1-2 NL 100 buy-in live game

I call $12 raise with on button with 4 other players in.

Flop comes

Everyone checks, I briefly think about betting but remember I'm playing with at least one calling station in this hand. So I check.

Turn

I hit my flush and player second to act bets out $20, i figure hes got at best 10 crao kicker or a pair of 7s. Two players fold and I call hoping to get the first position player to call or raise. He calls as well.

River

Shit. Not the best card on the river for my hand. But both players check and I wuss out and check as well.

First position players was holding 53o for the straight on the turn. Second position player had 77 for a set on the turn.

I guess I should have raised on the turn because I'm sure they both would have called.

What would you have done?

You definitely want to raise and make the ace of diamonds pay to draw. Also my first thought when you described that was someone hit trips. You want to break that guy, or at least make him pay heavily to draw to his boat. On the turn there are only a handful of cards you are afraid of, and chances are good these guys have tough hands to get away from. Make them pay.

"chances are good these guys have tough hands to get away from"

I think its hard to put these guys on strong hands when you think about the play up till the turn.

First, the flush comes out and I get bet into. I've already got a stong flush so its pretty unlikely anyone also has a flush. The bet was well below pot-sized, I think the pot was around $60. Smells like a feeler bet to me. I knew it wasn't an attempt at a steal because it wasn't big enough and the bettor had three players behind him. I considered the set but I didn't think early position would bet into a flush knowing he's probably going to get raised if any of the three players behind hit it. I thought most players in this position would hope to see the river cheaply and hope the board pairs. Obviiously I was wrong.

Second, the only straight that could have been made was with a 53 or a 58, both hands highly unlikly to be played for a raise. While it turns out the SB called $12 with a 53o, there was no way I could put him on anything up to the turn since he checked twice and called behind me.

I was obviously hoping the board wouldn't pair and that no diamonds would fall on the river. If that had happened I'm sure I would have broke both players considering I was last to act.

My first throught was what the heck is are you doing calling a raise with KJs. You might be able to make a case for it with four other people in the pot though (thoughts anyone?). But I would still rather call a raise with 67s than KJs. The thing that worries me is you only flop a flush DRAW about 10% of the time, and any other flop that hits your hand is going to be a very dangerous flop. AK, KK, KQ, JJ, and AJ are all possible hands out there.

Once you do see the flop I agree with a check. On the turn I don't really mind the flat call too much, because it is nice to get another player to make the call. But since you started with so many players there is a larger than normal chance that someone has a set or two pair (or the Ace high flush draw), so in this situation I think it's better to raise on the turn.

The is a big action card: it completes a flush, a straight, and a common 2 pair in a multiway hand - why were you so keen to put everyone on such a weak range of hands?

Even if nobody has much, you said you suspected at least one player was a calling station. So for the same reason you don't bet the flop, do raise the turn: make him pay now for not letting you have fun semi-bluffing

Finally, 2 pairs, + pair, and set hands will probably call a reasonable raise on the turn, but there are a lot of cards that kill the action on the river: any diamond, and any card below a T (except the 2 non-diamond). Make hay while the sun shines! (or at least before it plunges beneath the horizon...)

I would bet the flop. Calling stations or not..you already have a big pot which you might be able to take down on the flop. If that fails..you still build the pot even more for your second to nut draw.

I probably would have raised the turn because I would figure the is drawing.

I would agree with those of you who say bet the flop if he only had one or two opponents. But with four opponents seeing the flop, the chance of someone hitting a hand is too high to believe you will take down the pot with a single bet very often.

And even worse, if someone hits a real hand like trips if you check you might get a weak bet (or a bad slowplay) that is called in one or more places and you will then have the odds to draw to your flush where you can win a big hand. If you bet out and get raised big you don't have the odds to draw.

I guess I may not be viewing the overcard outs as highly a some of you are. I just wouldn't feel that comfortable if a K or J came on the turn.

After looking back for stack sizes I realized this was a 1/2 game with only a 100 buyin. No way you can call a $12 raise here IF you arent prepared to bet or raise this flop. I'm not a fan of calling preflop raises with a drawing hand UNLESS I plan on playing the draw hard if it hits. Do you disagree with my reasoning here. In other words, no real reason to play KJs here unless you are looking to hit a drawing hand. You certainly can't be real happy hitting a T or K or even both.

Now, for the heck of it, consider we did call here because we see value in the size of the pot. Which I might consider calling 10 or 12% of my stack if 4 in ahead of me and I can close the betting.

Now, like you said, if one or two opponents you would bet but don't like it vs. 4 opponents. But, you are more than likely going to get it heads up with a bet ($40+). If someone hit a set they should let you know immediately with the flush and str draw out. If not, it's quite likely you'll be up against a draw worse than yours. Even if the original raiser has AA can he reasonbly check this flop? The only thing I'm afraid of here is a set, and if he's got any clue at all he'll let you know when you bet.

What I'm really trying to get across is that you took a gamble calling 12% of your stack with this hand. Got a fabulous flop AND everyone checks to you. You aren't going to get a whole lot better than that.

SF

Yes, calling a 6X BB raise with KJ suited is a loose play but once I get 4 callers in front I start to think about calling with drawing hands that can make the nuts or close to it. The question is, can you get away from it if you flop a king or jack and the betting gets heavy?

Because there is so much money in the pot I would of bet the size of the pot here for a couple of reasons.

1) you'll get a tight player to fold K10 or J10 so if you hit a King or Jack it will still be good.
2) with everybody checking to you it figures you have 15 outs, which is a monster draw
3) betting out looks like you are protecting a made hand so when the flush card comes they wont be able to put you on a flush

Playing the hand the way you did (not the worse thing in the world if you want to decrease variance) you should of raised on the turn. Make the possible sets/2pairs/ace of diamonds pay to see the river, and in this case it would of paid off huge as both would probably call.