99 facing betting on the flop

[pokernicus]

I have no real reads on Villain/CO. Is a fold reasonable here for me? Or should I be calling this? Also, should I have raised it up immediately on the flop?

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
UTG calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero calls, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">CO raises</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, BB calls, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">UTG bets</font>, Hero calls, <font color="#CC3333">CO raises</font>, BB folds, UTG calls, Hero ??

[Shillx]

Just calling the flop is poor since we want the CO to either fold overcards or make a bad call with them. By just calling we give him an opportunity to make a proper call with hands like AK/KQ/AJ/etc. This hand really should not have come to this point, but folding does seem reasonable against most players. You would need some type of LAGgish read here to call since calling now will oftentimes mean calling it to the end since you don't have odds to only play for the 2 outer.

Brad

[hobbsmann]

raise preflop. As played raise the flop the first time around.

I would raise that preflop.

The way you played it I would have raised after UTG made his bet to knock co out. If co 3-bets I'd call and fold UI.

[pokernicus]

Everyone so far recommended raising pre-flop. The game was pretty tight (about 3 people to a flop). In these situations SSHE recommends limping in from EP.

This makes sense to me since middle pairs are much easier to play when you're aiming to spike a set, in which case you want as many people as possible in the pot.

If you think SSHE might be wrong about this, I'd be interested in hearing your opinions.

I agree, though, that I should have raised it immediately on the flop. Given that I didn't and CO is showing strength with his raise, is a fold when the action gets to me a really bad idea? Otherwise, the hand costs me a lot more since I'm effectively agreeing to stick around until a showdown (as my pocket pair is unlikely to improve).

[bjarne]

Raise preflop. If the game is tight preflop you raise
to isolate UTG. If it succeeds you are in a good spot
with your PP since you have position on UTG.

[POKhER]

what do you do when you raise the flop, get 3bet? Call and fold turn UI?

[bjarne]

[ QUOTE ]
what do you do when you raise the flop, get 3bet? Call and fold turn UI?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is part of the mess we get into since we didn't raise preflop. As it played out, if CO 3bets there will be between
14 and 16 SB in the pot when it comes back to us. We have 2 outs to the set and a weak out to the BD straight which gives us the implied odds to call and see the turn and fold UI.

[Aaron W.]

[ QUOTE ]
Everyone so far recommended raising pre-flop. The game was pretty tight (about 3 people to a flop). In these situations SSHE recommends limping in from EP.
...
If you think SSHE might be wrong about this, I'd be interested in hearing your opinions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't mind the limp, but I would like to raise to isolate UTG if he's known to be a loose limper. The decision depends on who is in the pot, how well they play, and who is behind you.

The preflop chart is not some gold standard that you must follow. It's there to help you in the early stages of learning the game.

[MrEngenic]

You should raise preflop, everything will play differently. Now that you limp, you should raise the flop. Since you didn't do that either, call the raise and bet the turn, or raise if UTG donks.