mediocre hands out of position

[steveyz]

This is something that I keep going back and forth on. Sometimes I check-fold the flop, sometimes I check-raise and fold to turn raise, sometimes I check-call it down as long as no A/K shows up. Anyone have a standard way of playing this against unknowns?

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Party Poker 15/30 Hold'em (10 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with T/images/graemlins/heart.gif, T/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
<font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP1 3-bets</font>, <font color="#666666">6 folds</font>, Hero calls.

Flop: (7.66 SB) Q/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 7/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero ???

[jgorham]

With this sort of hand I would bet the flop, and call a raise. Then I would checkfold if a K or A hit, but bet again on any other card. When you are popped again on the turn, you can be fairly sure you are up against a bigger pair (or KQ AQ), and fold your 2 outer. But this way of playing it prevents the villain from taking a free card to hit his ace or king on the river.

I would deviate from this plan if the turn was a diamond, in which case I would check call, as I wouldn't want to fold a hand with 6 or 7 outs to a raise.

[goofball]

what if the turn is a J/9

[Chris Daddy Cool]

check and call and see a turn.

[jgorham]

Good point sir, same drill there as with flush draw. Check, call.

CDC - why do you propose check calling the flop? There is a good chance hero is ahead here, so why risk giving a free card to someone holding AK? Granted most players are going to bet this flop when checked to regardless, but I feel a bet here certainly can't hurt you, as it disguises your hand a little better, and might pick up the pot on the turn when no A or K falls.

If you checkcall the flop, do you lead the turn or attempt another checkcall - I don't like the second option because of the chance it gets checked through on you.