Raising an open pair
 

My opponent in this hand is a fairly tight player who respects me. This 5th street raise is a typical play against an open pair. If he calls the plan is to take a free card on 6th unless I improve.. Here it works out even better because he likely folded the best hand.

7 Card Stud High ($5/$10), Ante $0.50, Bring-In $2 (hand converter)

3rd Street - (0.80 SB)

Seat 1: xx xx 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]___folds
Seat 2: xx xx 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]___folds
Seat 3: xx xx 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]___completes
Seat 4: xx xx 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]___folds
Hero: K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]___calls
Seat 6: xx xx 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]___brings-in___calls
Seat 7: xx xx 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]___folds
Seat 8: xx xx 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]___folds

4th Street - (3.80 SB)

Seat 3: xx xx 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]___bets___calls
Hero: K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]___checks___raises
Seat 6: xx xx 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]___checks___folds

5th Street - (3.90 BB)

Seat 3: xx xx 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]___bets___folds
Hero: K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]___raises

Total pot: (4.90 BB)

Re: Raising an open pair
 

I raise third. Raising is fun. Getting the bring-in out is to your advantage. Raising does not give away the strength of your hand. The other guy could be stealing with a fairly broad range of hands, so your range of re-stealing hands should be fairly broad too.

Nice coup on fifth.

Re: Raising an open pair
 

I like the play on 5th. I don't like the call on 3rd.

On 5th your opponent has dead cards. You have a high pair that has 100% live outs. So even if you are behind it won't cost you much because you'll be drawing out a whole lot.

However, I wouldn't take a free card 100% of the time. Here you may guarantee yourself a showdown by checking 6th. If your opponent doesn't seem to improve I'd keep betting because I think sustained pressure might get him to fold a scragly 2-pair

Re: Raising an open pair
 

The decision whether or not to bet sixth (had he called your raise on fifth) is interesting. However, if he doesn't fold on sixth I do not think betting the river unimproved is worthwhile.

(By the way, as others mentioned before, raising third should be automatic.)

Re: Raising an open pair
 

I know all of you like raising 3rd, and I would do this every time against a weak opponent.

In this hand my opponent was a fairly good player who respects me, and if I came over the top he would know I have a big pair in the hole. With this knowledge, he will not make any subsequent mistakes because he knows when I make 2 pair (other than the river). This is why I just called here. My plan is to get a raise in on 4th or 5th, this way it becomes less obvious what I'm holding.

If this all happened in early position I would have re-raised to knock everyone out, but here there is a good chance the bring-in will fold anyways which is why I just called...

Any thoughts on this?