66 vs. A8 Thoughts on my play please. Thanks!

[cly__]

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 6/images/graemlins/heart.gif, 6/images/graemlins/club.gif.
<font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, Hero calls, MP2 calls, CO calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB :#A500AF(Villian)/ completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) J/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, J/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 8/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(6 players)</font>
Villian checks, BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP2 calls, CO folds, <font color="#CC3333">Villian raises</font>, BB folds, Hero calls, MP2 calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) T/images/graemlins/spade.gif <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Villian bets</font>, Hero calls, MP2 calls.

River: (8.50 BB) J/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Villian bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP2 folds, Villian calls.

Final Pot: 12.50 BB

[cly__]

Sorry, Meant to edit out the A8 in subject line.

[Dead]

With 5 opponents, you should have check-folded this flop.

I don't understand the river-raise. If villain has any part of the flop then he beats you, even just an 8. You aren't going to drive most opponents out on the flop with a bet here, and even if you have the best hand right now, it's quite vulnerable. You don't want to see a 7, 9, 10, Q, K, or A come up, as all could make pairs for your opponents better than your sixes.

So, check-fold this flop.

If you had pocket nines it would be a different story.

[Catt]

I'm not sure I like your turn play, but I am sure that I really don't like your river play at all. What was your thinking?

Here's mine: Before the river, I'm beating everything except a J, a T, an 8, or any higher pocket pair than my 66. After the river I'm beating everything except a J, a T, an 8, or any PP higher than my 66.

Nothing has changed between turn and river (except perhaps the odds that Villain holds a J), except now you decide to raise, risking both: (1) folding out MP2 when an overcall gives you 2:1 on the river bet; and (2) opening yourself to a 3-bet. As it turns out, you folded out MP2 but didn't get 3-bet -- you're still getting 1:1 on your river bet instead of the hoped for 2:1.

What's up with the river?

[afk]

I usually check and fold this flop. If it was heads up or three handed then that would be different.