My first posted limit hand (combined with a little whining)

[Jibbs]

I have been primarily a NL and STT player for the last couple of years with a lot of luck. After finding 2+2 and reading through the forums I decided that it sounded like fun to go back and start playing limit again (with a new found knowledge gained from lurking around here).

I've read SSHE and HEPFAP and feel like I do a decent job of applying the concepts although I'm sure I still have more leaks then fingers to plug them. After a trip to Vegas and about 3 weeks of online play I was up about 800BB.

On the last day of the Vegas trip until now the poker gods have been pooping on my parade. I've given back about 600BB. Looking back over the hands I don't see a whole lot I would have done differently in a most hands. Its just been a case of people constantly hitting the river card they need against me and good hands not holding up. Thats the end of my whining.

I decided it was time to throw myself on the alter and get some feedback from the forum. One of the things I noticed looking back over hands that I get somewhat passive on flops when I get bet into.

Here is a hand that I played on Full Tilt 2/4 when trying to correct this.

reads:
MP2 is a solid player, Button is Loose player who has been chasing

9-handed

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
3 folds, MP2 calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, Button calls, 1 fold, BB checks

Flop: (4.5 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
BB checks, MP2 bets, Hero raises, Button calls, BB folds, MP2 raises, Hero calls, Button calls

Turn: (6.75 BB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
MP2 bets, Hero calls, Button calls

River: (9.75 BB) 10[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
MP2 bets, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, MP3 caps, Hero calls, Button calls.

Final Pot: 21.75 BB


Is this flop raise correct? ...calling the 3-bet? Feel free to castigate me for the turn play.

[PokerProdigy]

I don't like the flop raise because this is a small pot, but I guess if you're gonna call his bet you might as well raise to try to limit the field, however, this might NOT work because many people in these games will call with any two overcards on this flop (even if you raise) and then you may be in trouble if an overcard appears on the turn, and then how will you play your hand? This situation on the flop seems like reverse implied odds (if you don't know what I am talking about look it up in the first chapter of SSHE).

After, the flop though I think you have to raise the turn (even cap it if you get the chance) and the same goes for the river, because you can't worry about someone having pocket sixes or pocket tens.

[spydog]

Raise this preflop. The entire hand will play differently if you do, so I won't comment on the other streets.

[Jibbs]

I figured MP2 may bet here with two overcards or A-2 and I didn't want to be pushed off the best hand. When the button called me and MP2 reraised I thought to myself 'whoops, maybe not'. I called the reraise with the intention of throwing it away on the turn with no improvement.

My turn call baffled me as soon as I did it.

[tetonpete]

i think your implied odds are high enough to call the flop reraise. I'd probably raise the turn as the button seems to be on a flush draw and won't fold. If he hits it, you make more money by just calling the turn, but the 4 out of five times he misses you need to get in that other big bet. Plus there's a good possibly that mp2 will reraise with his A6s or pocket twos and you can trap the button for another bet or two.
And if the button has 10-6,a turn raise will make you lots of money.

[tetonpete]

and as spydog says, raise this preflop

[Jibbs]

Interesting. I don't know if this particular hand would play too differently (you will see when I post the results).

But, I am interested in the thought process in raising this pre-flop. Is it to get rid of the button and blinds or to try to grab a free card if the flop doesnt hit or ...?

[CallMeIshmael]

Raise preflop.

77 does well vs MANY opponents or FEW, it doesnt like 4.

Assuming you limped:

Mandatory flop raise (I think someone said he didn't like it [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img])

Raise the turn. The button is very likely on a flush draw. He wont put money in on the river. No reason to slowplay, you almost certainly missed a lot of bets here.

River I dig.

[Jibbs]

MP2 shows pocket 2's for 2's full of 6's
Hero shows pocket 7's for 7's full of 6's
Button shows pocket 10's for 10's full of 6's

Hero mutters profanity to self.

[spydog]

You raise PF to get HU or 3-way with initiative. This allows you to win the pot on the flop with 1 bet when your opponents miss. The less opponents seeing the flop, the better the chance you take it down with a flop bet.