[mikelow]

Welcome back to 2+2.

Admittedly it looks like a check raise is coming if you bet, you will gain a bet if MP has a straight or something like KT. Checking seems pessimistic to me. What kind of player is he? That would help.

As for your second question, middle limit play is alive and well. The Commerce has a lot of 40-80 going, with twice as many tables as 30-60. Ocean's Eleven had a hard time sustaining a 40-80 game; there's not enough players in that area. Also, online poker has cut into some of the action.