How do I combat this very common situation?

[whittiphil]

No reads usually, but a very common situation.

Hero gets dealt 44 in EP. One MP raiser, two callers (one LP) including Hero. Pot is $8 going to the flop

flop Q T 7. Hero checks, MP bets $3, LP folds, Hero ???

What does a $3 bet mean???? Do I raise? What if he calls? Do I call? Do I fold? Usually I end up folding..

[yvesaint]

i dunno you tell us, you sat with the guy

its different for everyone

oh, but yea, folding = +EV definitely

[JaBlue]

folding is neutral ev, which is better than the negative ev of calling but still not positive.

[pokerjoker]

Either fold or raise, without a read I always fold. If the guy is a LAG c-bet junkie, then I raise.

Overall I am probably about 90% fold 10% raise.

If he calls ur raise and a four doesn't come on the turn, I am done with the hand.

[FreakDaddy]

I used to try and raise these kinds of bets, but as I quickly found out, a lot of players at these limits will commonly bet weak when strong and vice versa. So now instead I'll fold these until I've seen some hands shown down by villian and can get a better idea what a < 1/2 size pot bet means when a player's still to act. Regardless of read though with 2 people in the pot, I fold this 97.46% of the time.

[Jocke_F]

I usually try and raise theese types of bets the first time they happen with a new foe, if he fights back I will not try it again unless he shows me something new against other opponents.

[PokerCat69]

Fold VS an unknown the vast majority of the time, reRaise once and awhile.

With no reads I fold without a second thought

[djoyce003]

pretty easy fold...it's a weak lead because of the multiway pot...he probably has something...don't try to bluff bad players because your 4's are almost certainly behind.