Hand I think I played well

[SoBeDude]

I'm looking for opinions on how I played this hand. I think I played it well, but I'm looking for other thoughts.

I'm in the CO with 55. One MP limper to me. I call, button raises. BB calls, MP and I call.

Flop comes: 2 [img]/forums/images/icons/club.gif[/img] 9 [img]/forums/images/icons/diamond.gif[/img] 8 [img]/forums/images/icons/diamond.gif[/img]

Checked to the Button who bets. We all call. I put the button on overcards, probably AK or AQs. I think there is a decent chance I'm ahead here. I think about check-raising the turn if another small non-flush card comes up. But I won't push anyone out that way. so I figure I'll just bet out instead.

Turn: 4 [img]/forums/images/icons/spade.gif[/img]

Ok, checked around to me, I bet. button calls, BB folds, MP calls.

River: 8 [img]/forums/images/icons/club.gif[/img]

Well, no flush, which is good. Anyone holding an eight has me smoked. Anyone holding a 9 might fold, afraid I have an eight.

So I bet. All fold.

I'm trying not to justify my play because I won. So I'm looking for some objective opinions on my play.

Should I have check-raised the flop?

Thanks

-Scott

[Barry]

I like to make plays similar to this on occasion when I have a medium pair and rags flop. The specific approach is somewhat position dependent. I think that you played it OK.

There are some other approachs as well:

1. If you think that the PFR will raise your flop bet even with overcards, betting out the flop and having BB and MP face 2 bets is a good way to keep many overcards from beating you.

2. You could checkraise the flop and plan to lead the turn if the button doesn't 3-bet and no A, K or Q comes.

Of course, bet the river.

[John Biggs]

Hard to believe your post is serious--seems more like a gag.

Let's pretend you *are* serious. In that case I don't like your flop call at all. You don't say what the limit is or what the texture of the game was, but I see weak low-limit players make this sort of speculative play with small pocket pairs all the time and they get punished badly. You got a fortunate result this time, but that is not what should drive your thinking.

There are eight small bets in the pot, so you're not getting the odds to turn a set; someone could easily be slowplaying two pair or a flopped set; there are straight draws and flush draws on the board, and passive players will not bet these but will call with them. Even if you turn a set your five may give someone a straight. If the 5 of diamonds falls someone may make a flush. Basically you have no clean outs, just your small pair which you pray by some miracle holds up. Meanwhile you are hoping the button has overcards only, but he could easily have a pair bigger than yours. How do you figure you have positive expectation here?

By the way your preflop limp was marginal. If everyone after you doesn't limp in, you are not getting the right odds for making your set long-term, and a pair of fives does not do well by itself against more than one opponent. Probably should have folded there, though it's close.

[SoBeDude]

Hi John,

When someone is asking for input on their play, is it really appropriate to be insulting?

I look at your number of posts and can now easily disregard your comments as a rood noob (new term folks?)

Yes, my post is serious, no its not a gag.

And I can't recall the last time I so disagreed so strongly with someone's assessment.

Do me a favor, skip over my posts from now on, ok?

Thanks

-Scott

[MRBAA]

Mr. Biggs was perhaps a touch rude. But I agree with his points. I think limping is fine in the cut off, bad luck getting raised behind. But "no set, no bet" with a small pocket pair is the rule of thumb, especially when you aren't head up. I think your play from the flop on has significant negative expectation over time.

Full disclosure: Biggs is a friend and a very solid low limit he player (I've sat with him on several occasions).

[John Biggs]

Didn't mean to attack you personally; sorry it came off that way. I've seen your posts before, so you're obviously serious about the game. My comments apply only to the play of the hand, which I still question. But I'd be happy to hear your rebuttal, and would be pleased if I learned something from it.

[John Biggs]

... he described it more fully, accurately, and politely than I did.

[RockLobster]

Wow, I don't recall reading any of your posts, but this one makes you sound like a complete jackass. We're here to help each other out, not to ridicule anyone who is bold enough to post questionable hands.

[bernie]

whats with the growing popularity ive seen in some posts about going for a C/R from the CO?

you have 1 player to depend on to bet. that's it, ONE. you better be damn sure he's aggressive enough to bet it. on this board he could easily check it through.

save the c/r for an earlier position with more players behind you.

doubtful youll get a 9 to fold here. top pair isnt going anywhere. you probably have the best hand as everyone missed their overcard/flush/str8 draw.

b

[SoBeDude]

so how was my play ?

I didn't check-raise. I just brought it up for discussion. I dind't like the C/R either.

-Scott