[gameoverjc]

[ QUOTE ]

After one limper, I raise w/ JJ. The TAG 3 bets. A fish to his left cold calls and the maniac calls.

The flop comes J55, two spades.

We all check to the 3- better, who bets. The maniac raises, I 3 bet and the Tag caps it.

The turn brings a red three. The maniac pushes all-in for $35.

I decided I had to raise … with the TAG’s overpair and the fish most likely drawing dead to the flush, I might get both over calls because the maniac was all in.

I took some heat from a few friends for the raise. What do you think?

[/ QUOTE ]

First off I think you should remove 'I had to' from your vocabulary when describing any poker hand ever. This is bad habit forming, and nothing in poker you are forced to do.

Secondly, you just described the hand perfectly. TAG def has overpair, fish drawing dead to a flush, maniac being a maniac, this is perfect to just call the turn and do your best to bemoan your bad luck with ajax without saying anything. Then 3 town it.

2 betting his all in then betting the river makes it very easy for a TAG to fold an overpair. I know in heat of the moment this seems like an auto 2 bet, but if you think it out, this is what will make you those extra 2-4bb's which are veddy niiice.