Calling on the button is it really Ok?

I basically play Raise/ fold but for awhile have been willing to call bets when on the button, figuring my position gave me a huge advantage. So if someone raised from EP I figured I could call a raise with 76s or pocket 5's and try to bust them. Aside from the fact that for the hundreds of times that I did this and it didn't work it also created a mindset for me where it was also ok to flat call 3 bets if I open raised on the button (but that is another story).

Here's the problem as I see it and I am very interested to be corrected if I am wrong.

Say UTG raises and you are on the button with 7h6h and the flop comes down three broadways all black, now what. That flop probably hit him so if he c-bets are you really going to float? And if he checks what then? He may already have a monster brewing. You might be lighting your money on fire if you try to bluff here.

Now let's say same preflop scenario and the flop comes down 954 with 2 Hearts. If your opp has QQ they might check and possibly fold or maybe call your flop bet. If you raise him on the turn he's going to fold unless he is horrible and will stack off with an Overpair so you may not get paid off.

Furthermore what if he has AhKh and he is slow rolling YOU and you lose to a bigger Flush?

IS there something I am missing here?

What about a counter strategy:

UTG raises
You 3 bet with 76s

Now in the 1st scenario he may check as you showed aggression and you might be able to take it down with a c-bet. In scenario # 2 he might not believe you hit that flop with your 3-bet. If he checks and you bet and you make your hand on the turn he may stack off if he thinks you are stealing.

I am not saying you 3-bet every time you get sc's or sm pp's on the button but if you use this selectively it might be better to do this sometimes, call sometimes and fold sometimes.


Thoughts??

I'm assuming you're playing at the micro tables. I think calling in position with that type of hand is ok, you still have to look at a few factors that are different every hand. One of the things is the effective stack size (= the smallest of the two stacks in the hand, assuming it's heads up after the flop), this needs to be enough to make these plays worthwhile.

Unless you're a fairly skilfull player, I suggest you stick with the small pocket pairs in these situations, they're a lot easier to fold after the flop if you miss. As opposed to suited connectors and suited aces who are very difficult to play in some situations, play these hands when the stacks are very deep.

In the first example, you completely miss the flop, and you can lay down with no second thoughts, this is why these hands are called speculative hands, the goal is to hit hard or miss (catching a small piece could be trouble for you). Don't worry about losing this pot, keep the money for a future, more profitable spot. At the micros you should be thinking fat value.

In the second example you hit the flop fairly hard but you still don't have a made hand (a situation that will happen often with this type of hand), you're hoping to either build a big pot in case you make your hand, or get your opponent to fold his weak made hand, so the answer is aggression (if you're playing an opponent that calls with anything, then forget this unless you have a hand that is a favourite to win).

BTW I don't think anybody at that level is going to fold QQ on that flop, it's just not going to happen (unless there is a huge check raise involved, even then), so in this situation, assuming you can put him on such a precise hand, aggression won't do.

The 3 bet idea is open for debate (like everything I have said of course), I don't think there is a clear right answer and it's very opponent dependant (can you say that ?). Personally at the level I play I wouldn't 3 bet this hand in that situation, it's a call or fold for me (a lot more folding than calling).

Hope this helps

Yes calling on the button is ok with a WIDE range of hands. Playing a wide range from the button makes your opponents job of putting you on a hand much more difficult. Of course everything depends on specific game situation and opponent tendencies. if it comes down 954 with 2 hearts like in your example and your opponent knows you can play a wide range from button. His/her qq will have to fear a lot of hands that he/she is now an underdog to.

With SCs and small pairs, I am looking to see the flop as cheaply as possible. I will open raise with them on the BTN, but I am not going to 3bet a raise from UTG with stuff like 67s or 44.

Being a fairly new player on computer play, I am being coached sort of by a good friend that is a great player and his guidance has been very helpful to me. He says that when you are on the button you get to see what 6 of the 9 players are doing and if you have decent hole card(s) you should consider betting. You need to decide on how big/small, but he showed me several situations in games where UTG and around to the Button folded and he said watch this. He bet 3 X the BB and the other two folded giving him the pot. I've tried that some and it has worked a few times, but keep in mind that a nothing hand may/may not do it. Just be aware and careful. When you are on the Button, pay attention to what the others have done and then consider your bet. Good luck and happy playing.

I think it dependents on your image a bit. If you are a tight player I would raise more often on the button with any 2. After the flop if you missed it you can make a continuation bet and if the other one don´t have a great hand they will fold. If you play loose, you raise on any position and where you bet is not important (UTG, Button, SB or BB)

This post brings up a good point, do you know why it works.
Most are only 3x with AA,KK,QQ,JJ,AK,AQ from the BB.

You can relentlessly bet all crap from the button if it's folded to you aslong as the blinds do what their job is and fold.

If they play back write the hand off 95% off the time.

Calling is basically giving the BB a free flop and SB odds to limp, I wouldn't do that...

I play for mini stakes, and it has been my experieince that if I am first in from button and raise, I need to have a playable hand becasue if I dont and those blinds are loose they will call and maybe even play back at me. Just make sure you have some kind of playable hand when those loose players are on your left.

Just call, is on most of the positions and hands the wrong decision.
So raisy daisy your hands on most of the positions.

In the OPs scenario it is a raised pot from UTG so.......

Yeah - as I realized that it was too late to edit.

yea but not over an utg raise. Mostly fold you can call with speculative hand if implied odds are right. 3-bet light here is a mistake.