her has almost $200 more behind him, I just call. There is almost no reason that he doesnt bet the turn, then you can put him all in. And pray for the board not to pair.

ehhhh, glad to know why this hand bothered me based on the different opinions...being mainly a tourny player, i would have pushed on the flop...but trying to adjust to ring games now and play the odds...i got greedy and just smooth called his reraise, pretending weakness and hoping for a good turn card and figuring he'd bet it hard on the turn even if it didn't pair...he was the guy running the game, and i'd watched him play, he was very LAG, bullying the table, but no fool, and he maybe suspected i was no fool either...i got lucky...thank goodness the turn came an Ace...he shoved it all in, i quickly called...he had the pocket 9's ...seemed like it took 5 minutes for the river card to hit, i think i saw Rod Serling come out smoking that damn cigarette making one of his cool comments...
the dealer slow mowed that last card... a 2...woo hoooo! ...i tipped the dealer and got out of Dodge right there!
thx for the ideas...one of those hands where there's no bad way to play it, just different ways.

I like to stay around pushing people around my chest pushed out almost farther then my belly. I loosen up and start playing real crap hands. Before I decide it's time to leave I am down $20 instead of up $500. Wish I could learn to end a session like Wild Bill has.

Feels good doesnt it Wild Bill, I remember my first $1000 pot, I had top boat and my opponant pushed all in for over $500 and I had him covered. I was scared to death, I dont even know what I was scared of, i guess he could have had quads, my heart was racing so fast and my hands were shaking so much, it took me forever to stack my chips.