Passive table, CR flop/Check turn OESD occasionally a good play?

[sebastian_d]

Passive table. Maybe I should've led out with a bet? Hmm. Anyway, I checked the flop, then thought the CR would be good to put some money in the pot and maybe finesse a check-through free card next on the turn.


Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (10 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 6/images/graemlins/club.gif.
UTG calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG+2 calls, <font color="#666666">6 folds</font>, Hero checks.

Flop: (3.33 SB) 4/images/graemlins/club.gif, 7/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, T/images/graemlins/heart.gif <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG bets</font>, UTG+2 calls, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>,

That's where my question is at. Is this, sparingly, a good move? My thinking is that it fills up the pot, lets me seamlessly bet if I hit, maybe gets me a free card if I miss, and might make the table less certain that my CR's are legit in the future, so they don't necessarily lay down to them. That said, I'm open to input. Thoughts?

[TheHip41]

I'd just bet the flop. If they don't have a T, they are going to have a hard time calling a turn bet if a brick falls.

[brazilio]

I've been debating that, but OOP I think you're way overestimating your chances of getting a free card, and this is barely an equity raise, if at all. If you are getting a free card, it's because an UI hand that's beating you is afraid of a pair. This is only a good board for a straight draw, not the best one possible as you'll have possible redraw problems if you do hit. I'm just calling here, and I think meta elements are overblown at 3/6 as well.

On the other hand, I think betting is probably a much better plan. Calling is weak and gives you no fold equity, and this is a small pot where it being 3-way to the turn is next to impossible.

[Pokey]

It's next to impossible to buy a free card from out of position like this. If you check the turn, opponents will likely interpret this as you being afraid of the turn card. If they've got a piece of the board, they'll bet it as a matter of course. Also, any turn card that gives you a straight will be a very stealthy one, and it's highly unlikely that UTG or UTG+2 will fear a turn 3 or 8.

I think a better play here is check/call, intending to check/raise if you make your straight.

"Finesse" is for the 15/30 tables and up. At the 2/4 tables, it's only for dry, itchy scalp. Don't waste your art on these Philistines -- they don't understand their own play, much less yours. Nobody's got you figured out, and you can play straightforward winning poker and beat the donks over and over again.