Three betting pre flop with 88

[Mike Gallo]

I had the following hand at a $10-$20 game at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.

A player open raised from mid position. I put the player on AK off or any two over cards or perhaps an overpair. I held 88 and everyone folded to me. I had a difficult decision, do I fold or reraise. I didnt want to just cold call the raise. I hadnt played a hand in the longest time and I didnt want it to look like I would fold every time someone raised. I decided to make an unusual play for me and three bet. Everyone else at the table folded and the original better just called. I ruled out himm holding A,A K,K Q,Q J,J or 10,10 .

Flop 8 A 10

I bet out. I flopped a set and I hope my opponent has Axs. Sure enough my opponent raises. I smooth call so I can check raise the turn. I put him on AK or AQ maybe even AJ.

Turn 8 A 10 10

I turned a boat. The only hands I fear are 10 10 , A 10 or 10 8. I doubt my opponent raised with 10, 8 so I eliminated that hand. I doubt he open raised with A,10. He could have 10 10 but I doubt he didnt pop me back preflop with it. I know I have the best hand. I check my opponent bets, I raise he looks stunned and calls.

River

8 A 10 10 6

I bet out, my opponent calls and says " I guess we have the same hand" and turns over AK off suit. Obviously he didnt think I had the capability of three betting with 88.

[Jeffage]

If you're in the blind and he is in middle position, I would prefer to just call. There are many flops where you would like to checkraise, and ur raising a strong hand out of position. If you were in the cutoff or on the button, I think a raise would be more viable, or if u were in the blind and he opened from the button with a probable steal raise. Never say never, but thats how I look at it.

Jeff

[Mike Gallo]

[Ginogino]

Jeff:
I've read your post and the reply that he was in the small blind. Is the re-raise with 88 profitable as an isolation raise? You could figure that a great majority of the time the big blind wouldn't have a hand worth coldcalling 2 raises, and you could figure that if MP had overpair (other than maybe 99) he'd reraise, and you could see if you hit a set on the flop, and otherwise fold. Sure, he'd maybe reraise with AK, and that would be a problem hand to deal with. Still, overall, I think it's worth a raise to get headsup (especially against the right players). But I've been wrong before.

[Jeffage]

You are right. I thought MK was in the BB from his original post. I think raising is a much better option in this case. It is better to drive out BB with a hand like QJ than it is to let him in.

Jeff