Im going to post a series of hand quiz/analysis. Hopefully some of the beginners will pick up some pointers along the way. Maybe some of you will give me some fresh ideas also.

Part #1

$1/$2

3 MP limpers....you complete in the SB with [6c]. BB checks.
MP1 ($250), MP2 ($32), MP3 ($200) Hero ($250), BB ($150)
The BB is above avg, the 3 limpers are fishy. MP1 is just not good, MP2 is a "short stack pick a hand and go all in" type player, MP3 is weak also.

The pot is $10. The flop comes [Qs][7h]. What is your play?

I will post the turn action in part #2.

I would check looking for a check raise since MP2 is a "go all in player" so I hope he makes a move if no one has by the time it gets to him and make my raise depending on how much money gets in the pot by the time it gets back to me. Depending on my feel for what is going on and MP2 makes the move, I see if I can suck people in for the turn (still raising) where I pretty much go all in.

We have a wide variery of answers which doesnt surprise me. (by the way, this is an actual hand I played last night)

As in most hands, theres more than one good way to play a hand, so this is based on the way I would play it. (and DID play it)

I dont think a check raise is correct here. If you check raise, you will fold a weak queen and probably even KQ.

The correct play in my opinion is to lead out. NOBODY leads here with a 7, so thats what you want to do. Someone may raise with AQ or KQ which is very good. Someone may call and then the short stack may go all in with a Q. thats very good also because you trap dead money in between you and the short stack.

If nobody has a Q, youre probably not getting much money out of this hand anyway.

So I led out for $7. BB folded, MP1 called and short stack called.


The pot is now $31. The turn is the . Making the board [Qs][7h][8d]. Whats your turn play?

I bet $30 on the turn. What really worries me here is MP1, simply because of stack-size.

I do think it's actually more likely that both of them have a Q than that either of them has a 7, but you are outkicked (possibly already boated) in the latter case. I'm planning on checking the river without improvement, and I am capable of folding the river depending on what MP1 does. I'm also capable of folding the turn depending on my read of MP1 and his action, but bad players usually don't understand raising. Also, if the trips are beat, MP1 (again read-dependent) may well let the trips off fairly easy.

i lead out for $30. im not convinced that they have a 7. it's much more likely that the fishy players are playing some random queen than some random 7. also....since it's the turn....if i am beat, this is where most players will tell me that. but i'm fairly convinced that i'm ahead. i'll need to see some signs of aggression from the big stack before i believe that he's got the case 7. i think it's more probable that he's got the Q. i don't want him to see the river for free.

jon