To bet or checkraise. Two live 4/8 hands

[ChuckyB]

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Hand 1: 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in bb. EP limper, MP limper, sb completes, I check.

K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players, 4 SB)

sb checks, I check planning to raise the EP limper who usually just bets anything, but it checks around.

A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] [K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]] (4 players, 2 BB)

sb checks, I bet, EP limper calls, fold, fold.

8 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] [A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 6 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]] (2 players, 4 BB)

I bet, villain calls.



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Bet the flop. The board is ragged, a naked ace may stick around and no one will see 96 coming.

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Hand 2: 7 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] in bb. UTG raises (seems like the next most reasonable player at the table. doens't get out of line often). 4 cold callers, sb calls, I call. 7 to the flop.

9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 7 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (7 players, 14 SB)

I check (and HATED it as soon as I tapped the felt to check. Usually I think for a second but I instachecked and didn't like it). UTG bets, 3 callers, I raise, UTG folds, others call.

A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] [9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 7 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]] (4 players, 11 BB)

I bet, 2 players call.

A [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] [A [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 7 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 2 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]] (3 players, 14 BB)

I check, MP checks, button bets and says "97 no good anymore?". I look left and see that MP is folding, so I crycall.

Help.

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With the PF raiser you're in a bad spot to get protection. Check-raising the flop here is only for building a pot (if you had the flush draw and a bunch of opponents). Check-raising the flop puts 19 SB in there with four players who only have to call one single-sized bet.

Doing it on the turn could get someone else to fold (players do stink or wake up at this level). And they may fold if UTG leads again.

The best way I can think to protect your hand is to lead out if you believe UTG will raise the flop.