4/180: Please tell me how to play 77

[mikesh]

Two hands about 45 mins in to the tourney, literally one hand apart, I get dealt 77, and I think play them awful. Help! These smaller pairs kill me - major leak in my game.


First hand. Villain just arrived at the table. I just play scared here, don't I?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

BB (t1760)
UTG (t975)
UTG+1 (t2190)
MP1 (t1385)
Villain (t3670)
MP3 (t1055)
CO (t2495)
Button (t945)
Hero (t2365)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Villain raises to t150</font>, <font color="#666666">5 folds</font>.

Final Pot: t125


Second hand. No real reads. I know I played this one bad . I convinced myself he had a higher club. Should I have raised PF?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

Button (t1610)
SB (t925)
BB (t2090)
UTG (t1385)
UTG+1 (t3745)
MP1 (t1055)
MP2 (t2745)
MP3 (t945)
Hero (t2340)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, MP2 calls t50, MP3 calls t50, Hero calls t50, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, BB checks.

Flop: (t225) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
BB checks, MP2 checks, <font color="#CC3333">MP3 bets t450</font>, Hero folds, BB folds, MP2 folds.

Final Pot: t225