AQ on Loose Table

[vargas]

Pacific 3/6, pretty loose table

I'm in MP1 with AQ.

UTG limps, EP3 calls, I raise. Button, SB, BB, UTG, and EP3 all call.

Flop: 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Checked to UTG who bets. EP3 folds and I decide to raise. Everyone folds except UTG, who calls.

Turn: Q [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

UTG checks and I check.

River: 2 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

UTG bets and I call.

Was the raise on the flop a good idea, with no reasonable draws out there that UTG might be semi-bluffing with? I'm not certain what to do on a flop like that on a loose table. I was thinking UTG might have a pocket pair and I wanted to clean up my two overcards. I chickened out on the turn, though.

Supposing I had bet the turn and been raised, would it have been safe to fold? If called, should I bet the river again, or just check behind? Thanks.

[sthief09]

I like the flop raise because the flop is huge and you could very well have the best hand. I don't see the point of the turn check though... you give him a free card if he has a K or a gut shot. And at the least, if you're going to check the turn, raise the river.

[lil']

Bet the turn. You got what you wanted.

[AceHigh]

[ QUOTE ]
I was thinking UTG might have a pocket pair and I wanted to clean up my two overcards

[/ QUOTE ]

But the only hand you are cleaning up outs against is A3/Q3. And you don't need to clean up these outs because the board is paired higher than 3. Raisings not a bad play, but I would be more inclined to do it if I thought UTG is betting a draw.