98s . . help me think this one through

[Kopefire]

Hey guys. . .here's a hand I won, and I think I played it ok . . . but I think I played it ok more on accident than on design .. so can someone walk through this and let me know if what I was thinking is the same as what I should be thinking about at the various decission points in the hand?


Party Poker 0.50/1 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, MP1 folds, MP2 folds, MP3 calls, CO folds, Hero calls, SB completes, BB checks.

Basically, I figure that raising here is bad -- it'll scare out anyone I might have beat, but big hands will stay around anyway, so calling should get the most money in the pot. right?

Flop: (5 SB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, <font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, Hero calls, SB folds, BB calls, UTG+1 calls.

Ok. The flop hit me. Well.. it grazed me anyway. I've got a outside straight draw, so I have 8 outs. I shouldn't be counting 9s or 8s here right? yeah, they improve my hand, but I shouldn't believe they improve it to a winning hand, right?

With MP3's bet it's $3 in the blind and $.50 to call. should I raise here? I had 3 checks before the bet, if I raise maybe I take the pot down right here. But if I've already got the odds, I want more money, no? Or should i raise here to take the money now?


Turn: (4.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(4 players)</font>
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, <font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, Hero calls, BB folds, UTG+1 folds.

Ok. We're down to 4 of us, and I get a near miss. This card kind of bothers me, someone might now have a flush draw, but it also gives me a pair. how do I count my outs here? 8 for the outside straigth + 2 for making a set? Do I add another 3 for 2 pair or not?

Does it matter? looking at the outside straight alone the pot odds are right to keep betting aren't they?


River: (6.50 BB) Q[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(2 players)</font>
MP3 checks, <font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP3 calls.

I hit it. After the bet, the only things I can really fear is a K9. Suppose he came back at me here (suppose he had QQ or QJ instead of what he shows) Would I fear the K9 and fold or should I reraise or just call at that point and why?

Final Pot: 8.50 BB

Thanks in advance guys!