$1/$2 NL

I limp in MP with 88. Button limps and both blinds play.

Pot is $8. the flop comes [8h][5d]. The BB leads out for $8. I raise to $20. I dont think that BB has the flush draw because most people dont bet full pot with a draw. I obviously didnt raise enough to get rid of a flush draw but wasnt worried about it.

The other guys fold and the BB calls.

Pot is $48 and the turn is the . He checks. I bet $30 and he check raises to $60. Hmm, I wonder if he does have a flush? Im getting 4.5:1 to call so obviously Im not folding. Maybe he has [Tc]? This guy is better than avg, but I really dont have a read on him. I call.

Pot is $168. The river is the . Blah....He bets $120 and I fold obviously.

Discuss....Do you make a pot sized raise on the flop? That would be a raise to $32 instead of my $20 raise. Do you check behind on the turn?

[quote]Discuss....Do you make a pot sized raise on the flop? That would be a raise to $32 instead of my $20 raise.[/quote]

How about somewhere in between.....say $25.

[quote] Do you check behind on the turn?[/quote

absolutely. You have position. See what he does on the river and evaluate. Of course you are giving the a free card, but that way you won't have to call a huge river bet, you're keeping the pot relatively small, and youre in complete control on the river because you have position.[/quote]

Ice you played this exactly like I would have. Your raise on the flop is fine, you dont want to make a big raise and fold someone playing TP, you want them to draw at what they think might be a 5 outter. Someone with AJ, KJ, A10, QJ is going to call your small reraise thinking if they can catch they can take your stack, you dont want them to fold.

As for your turn play, the min raise scares me, there is no way I want to push my whole stack in and he is giving you great odds to call and make your boat. Also No way do I check behind him on the turn, I still think I have a best hand, I dont want to give him a free card, plus you want to keep building the pot, if the board pairs on the river or the heart doesnt hit you want to be able to make a big bet and get paid off, if you check the turn, you arent going to get his stack on the river unless he is a really bad player.

>>Someone with AJ, KJ, A10, QJ is going to call your small reraise<<

Does any of these hands call a bet on the turn?

Is there a chance yes, especially if the turn cards helps their hand. The goal here is to get the most money out of this as possible, if I make a big raise and everyone folds, I feel like I lost a golden oppportunity. Even raising to $32 is likely not going to fold a big flush draw.

I'm talking about the turn.

None of those hands will call a bet now that a low heart has fallen.

That's why I like a turn check to give *myself* a free card if he has the flush (I would say 1/3 of the time here he has a flush)

Well, in practice I could well have played this hand almost exactly the same way, but I'm trying to get this kind of flop play out of my game.

I really like a bigger flop raise. $32 seems just about right to me. In doing this, you really look a lot more like AT or KT rather than set, to begin with (hands with which I'd also make the same play). And I'd also like to play 97s and AhXh exactly the same way. But, again, as you know, I'm also trying to set up some plays with various players with whom I play quite a bit. Nonetheless, I don't think a big raise on the set is such a bad idea--even though it seems like a waste if they fold.

Honestly, the minimum raise-type stuff seems to me to scare away the hands that you really WANT to be in (TP type hands) but not the hands that you don't want in there.

It's very unfortunate that the board got so completely screwball on you, as I'd be interested to know what this guy did have. If he had his flush on the turn, he played it pretty nicely, I think.

The real difficulty on the turn, I think, results from some unclarity with regard to the read (and, believe me, I know I'm wrong about mine often enough not to want to just ASSUME I'm right about it). I think you really have two choices: If you don't think he has the flush, I think with the set, you need to bet full pot on the turn (or even a slight overbet) and see what happens (now, imo, you look like you just made your flush with a suited connector--i.e., non-nut flush). If you do think there's a decent chance he already has the flush (I really wouldn't think that either, given the flop betting), then just check and try to improve.

Anyhow, if he check-raises a full pot-sized bet on the turn, I doubt I can call it, although I'd have to look carefully at implied odds if he makes a minimum check-raise (if he has the flush and the board pairs, I have little doubt that you can stack him).

GeeWhiz, I guess thats where we disagree, I dont think he has the flush here most of the time, most players check call with a flush draw from the blinds here not bet out the pot unless he has or something that. With just top pair I do think he is going to call a small bet here sometimes, and what you really want to protect agaisnt is someone backing into their one card flush, so often if you get a call you are still going to be ahead of someone drawing to the one big heart with a pair.

I think you have to at least raise the flop to 3X his bet, I probably would've made it 25 straight. Have to be somewhat concerned of button fishing along with something like Jack 9 or 9 7, he could even have 10 8 (unlikely since 3 are accounted for)

When bb calls your raise and checks turn then flush hits I like to check and see the river for free. If you miss, you can decide to call or not, if you hit you will typically get at least a value bet in since most chasers will still payoff vs the boat.

I think your opponent might have had A hearts with either a 10 or an 8, checkraised min on the turn to see if your hand was legit. No way I call on that river.

He might have Tx5h... I could see the big blind playing that hand very much like that. I could also see a set over set situation either not in your favor or in your favor, or an overpair with a heart like JhJx. It would come down to how aggressive with pairs that opponent is out of position to make a good judgement.

I like your flop raise, it is about middle ground, and I think priced pretty good to entice TPTK mild over pair and definitely two rag pair to stick around. Making it slightly bigger if fine too. I think a bet like this with a draw, makes a playing a set the exact same way more profitable in pot building with a set, controlling losses on a draw, and deception of the nature of your hole cards possibly enticing a raise. Whether you bet more in this spot you should be raising it up that much on the draw is my point, and that looks like a great amount to me.

The turn a week ago or so you encouraged I think Bricheck to check it thru, but more people were in the hand. I like the bet myself, if he blows me off the hand so be it, if he min raises even better, you will be getting his stack if the river pairs the board, unless he turns over TT.

I don't think there is a bet over $30 that you can call on the river. Fine fold.