a 5-10 hand

[Aaron Lovi]

Hi all, here's a hand you guys can chew me out on...

*small plug:*
Feel free to use the transcript reader I have linked in my profile. It's totally free for this purpose.

***** Hand History for Game 104486048 *****
5/10 TexasHTGameTable (Limit) - Thu Jul 17 20:09:00 EDT 2003
Table StayingAlive (Real Money) -- Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: VeryWell ( $806.00)
Seat 2: pjaco ( $569.00)
Seat 3: lee76 ( $267.00)
Seat 4: bigslickab ( $252.00)
Seat 5: buzz101 ( $661.00)
Seat 6: Fecklar ( $307.00)
Seat 7: mikemrm ( $396.00)
Seat 9: markinca ( $267.00)
Seat 10: aaronh0 ( $243.00)
** Dealing Down Cards **
Dealt to VeryWell [ Ah, Th ]
Dealt to pjaco [ 5s, 5d ]
pjaco posts small blind (2)
lee76 posts big blind (5)
bigslickab folds.
buzz101 folds.
Fecklar folds.
mikemrm calls (5)
markinca folds.
aaronh0 folds.
VeryWell raises (10) to 10
pjaco calls (8)
lee76 calls (5)
mikemrm calls (5)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9c, 2h, 7d ]
pjaco checks.
lee76 checks.
mikemrm checks.
VeryWell checks.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 7c ]
pjaco bets (10)
lee76 folds.
mikemrm folds.
VeryWell raises (20) to 20
pjaco calls (10)
** Dealing River ** : [ 8s ]
pjaco checks.
VeryWell checks.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $77 | Rake: $3
Board: [ 9c 2h 7d 7c 8s ]
VeryWell balance $776, lost $30 [ Ah Th ] [ a pair of sevens -- Ah,Th,9c,7d,7c ]
pjaco balance $616, bet $30, collected $77, net +$47 [ 5s 5d ] [ two pairs, sevens and fives -- 9c,7d,7c,5s,5d ]
lee76 balance $257, lost $10 (folded)
bigslickab balance $252, didn't bet (folded)
buzz101 balance $661, didn't bet (folded)
Fecklar balance $307, didn't bet (folded)
mikemrm balance $386, lost $10 (folded)
markinca balance $267, didn't bet (folded)
aaronh0 balance $243, didn't bet (folded)

[JohnShaft]

I don't really get what you are trying to do here Aaron.

You put two Big Bets in on the Turn with Ace high, drawing to 6 outs for top Pair (on a paired board).

If you want to play a missed AT hard wouldn't you be better betting the Flop and Turn and checking the River, being that you position?
You'd have lost half a BB less, and maybe would have won the hand, though maybe not in this case.

I'm curious what your thought processes were throughout the hand?

[Aaron Lovi]

I don't think a bet on this flop against this many players would have had the desired effect. I think the question is whether I should raise the turn and if I do, whether I should follow through on the river?

[JohnShaft]

Aaron what desired effect do you get by giving a free card on the flop and then raising with nothing on the Turn?

Desired effects of betting the flop.
1. People who have no pair folding when they may make a decent pair (even top pair) with the free card. Not to mention you giving backdoor draws that would fold on the flop a free card.
2. You can most likely get the free Turn card if you want it (say if you get 2 or more callers).
3. Or you can get a free showdown if you'd rather bet the Flop and Turn and check the River.

I just don't see the point in this play. If you want to make it with AA/KK etc fine. AK unimproved? I really don't know. If you don't know your opponents can fold top pair to the turn raise (figuring you have played AA/KK this way) then I really don't like it.

Can anyone else help me out here, or am I alone in not seeing much value in this play?

As for following through on the River, wellllll, if you want to put 3 Big Bets in post Turn with Ace high good for you. Personally I usually don't.

[Aaron Lovi]

I see your point.

But: Imagine though that you have 'given up' on the hand on the flop, and then someone bets the turn and noone calls when the board pairs like this. Would your intentions towards this pot then change? And *if* you get called, would you follow through on the river?