Big pot out of position with TPTK-- any other way to play it?

[Ghazban]

Everyone in the hand is unremarkable statistically; perhaps a little on the tight side preflop so I doubt they're calling my UTG raise with trash. I don't rule out a flush draw for the later callers (MP3 and BB) as they're looking at a multiway pot with fairly deep stacks.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (10 handed) converter

MP1 ($181.9)
MP2 ($157.15)
MP3 ($513.1)
CO ($203.95)
Button ($223.95)
SB ($351.7)
BB ($181)
Hero ($227.75)
UTG+1 ($60.75)
UTG+2 ($364.45)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $1.
<font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $6</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG+2 calls $6, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, MP3 calls $6, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, BB calls $4.

Flop: ($25) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $20</font>, UTG+2 calls $20, MP3 calls $20, BB folds.

Turn: ($85) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $50</font>, UTG+2 folds, MP3 calls $50.

River: ($185) 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks


On the end, I'm prepared to call a reasonable bet. If he puts me all in, I'm not sure what I'll do (it'll be about 3/4 pot)-- it'll depend on my read on his bet timing and gut feeling.

[beginnersluck13]

This looks good, and also I agree with you in your thinking about calling the river bet based on size, your feeling and reads. Tough playing these hands out of position. Hope it worked out.

[EMcWilliams]

It all looks about right to me (maybe a blocking bet on the river, but otherwise I think it is good)

[Ghazban]

[ QUOTE ]
It all looks about right to me (maybe a blocking bet on the river, but otherwise I think it is good)

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is an interesting point and I seriously considered a blocking bet. However, I don't think there's a bet I can make that lets me fold to a raise due to stackot ratio.

[EMcWilliams]

If you are willing to call up to 3/4 of the pot, why not bet 1/2 the pot.....I think that qualifies as a good blocking bet.

[amoeba]

This is the problem with full ring and 100xBB stack sizes and premium hands preflop.

This is another hand I would consider limpreraising preflop.

I might also check the turn.

Yes its weak. yes it gives him a free card.

however, I just don't want to play for my whole stack here and unless if I feel he is capable of pushing a blank river on a bluff, I think checking the turn is fine.

if he already has a hand that beats you on the turn, he'll bet behind you because a flush card kills his action.

if he has a draw, he'll take the free card.

yes its bad to give free cards but I feel I have better feel of where I am by checking the turn.

with 2 callers on the flop, I find it unrealistic that both of them are on the flush draw thus I want to see what action they take.

[amoeba]

its not a blocking bet if you call when villain puts you all in.

hero only has 3/4 pot left.

[Ghazban]

[ QUOTE ]
If you are willing to call up to 3/4 of the pot, why not bet 1/2 the pot.....I think that qualifies as a good blocking bet.

[/ QUOTE ]

1/2 the pot is 2/3 of my stack. I can't bet half the pot and then fold to a raise. If I'm betting, it has to be all-in and if I get called, I'm almost certainly beat. I'd actually prefer check/calling all-in to betting anything at all as I can at least pick off a bluff or a bad player's AQ that way.

[EMcWilliams]

Forgive my rookie mistake. My math was off, and I was not entirely paying attention to all the details.

[Ghazban]

No worries. It did bring about the point that this is one of those rare cases in no-limit where you'd rather call all-in than push all-in.