NL200 - 99's in raised pot

[rid.br]

10 handed
Game is kinda tight / passive and i have no reads on this villain.

stacks: Villain has $200 and i have $220.

blinds: 1 / 2
Hand:
3 folds, and I raise from MP to $9 with 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] , 2 callers behind and SB comes along as well.

4 people to the flop.

(pot=$35) flop: 3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 4 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
I bet $25 and villain in LP calls, others fold.

(pot=$85) turn: J [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
I bet $45 and villain calls again.

(pot=$175) river: Q [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
I check and villain checks behind.

He shows KK's and takes down the pot.

I'm having trouble with hands like TT and 99 in a raised pot. It seems i'm losing too much with this hands when i'm behind.

I kinda mix my raises from early position with them. Sometimes i raise, sometimes i don't. But i don't feel very confortable playing them Out Of Position. So maybe i have to just stop raising in EP with this hands.

What you guys think ?

[rid.br]

no help ?
[img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Andrew Fletcher]

This is a tough hand, but I think your opponent played it pretty badly. Personally, pre-flop and on the flop, I make almost the exact play that you did with AK/AQ. Does villian have a plan when when an ace comes on the turn or river? This seems like a very passive/weak game. He needs to protect his hand and do a little value betting.

What are you trying to accomplish with the $45 bet on the turn? Are you trying to win the pot? Is it a value bet? If it's a value bet, what range of hands do you put villian on that calls your bet? Still, given that villian didn't re-raise PF or on the flop, I can't see how you put him on a bigger PP.

I like the check on the river, as you've figured out that you're probabely beat.

My only other suggestion would be to loosen up your starting requirements. If the table is really this passive/tight (and playing KK this way is about as weak/tight as you can get), then loosening up PF might pay rich rewards.

[crosse91]

i don't like raising with them in ep/mp at all.

[Andrew Fletcher]

99s are sort of a crossover pocket pair. They are weak, but they aren't that weak. You're not only playing to flop a set, you're often ahead after the flop as well.