Marginal top pair multiway, no limit cash

Game type: No limit cash, 6 handed
Your image: You just sat down at the table
Misc notes:
Your hand: K♣9♣

The setup: You decide to start off on the wrong foot by playing a marginal hand early, and Player B folds. Player C raises the minimum, Player D folds and the button and blinds all call. The flop gives you just enough to get yourself in trouble:

9♠6♦3♠

Both blinds check and now the action is on you. There’s $80 in the middle. What’s your play?

7 COMMENTS (Jump to comment form)

John B.

Tough choice, but I’ll throw in a $40 bet as more of a feeler to see where I’m at. I’ll know better depending on who stays, especially Player C who acts last.

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Sisnarf

I think it is better to try to keep the pot small by checking and calling. It’s too easy for C to put a move on you with a weak feel bet. Plus it helps to add value when he bets over cards and under pairs.

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drhoho

you probably have the best hand, and you dont want more cards on the table. So it is obviuosly either a bet or a checkraise.
I prefer to bet, just in case the preflop clickraiser doesnt continuation bet. Of course you risk being raised, but in that case take it from there. If the player is any good, as indicated by his stack, a reraise should make him lay down a bluff.
It is a pity that you dont have a read on your opponent. If you knew him to be tigth aggressive checkraising would be the obvious choice.

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Kyle

I’m worried about 10-10 of JJ for player C. It’s also feasible that he flopped a set though unlikely. I’m checking and seeing the action before it comes around. I think if C bets we have to fold. Even if he has overs and is making a continuation bet, it’s just not worth it to get involved here. You’re sitting on 6 outs right now if you’re up against an overpair and almost dead against a set. I think we should cut our losses and not get involved with marginal hands until we get a better read on our opponents.

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Joe

I’m with John B. With top pair and a King kicker followed by 2 checks to me, I would put out a proble bet of about $30-$40 to see where I stand without risking too many chips. If I’m raised, I’m done. If I’m called, I may be done as well depending on the turn. This is a very unstable hand in a multiway pot. However, If everyone is in the pot with two random high cards, I may be best right now. There is a flush draw and a vague straight showing so I don’t want to give a free card if my top pair is best.

Note that if I were the first to act after the flop I would certainly check this hand.

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Mary

If I’m playing, I’m betting. $40. I’m laying it down to a raise, probably willing to show face up my top pair and a good kicker.

I think this must be my first hand — I sat down and had to match the blind to get a hand — I wouldn’t have played this in first position, and I would have waited four hands for the button to pass me, before I bought my first cards.

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Bob

This is a 100% pot bet………

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