10-20 NLH -- Pot control v. value

[Chaostracize]

This is pretty wrong for a button versus blind matchup. You need to be aggressive with any part of the flop and any draw. He could be betting so many hands. Calling does not keep him in line.

[SunOfBeach]

gotta be pretty similar EV between playing it as you did and maybe picking off a bluff/bet on the river, versus raising the flop...

the key has got to be to sometimes play it one way, and to other times play it the other.

[thabadguy]

Call, potting/raising turn is another alternative.
Reraising pf is acceptable too.
Calling, checking turn is horrifying.

[Jonny]

He could easily be betting his OESD here...

[Chaostracize]

Hero has position.

[turnipmonster]

I do this all the time also, I think many players do. easy for him to have a draw here also as someone else pointed out.

[BobboFitos]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Two pair is a pretty strong hand in this situation. He could have a big ace or maybe even air if he is any good. I raise the flop and turn.

[/ QUOTE ]
Very true, leading into a button raiser outta hte blinds with nothing is something i do very very often
You gotta have something to steal my blinds.

[/ QUOTE ]

i love that statement

[turnipmonster]

I think the pertinent question here is what hands are were controlling the pot against? I don't think pot control is a good reason to check this turn, although there might be other good reasons to check it, depending on opponent.

[AZK]

[ QUOTE ]

I think the pertinent question here is what hands are were controlling the pot against? I don't think pot control is a good reason to check this turn, although there might be other good reasons to check it, depending on opponent.

[/ QUOTE ]

i don't think this is a board where you worry about pot control with aces up.

[Rococo]

Thanks for the replies. I generally agree that I need to get more money in the middle here somewhere.

For whatever reason, I decided once the flop came to play the hand as if I had a bad A. Villain was playing a bit weak, which 1) made me doubt that he was on 9T, and 2) made me afraid of losing him if I raised the flop; and 3) made me somewhat concerned that he had 88. I assumed that he probably was drawing at no more than 3 outs (or else I was crushed), so I wasn't that concerned about giving a free card.

The bigger question for me was how to get money in the pot if I was ahead. I checked the turn because I wanted him to bet his AJ or whatever on the river. I think that was a reasonable (though certainly debatable) decision given how weakly I played the flop. As it turns out, the river was a 7. He bet, I raised and he folded.

In retrospect, however, I think that I should have raised the flop as TBG suggested and tried to get some real money in the pot from a big A earlier in the hand.