Stack sizes, I have 2400, SB and BB have me covered.

Table is kind of laggy. I've given up raising hands like 76s or AK because the general formula against the raiser is to either call his flop bet and lead the turn or check-raise the flop. There arent many pots that are being taken down by the raiser with a pot sized bet on the flop. I havent been hitting either, so I'm trying to see some cheap flops, and get paid off by just betting aggressively when I do hit, expecting someone to raise.

I have on the button and the table folds to me. I decide to limp, and go with my above plan. There is also some good deception value in this - often the BB or SB will raise and the flop will come A high. He'll try to rep the A, and I'll get paid off. Nonetheless, the SB calls and the BB raises to 80. I just flat call and the SB calls as well.

Flop comes

SB checks, BB bets $125, I flat call - I dont see much need to raise just yet, as I am the one who will benefit the most by seeing the turn - I'm willing to gamble a bit here - risk the SB having 9T and catching 2 pair on the turn, or something like that, as I would still have 15 outs on the river.

SB now raises to $425 and the BB folds. What should I do now?

Results to follow!

D

He has 2400 and SB has more.

I don't think SB needs a big hand at all to make this play - BB bets half pot and you smooth call. Neither has shown strength. There is no way SB can put you on what you have - part of the benefit of playing AKs that slowly. Here is the thing though - if you re-raise now it will let him get away if he just has a naked ace - and if he has a set/2pr you are probably in trouble. I like another smooth call here and continue to show weakness since you do have position and 9 outs to the nuts, not to mention more outs to 2pr/trips and a good chance that you are ahead here. You are leaving yourself in the dark a little bit but I like it better than risking 2400 without knowing much about what your opponent has. Let him act again on the turn which will hopefully define his hand more.

2400.

It doesnt sound like a game where the SB needs a monster to reraise. If you call he will put you on a flush draw and you will not get paid if you hit.
I think you have the best hand here.
I reraise to $1000-1200 and play from there

Thanks for the replies, guys.

The way I see it, the SB could have the following hands - A9, A4, AK, AQ, 99, or 44. Against A9, its 45/55 and against A4, I am a 54/46 favorite! I was a huge favorite against AQ, and would obviously have a freeroll against AK. Even, if my opponent had a set, I still was about 30% to win.

I thought about flat calling, but if I took this line, I think that I would have to lay the hand down to a pot sized bet on the turn, if I missed a K or a heart. That just seemed way too weak for me - my opponent could just put me on the flush draw and bet me off my hand with AQ.

I was also not comfortable flat calling and making the decision that I have my opponent trapped and that I'm going all the way with the hand. I would be faced with some very tough calls on the turn and river. What's the saying - "NL is not about making heroic calls, but rather about making your opponent make tough calls." I rather make the raise and gamble, if need be, rather than flat call and hope.

Thus, I decided I should raise - and agreeing with Ice, I decided to push all-in. A pot sized raise would commit about 80% of my chips, so its all-in or nothing. I fully agree with Stelvask, as well, and an all-in here may well get A4 or even A9 to fold his hand, fearing a set. While I may lose action from AQ with this play, I think the equity I gain in my opponents folding better hands makes up for this.

Nonetheless, my opponent had A9d, and called. The turn was a King, and the river was a heart, just for overkill. I scooped the $5000 pot.

I can see an argument for flat calling, if you are willing to fold to a turn pot-sized bet. Personally, however, I wasn't willing to do so, considering the table texture. There were just too many moves being put on the raisers for me to give my opponent credit for a set just yet.

D

I just wish when I did that, that i would actually hit something because the other guy always seems to..

Drogga...i like your play. Put him to the decison on the flop...when you have the best percentage to hit your hand.

Nice hand. Although it was a little greedy of you to hit both your draws. I whiffed on two OESFD in the past week which I am now blaming you for.