Playing the Blinds

I am sure this is covered somewhere in here but I couldn't find any advice.
Here is my problem.
When I am in big blind and pot has been checked around to me and I have poor cards, obviously it is simple to just check. Let's say I have 7 2 unsuited and the flop is 9 7 4 again unsuited. Now I am a horrible situation, playing cards I did not want to play and just about every time will lose. Is there any reason to raise before the flop just because of position and hopefully reduce the amount of participants?
This is a real thorn in my side, getting good cards in the blinds is a no-brainer but this is something I have not yet worked out.

Folded to you on the posted BB in LP is a great situation for a steal, regardless of your cards. You're getting a much better risk:reward ratio on your steal because of your posted blind.

i would just check in this situation... middle pair, worst kicker...

but, i will probably just put in a small bet, to test where my middle pair stands
if i get raised, i'll fold...
if i get called, then my next action will of course depend on the turn

ChuckTs, okay if most folded around to me fine, but say many have called and there is say 4 or 5 others on a 9 player table.

If you can see a free flop with rags in the BB, go for it. No flop, no play. Muck 'em. Chuck Ts is certainly no slouch on the felt, but he and I are polar opposites on the "risk" topic. Risk for risk's sake, like trying to take down pots out of position with nothing in the BB, and taking calculated risks with the percentages in your favor and a reasonable payoff waiting, are two different things. I'll take the latter every time.

Then just check. No point raising if there are several people have shown interest and you know you're likely to get called.

We're talking about posting the BB before it actually gets to you. ie you sit at a table in what is now the CO position, and in order to play, you need to either post the BB now, or wait until the BB reaches us.

EDIT: nevermind, must have read the original post wrong.

In the BB with people limping into you while holding trash, just check. You're inevitably going to lose a lot in the long run because the majority of the time, you're missing the flop.

You don't say how many people have called before the flop. The only person who could have checked after the flop is the small blind if he was one of the callers. I assume you would not have seen any raise before the flop but would have folded, so you got to see the flop for free and really have nothing invested. Go from there.

If there's been 3-4 limpers and you've only got a hand like 72, I'd just check. You'll narrow the field a little if you raise, but there's enough money in the pot now that at least one or two people will hang about. Sure, you've narrowed the field and improved your odds against one or two random hands, but you're still only going to be a major underdog.

I'd just accept that I've been dealt rubbish and get out of the way if I don't flop something compelling

Take the hand mentioned, got 7 2 unsuited in the BB. 4 others have called and I check. Flop is 9 7 4, I am first to bet as SB has folded. What to do?
I always seem to get these sorts of problems when low on chips and the blinds have got quite high. Is it "All or nothing" time? I guarantee if I check someone will bet, if I bet I'll get called or raised and if I go allin I'll lose. I really hate small cards in BB and nobody has raised preflop. I reckon if you don't get 2 pair or better, best to disappear and wait. But then........

One solution is to not get low on chips when the blinds get quite high. That works for me.

Pigpen02, you'll keep.

I reckon you're right, it's probably best to disappear and wait. In this case, you've made middle pair with the worst kicker possible. You're not going to make a straight, the best you can hope for is a two-outer for trips or a three-outer for two pair. You're not even remotely likely to improve enough to be comfortable.

As for the other players, you could be up against a pair of nines, a set, an overpair, or overcards. Not the best situtation to be getting your money in. Defending your blind is one thing, but doing it with 72 under these circumstances is just suicidal.

If we're talking about this specific hand, find the hand history and post it in the HA section. Stack sizes/reads/your image are all very important.

There's no straight-forward answer to your question. The answer depends on a bunch of factors.

In general, you don't want to commit many chips with a weak top pair or worse, especially in a multiway limped pot since it's so much more likely someone has you outdone. There's absolutely nothing wrong with check-folding 72 on a 974 flop in a multiway limped pot.

Funnily enough I just had this same situation. Get 72 in SB. Folds round to dealer who calls. I think, I'll give it a go and raise 4x. BB folds and so does dealer. This was a shot for the dealer to push us out but didn't so I took my chance. Next time round I get 74 in same position and check. BB checks and flop comes 743 with 2 hearts. I bet and BB calls. Turn is a heart and I check to BB who goes big, so I fold. BB shows the table A9hearts and I ask why the big bet as I could have been sucked in and get told I am an idiot for playing 74 in the first place, strangely ignoring the fact that I had made 2 pair. Oh well. Unfortunately I go out soon after after playing AJhearts against what turned out to be 10 3 offsuit who raises me preflop to put me allin. I decide to do it and can't believe my eyes when I see his cards.
I pair my J but he gets 6 high straight on the river and it's over.
Back to the drawing board.