Daily Hand Quiz

So… we have middle pair + backdoor flush draw in a four-way raised pot on a board that is very likely to have connected with at least one of our opponents pretty hard, we have no read on our opponents and we have an active image.

I am in no mood to build a pot here. With only 2BBs invested I am very happy to check-fold and let this go (I am amazed that it’s not a voting option). I don’t feel this is particularly nitty play either.

Given our image, we are not folding out any hands we are beating by leading, and if we get called there aren’t many cards we can see that will make us feel good about our hand. We could be walking into massive trouble if we’re up against KJ or a set. Check-calling seems way too loose to me as there aren’t any hands that lead this flop four-way that we are beating.

The best course of action to me is to keep this as cheap as possible. There’s only one player to act behind us so it’s very possible we’ll see a free turn if we check. We have a very powerful stack and there’s no reason to fritter it away in marginal situations like this, especially when we have no read on the table. Check-fold and move on unless we catch a ten, ace or spade, and even then tread very carefully.

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general johnson jameson Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 4:21 am

i agree. i want to see a turn card before i put in another dime and if that means check folding so be it. i think that regardless of image here certain hands arent folding. pairs and combo draws arent folding. any jack is hanging around especially cuz of the rainbow board. any Q is sticking around without significant action.

check and hope to see the turn. as long as it is a spade that doesnt pair the board ill peel a turn bet. if it pairs though im outta here. cuz the full houses are very likely on that board. with the cards that are out.

check. fold. we didnt play this hand against an utg raise just to hit the ten. no reason to continue with it trying for a bad plan b just to save face. what are we hoping for if we bet? lets not get stupid. this is danger zone.

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I generally agree with expressed sentiment but would tend to call a smallish bet here especially if one or both of the others came along.

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Check and FOLD to a bet. Weird how it’s implied that we must continue with this hand. No thanks.

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i voted lead. ive been in these spots so many times where a lead takes it down. just cause you have an active image doesnt mean if they missed or are weak theyre going to play back. just like you figure them for connecting, they figure you probably did too, especially if youre leading in a 4 way pot. we actually did connect, lets put a small bet out there and see what happens….

if we wait till the turn and we lead into a blank turn, THEN we’re much more likely to get played back at since it looks like we’re just trying to pick up dead money.

besides, ok, say we lose whatever small bet we put out there to a check raise or something like that. fine…so now we see how our image is affecting the play and we use that to our advantage in upcoming hands.

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catcher Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 5:32 pm

Precisely.

It doesn’t matter at this point how much have we invested PF, what matters is the 2,870 in the middle. And if this flop looks scary to us, it also looks scary to others.

I lead 1,900. If we get check-raised so be it, let it go. If called, our lead very likely buys us two more cards. But I expect that at least one time in three the hand ends right here.

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1st time poster, just discovered this site. I lean towards leading out here and folding to a raise based on who is doing the raiser.

We called a minraise and the pot odds at that point warrant calls from a really wide range from those behind us, in particular the BB. I would be in there with 4-5 suited or A-3 off and hands like that for such a cheap price in position. A bet here is almost assuredly going to eliminate 2 of the 3 remaining opponents, and I have found likely just scoops the pot. You cannot be afriad of a set every hand like another poster pointed out. With these stacks and that pot, there is no reason to limp with pocket Q’s, 10′s or 9′s after 2 or 3 other limpers. If the initial raiser has a set, then betting is a good way to find that out. If someone has a Jack, they will most likely call and I can fire in another bet on the turn if a low card shows up. Anyone without a good Queen or a Jack is probably done with the hand. I agree with -Cityborn- that you’ll find a bet here usually ends the hand. If they call, expect a lone jack or a pair with an 8 or a King. If they raise, you can let it go and you havent lost much. The risk/reward of taking the pot now is too good not to lead out with confidence.

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Anonymous Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 4:56 am

I too would like to know who is doing the raiser

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Surprised to see most voters opted to lead. I’d choose an option not listed – check-fold.

Too many players, relative position, and a mid-pr on a drawing board with cards in the zone. Leading will likely get called not only because of the board, but in part due to Hero’s image. Since the first two players checked, a check-call implies Hero will be oop the rest of the hand.

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I really enjoy reading everyone’s insight into this common yet difficult situation. Thank you all for your contributions. Every answer was well explained and logically arrived at. Personally, I may have been reluctant to even enter from that early of position. My reasoning is my questionable kicker and the bet size of utg, min raises from early spots always set off my alarm bells (AA or KK)wanting a re-raise. But since were past that point most of the time I would put out a $1200 bet and find out where I stood quite quickly. Although the check-fold is certainly economical and would be correct often with two broadway cards and multi-handed. Definitely can look for better spots.

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