MP3 puts me in a bad spot

[vetman81]

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is Button with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, CO folds, <font color="CC3333">Hero raises</font>, SB folds, BB calls, UTG+1 calls, MP2 calls, MP3 calls.

Flop: (10.50 SB) 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP2 checks, <font color="CC3333">MP3 bets</font>, <font color="CC3333">Hero...</font>


What do I do here? If I raise, then all of the players in between the two of us might fold. Then again they may not. If one of them calls, that is two extra small bets. If I call, and one folds, that is only two extra small bets. Because of this, I chose to go ahead and raise. What do you guys think?

Basically what I wanted to know is should I try to keep these other guys in or not worry about them? Thanks.

[jrz1972]

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What do I do here? If I raise, then all of the players in between the two of us might fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which is what you want. Raising should be 100% automatic.

[meep_42]

Raise to clean up overcard outs and isolate the raiser.

-d

[jrz1972]

He doesn't have any overcard outs.

[meep_42]

Erm, I meant raise to fold out the weak Aces and Kings and such, so that they might not make anyone's hands, should they fall on the turn or river.

-d

[Aaron W.]

MP3 put you in a great spot!

[ QUOTE ]
What do I do here? If I raise, then all of the players in between the two of us might fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

Look at what cards can fall that can realistically beat you. Any A, K, or Q brings an overcard, and with more players it's more likely that overcard hurts you. Raising here drives out those overcards, and that's good.

Look at the size of the pot, it's 11.5 SB when you act. If you just call, that gives 12.5:1 odds to everyone who follows, which is good enough to take one off and see the turn with very little (as few as 4 outs, that Axs with a backdoor flush draw). If you raise, then you drive those odds down to about 6:1, which is better (you may still get callers, but they're not getting as rich off of it). Plus, the pot is big enough that you should be pretty happy to take it now.

[ QUOTE ]
Basically what I wanted to know is should I try to keep these other guys in or not worry about them?

[/ QUOTE ]

You only want them in if your hand is strong enough that they can make their hands and still lose. A set would work in this case (since there aren't really straight or flush draws), as well as AA (plus there are other reasons to wait until the turn to raise). I wouldn't get fancy with KK here since the pot is well on its way to being big.

[beginner]

I think you should raise here. BB's open ended straight draw has odds to call here and UTG may stick around with his AK if you call MP3's bet. You want to raise and make them fold. There is a great chance that MP3 is raising with a pair of 9's or maybe even a pair of 5's and you have him beat. When I have a hand like yours I feel much better about my chances when I showdown with 1 opponent rather than 2 or 3.

Think about it... what will you do if an A or a K comes out on the turn and UTG comes alive or BB comes alive when a 2 drops?? It will be very hard to let the Jacks go, and you may get stuck paying them off.

[TheRiverKnows]

In this situation, when you are second to act, you want the first player to bet, so you can raise and force out the others. You're not trying to get as many bets in as possible here and maximize value. Your hand is venerable.

[srt19170]

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Your hand is venerable.


[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed.

-- Scott