live 6/12, JTo BB, no pot until the turn

[mntndrew]

Tough game, typically 3-4 to the flop. There are a couple of soft spots, one of whom is in this hand.

Hero dealt J [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] in BB. HJ (loose passive) limps, CO (decent) limps, BN, SB fold, Hero checks.

Flop [2.5 SB]: A [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] T [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 4 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
Checked around. (probably should have bet out, but was considering CR'ing CO, who seemed rather aggressive and who I think would have raised a decent ace preflop and folded a smaller one.)

Turn [1.25 BB]: J [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
Hero bets, HJ calls, CO raises...

I think the HJ could have a K, Q, J, T or a [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. No idea really what to put CO on. Raise, fold, or call? Plan for river [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], broadway and blank?

[Xhad]

I fold.

[johnb]

This is a tricker situation than it appears at first glance. On the one hand, the smaller the field the more likely I am to lead at the flop and see where I am. On the other hand, I seldom like to lead into a flop containing an ace and two suited cards. It is close but I would probably lead if I was sure on my read on the CO raising a decent ace pre flop. I think going for the check raise here borders on fancy play. You have to balance the reward of the check raise with the risk of giving a free card. So....

I check fold the turn. There are a lot of hands that beat you here. There's about $18 in the pot at the start of the hand and $30 if someone bets it. The way you played it you stand to lose a big pot or win a small one.

Some people will make the case for check call on the turn so passively with the reasoning that you give players the signal to lead at and steal the pot. Overall, I think there is a big chance that you are beat here and you need, IMHO, a bigger pot to justify calling. JB

[mntndrew]

[ QUOTE ]
I fold.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because.... the pot's too small? We're drawing to four outs too often? The middle position player makes it tough to play?

I had a tough time putting the CO player on a hand because I thought he would've played all hands that beat me differently (aces up, straight, flush). On the other hand, he did also play a hand against the same HJ villain that went something like this:

(don't remember pre-flop action, but it was not raised). HJ guy bets AKT flop, CO guy raises, HJ guy calls. J turn goes check-check. K river, HJ guy bets AK, CO guy calls, folds a Q face up.