Party 15/30 Top pair but the board gets ugly

[SoBeDude]

It's a good game. The main opponent in this hand is horrible. He sees about 50% of the flops.

I'm in the BB with red AJo, Horrible calls, fair button calls. I'm not raising AJo from the blinds as much these days so I just call.

Flop is 9 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] J [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

I bet out, 50% calls, button folds.

Turn is: 4 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

dillema.

This guy isn't going to fold any spade now. He'll raise me with a flush, a 9, a big spade, or straight draw.

Against this opponent I'm not folding top pair. Ever.

But I really don't want to pay 3 big bets to get to the showdown.

If I check and he bets I'm calling 100% of the time. I really don't want to be raised.

I also think he'll fold here if I bet and he has nothing. But if he catches any piece of the river card he'll call a river bet. Maybe he has a king or a queen, but he doesn't have both (he'd have raised PF w/KQ). So other than a spade he has few outs to beat me.

So I checked. He checked behind.

River is 4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

I bet he folds.

Should I have bet the turn with such a scary board?

-Scott

[astroglide]

raise preflop, bet the turn, not even close.

[King_J]

So go ahead and bet for *piiiip* sake!
Pay him off if he raises.

[nykenny]

[ QUOTE ]
raise preflop, bet the turn, not even close.

[/ QUOTE ]

raise?? [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] what about KQo? ATo? KJo? KTs? raise raise raise?

[Ulysses]

I probably wouldn't raise pre-flop.

[astroglide]

1 horrible limp, 1 button overlimp (weaker than average hands limp here). he didn't mention the sb who presumably limped, but they will throw $15 of dead money into the pot here often enough by folding after you raise. AJ is almost assurably the best hand.

[J.A.Sucker]

I agree that AJ is almost assuredly the best hand, but I think raising is a mistake. I like keeping the pot smaller here, since I may be able to steal it later. Plus, people seem to be more likely to make plays at people who show strength early in the hand (an aspect of online play that I still don't understand, but i think they want to show you how large their genitals are). Finally, if you don't have the best hand, then you're running uphill.

That said, it's probably not a big mistake to raise it, it's just not my style.

[Joe Tall]

I probably wouldn't raise pre-flop

I'm very surprised.

This hand is horribly played and the answer is easy. What's all the debate about?

Peace,
Joe Tall

[astroglide]

i would raise KQo

[Clarkmeister]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
raise preflop, bet the turn, not even close.

[/ QUOTE ]

raise?? [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] what about KQo? ATo? KJo? KTs? raise raise raise?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes.

Any other questions?

I'm with Astro on this one and I'm shocked that U and JAS aren't also. Checking against these opponents seems totally absurd to me. I'm sure the "fair player" on the button appreciates being able to take the flop for just one bet with 68s.