Standard play with bottom pair?

[checkmate36]

PokerStars 0.10/0.20 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx (http://www.zerodivide.cx/converter)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif. UTG+2 posts a blind of $0.10.

6 players see a flop of T34r with one spade. (6.5SB)

All check to hero who bets. (I think not betting is wrong) All fold except the early position player. My bet gets it heads up so I think thats a small victory already.

Turn is the 5d (4.25 BB)

EP checks, hero bets, EP folds /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I usually fold bottom pair but with the Ace kicker and backdoor flush draw and nobody shows they like the hand I stayed with it. Thanks for any thoughts.

[Aaron_]

I never like betting into 5 passive players with a hand that might not be best. I'd peel one off and reevaluate when it comes back to me.

[Aaron W.]

[ QUOTE ]
PokerStars 0.10/0.20 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx (http://www.zerodivide.cx/converter)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A/images/graemlins/spade.gif, 3/images/graemlins/spade.gif. UTG+2 posts a blind of $0.10.

6 players see a flop of T34r with one spade. (6.5SB)

All check to hero who bets. (I think not betting is wrong) All fold except the early position player. My bet gets it heads up so I think thats a small victory already.

Turn is the 5d (4.25 BB)

EP checks, hero bets, EP folds /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I usually fold bottom pair but with the Ace kicker and backdoor flush draw and nobody shows they like the hand I stayed with it. Thanks for any thoughts.

[/ QUOTE ]

You've got position. I like that you used it.

What do you do if you get check-raised on the turn? If he just calls and it's checked to you again, what do you do?

The harder question is what do you think if he calls your turn bet and leads to river (consider various river cards)?

Often times I dont think your bet on the flop will get you heads up. Betting into 5 players in the micro limits in my experience rarely thins the field that much.

Personally, I think I would take the free card and see what the turn brings.

With passive players, your hand is always at risk of not being best on a ragged board. But it's far more likely to be behind after giving 5 people a free card.

if c/r'd on the turn, i call and check/fold UI on the river. you're getting 8 to 1 with 7 pretty clean outs.

[Aaron W.]

[ QUOTE ]
Often times I dont think your bet on the flop will get you heads up. Betting into 5 players in the micro limits in my experience rarely thins the field that much.

Personally, I think I would take the free card and see what the turn brings.

[/ QUOTE ]

The flop bet is not about getting "heads up" with anyone. You're trying to thin the field so that when your hand is best (which is somewhat often given the action), you have a greater chance of winning UI. Many players will incorrectly fold 6 out draws against your tiny pair of 3s for to a single bet on the flop. For every overcard you fold, your chances of winning the pot increases.

Sometimes, you don't have the best hand. Maybe someone is sitting on a 4 or T. It happens. But there's absolutely no reason to assume the worst when everyone checks to you and you're on the button.

Consider the following hot/cold simulations:

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1317471
pokenum -h as 3s - jc 8s - qd 7d - kh 2h - 9c 8c -- ts 3h 4c
Holdem Hi: 741 enumerated boards containing Ts 4c 3h
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
As 3s 286 38.60 455 61.40 0 0.00 0.386
8s Jc 108 14.57 633 85.43 0 0.00 0.146
Qd 7d 99 13.36 642 86.64 0 0.00 0.134
Kh 2h 140 18.89 601 81.11 0 0.00 0.189
9c 8c 108 14.57 633 85.43 0 0.00 0.146

Now if you manage to fold a couple of those hands out...

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1317474
pokenum -h as 3s - qd 7d - kh 2h -- ts 3h 4c
Holdem Hi: 903 enumerated boards containing Ts 4c 3h
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
As 3s 572 63.34 331 36.66 0 0.00 0.633
Qd 7d 173 19.16 730 80.84 0 0.00 0.192
Kh 2h 158 17.50 745 82.50 0 0.00 0.175

What does the flop bet accomplish? You're now about 25% more likely to win the pot. 25% of the 6 SB pot that was built preflop is 1.5 SB. PLUS you win 63% of the money going in on the flop, which is a 30% equity edge in a 3-handed pot, leading to another .9 SB of profit. By betting this flop you are potentially earning yourself as 2-3 (and sometimes more) small bets.

There's no way to argue that the 1 SB investment isn't worth it unless you have some reason to think you're behind. I see no evidence to suggest you're behind, so bet the probable best hand and make money.