Second Nut Straight Plus Flush Draw against Shorstack and loose caller

[TheRempel]

PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha High, $1.00 BB (9 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Hero ($169.10)
BB ($40)
UTG ($97.10)
UTG+1 ($75.20)
MP1 ($79.55)
MP2 ($155.65)
MP3 ($156.45)
CO ($69.35)
Button ($38.95)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 9/images/graemlins/diamond.gif, 7/images/graemlins/heart.gif, Q/images/graemlins/heart.gif.
UTG calls $1, UTG+1 calls $1, <font color="#666666">4 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to $5.5</font>, Hero calls $5, BB calls $4.50, UTG calls $4.50, UTG+1 calls $4.50.

Flop: ($27.50) J/images/graemlins/heart.gif, T/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif <font color="#0000FF">(5 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">BB bets $26.15</font>, UTG calls $26.15, UTG+1 folds, Button folds

Hero?

The button is LAG and tilty so could be raising anything. My hand is not great but can flop well. The BB definitely has the nuts. UTG is definitely drawing and likely has either a flush draw or a set, but not both.

[autobet]

If you are sure the BB has the nuts you have to fold. The caller could be on a flush draw, means there is a decent chance you are drawing dead.

[TheRempel]

I thought and thought and thought. My initial gut reacton was that the BB had QK and UTG had JJ, but no flush draw. I felt my Q-high flush would be good if I hit, so I pushed in the side pot, UTG called, and the turn and river came brick brick. I ended up winning the side pot for a $20 profit. BB had a naked QK and UTG had JJ with no hearts and no straight draw. Bad play?

[TheRempel]

Just to add, I was 90% certain the BB would call me on the flop.

[autobet]

Good play. If you can make money off the side pot, you don't need to win the main pot, and as you found out your flush draw doesn't have to be dead.

[TheRempel]

I ended up having about 25% equity in the main pot (total of $104.60, so I was actually EV neutral for the main pot call. In the side pot, I had 65% equity (total of $132.90, EV = $86.38 on my $66.45 push).

[joewatch]

I don't like calling the raise with this hand preflop. It's above average, but your position is horrible. On the flop, you played it right given your read, but clearly BB has flopped the nuts and UTG has some sort of draw, which may be the nut flush draw. I think I fold it here and wait for a better opportunity.

[Filip]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are sure the BB has the nuts you have to fold. The caller could be on a flush draw, means there is a decent chance you are drawing dead.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this and would have folded too.

[TheRempel]

Yes, the preflop call is very loose OOP with a marginal hand, but I think this hands illustrates the point that you can play a hand like this on the flop if you know your players well. The only unknown quality here was whether the BB has a better flush draw. UTG's play is not consistent with how he plays flush draws in big pots.