88 UTG

[JKDStudent]

I hadn't been at the table long, but I did quickly learn that it is profitable. I get 88 UTG and am torn between raising and calling. I decide to raise, hoping that I will only get one or two callers (the ones that I know I'm ahead of).

Party Poker 0.5/1 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, MP2 calls, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP2 folds, Button folds, SB calls, BB folds.

<font color="blue"> Five players seeing the flop is NOT what I wanted, and that Ace spells bad news for me. I bet out, planning to fold to a raise. Fortunately, I get several folds, and the only person left in the hand is a guy that I am confident I am ahead of. </font>

Turn: (6 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, SB calls.

<font color="blue"> Five doesn't worry me, though I'm still a little cautious of a slow-played Ace, or maybe him hanging on with a nine in hand. I bet here wanting a free showdown. </font>

River: (8 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, Hero checks.

<font color="blue">I get my free showdown. </font>

Final Pot: 8 BB

Thoughts? I was confident that I was ahead of this guy earlier in the hand, and the 5 and 3 couldn't have changed very much. Should I have bet on the river, or was my free showdown good? Other comments appreciated as well.

*EDIT* Took out results, even if they were in white.