Top pair, no kicker

[Rastadon]

Hero is button with A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
MP1 is loose passive, no read on CO.

Preflop - 3 folds, MP1 calls, 2 folds, CO calls, hero calls, SB folds, BB checks.

Flop - A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
MP1 check, <font color="red">CO bets</font> , hero ???

[deception5]

What happened to BB?

Raise the flop.

[FlawedChip]

Grunch.

I raise the flop because you have top pair; but, your kicker will most likely not play. I think you want to protect your hand in this situation, and I think a raise will do this because: the flop bet did not come from your left, and the pot is not very large as there are only 5 small bets currently in the pot.

By raising, you will force MP1 to face two bets cold. Just because the CO bet the flop does not necessarily mean he is holding Ax. However, with having no read on the CO, you must keep in mind that many players will play Ax from any position. By making MP1 face two cold, he is only getting 3.5:1 odds to draw now, which is not enough if he is drawing to two pair or to even an open ended straight draw if he holds 75.

If you get check raised by MP1, I think I would fold given that he is raising 2 cold.

If MP1 calls and the CO reraises you, I would tend to call because you would be getting 10:1, planning to ahead to check/fold on the turn. Although 10:1 is not good enough if you are drawing to two pair with your 3.

Someone please let me know how bad my reasoning is on this flop play.

[Guthrie]

I'd raise the flop and see how many people are holding A8 and A6 offsuit.