Almost first in, baby pair
 

20/40 game at the Lobster's favorite undersea grotto. UTG+1 is a regular who's been playing every single hand this session, even though he must know better. BB appears to be new to hold'em and keeps asking questions about the rules. Overvalues his high card hands. No info on SB.

Hero on button picks up 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, folds to hero.

Hero's play: ?

Normally I'd say an easy raise, but what if I'm virtually guaranteed 2 callers who could have anything?

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

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20/40 game at the Lobster's favorite undersea grotto. UTG+1 is a regular who's been playing every single hand this session, even though he must know better. BB appears to be new to hold'em and keeps asking questions about the rules. Overvalues his high card hands. No info on SB.

Hero on button picks up 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, folds to hero.

Hero's play: ?

Normally I'd say an easy raise, but what if I'm virtually guaranteed 2 callers who could have anything?

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Don't raise. The BB will probably call based on your description of him and you will have a very difficult hand to play.


If you don't advertise strength you will be in a good position if you make a set with some high cards. You could have position with people betting into you. Lots of good options.

Don't invest more than you have to in a multi-way pot with a small pocket pair when you won't even have good set odds.

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

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20/40 game at the Lobster's favorite undersea grotto. UTG+1 is a regular who's been playing every single hand this session, even though he must know better. BB appears to be new to hold'em and keeps asking questions about the rules. Overvalues his high card hands. No info on SB.

Hero on button picks up 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, folds to hero.

Hero's play: ?

Normally I'd say an easy raise, but what if I'm virtually guaranteed 2 callers who could have anything?

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Don't raise. The BB will probably call based on your description of him and you will have a very difficult hand to play.


If you don't advertise strength you will be in a good position if you make a set with some high cards. You could have position with people betting into you. Lots of good options.

Don't invest more than you have to in a multi-way pot with a small pocket pair when you won't even have good set odds.

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The reason I thought this hand was interesting enough to post is that the situation was so unfavorable that I seriously considered folding it, which would be pretty unusual. Not enough set value, no fold equity, and little showdown value. Negative implied odds as these guys aren't so passive as to let me check all the way to the river.

Does anyone else think this is a situation where the pair just isn't a money maker?

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

I don't think a fold would be awful, but if you play better than everyone else, playing is the most +ev play. With this SPECIFIC big blind, who is likely to c/c the whole way without you having any real idea of his cards (since he may not know himself!), folding has more merit than usual...but I'd still limp here.

Your best bet to win money in this spot is to call, entice the SB in, and hit your set. The implied odds should be huge, and you can just muck quietly if you miss and anyone bets.

BTW: if the BB was not a lock to call like this, I raise all day to try to get heads up with weak limper.

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

limp button, to breakeven you need one bet on flop/turn/river, and with position and the player reads this sounds like a great spot since they seem like they will payoff a lot

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

I like a raise here, especially if the limper is going to play pretty straightforward post flop and fold if he misses. Plus you can't get it HU if you limp. I wouldn't want the blinds to get in cheap. There's not going to be enough action to play this for set value only. I'd fold before I'd limp.

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

If you're going to fold this hand you should move to a game you can beat.

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

i don't think it matters what you do.

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

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20/40 game at the Lobster's favorite undersea grotto. UTG+1 is a regular who's been playing every single hand this session, even though he must know better. BB appears to be new to hold'em and keeps asking questions about the rules. Overvalues his high card hands. No info on SB.

Hero on button picks up 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]. UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, folds to hero.

Hero's play: ?

Normally I'd say an easy raise, but what if I'm virtually guaranteed 2 callers who could have anything?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't raise. The BB will probably call based on your description of him and you will have a very difficult hand to play.


If you don't advertise strength you will be in a good position if you make a set with some high cards. You could have position with people betting into you. Lots of good options.

Don't invest more than you have to in a multi-way pot with a small pocket pair when you won't even have good set odds.

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The reason I thought this hand was interesting enough to post is that the situation was so unfavorable that I seriously considered folding it, which would be pretty unusual. Not enough set value, no fold equity, and little showdown value. Negative implied odds as these guys aren't so passive as to let me check all the way to the river.

Does anyone else think this is a situation where the pair just isn't a money maker?

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Against a limper who seems to be on tilt and a BB who doesnt know what the hell hes doing I call all day here with 22s.

Re: Almost first in, baby pair
 

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If you're going to fold this hand you should move to a game you can beat.

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If I can't beat these guys, where's that gonna be?