.25/.50 LHE 10 handed: third pair in the BB on the flop

J

jeffred1111

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Button has limped, SB completed and I check in the BB with Th8h. Table as been tight (but very, very passive, with only me raising) as all hell recently and people are weary of involving themselves preflop and I have semi-bluffed 4 pots in one orbit while stealing the blinds twice. I probably have the image of a too loose player and I think people are starting to steam (comments such as "you run lucky", "maniac" and the like have been posted in the chat-box).

Flop comes
10sJsAc

SB checks, what do I do here ? Do I take a stab at the pot with this third pair knowing that the chances of this flop hitting someone right now is very high (passive, tight table + SB only completing), or do I check, call and bet into the button on turn ? Considering pot size, I'd rather fold here than paying something like J9 or Ax all the way.
 
t1riel

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Make a pot sized bet and if there is a raise, fold. Checking is not going to tell you where the other players stand.
 
A

ajrenni722

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I would check/fold. You have a weak hand that is probably not best out of position in a small pot. A bet from you is not going to fold out an ace, and given your table image, a Jack will probably peel one off too, especially since the most likely Jacks will have some sort of straight draw to go with it (KJ, QJ), if not 2 pair already (AJ, JT). You also may be getting crushed by KT or QT, neither of whom is likely to fold either.
Maybe if it gets checked through and a blank falls on the turn you could take a stab, but I probably wouldn't even do that either, given this board.
 
J

jeffred1111

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I would check/fold. You have a weak hand that is probably not best out of position in a small pot. A bet from you is not going to fold out an ace, and given your table image, a Jack will probably peel one off too, especially since the most likely Jacks will have some sort of straight draw to go with it (KJ, QJ), if not 2 pair already (AJ, JT). You also may be getting crushed by KT or QT, neither of whom is likely to fold either.
Maybe if it gets checked through and a blank falls on the turn you could take a stab, but I probably wouldn't even do that either, given this board.

I like this and I find that a huge leak in my game is betting this in hopes of getting better hands to fold. While I might bet a J here, especially if I had a K or a K to go with it, betting this I try to get away from. This is an example of how position can affect not only the range of hands you can play preflop but also postflop. Had I raised preflop with 8hTh and the same flop was checked to me, I might take a stab at it and fold to a raise (or even 3-bet since it is cheaper than calling a second bet on the turn). I've had good success 3-betting (in position) in this spot againt limpers or people protecting their blinds on such flops.
 
OzExorcist

OzExorcist

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You're in this pot for free at this stage - if you're starting to get the image of someone who'll raise anything, this probably isn't the most opportune time to bet out with nothing but bottom pair. There's loads of draws out there, and a chance that you're already well behind.
 
J

jeffred1111

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I knew the answer to the question even before posting this. I just wanted to put it in words and discuss it in order to get it in my dumb head that you do not take stabs at dry pots with third pair OOP.
 
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