low middle pair question
 

I just got into an arguement in a home game with a friend of mine over how to play low pairs early in a multi table tourney. Here is the situation. Blinds 25 50, stacks are around 3000, so no real blind pressure. Player A opens with a raise to 130 after a fold or two, he is mid position. Player B simply calls in late position. Flop comes 2 4 6. Player A makes a continuation bet, and player B over raises all in. Player A calls.

The hands are rolled, and Player A had 5 5 and player B had a set. Now, I could not be critical of either play. However, Player B believed player A was stupid for calling in that spot, and that is when our arguement started. I reason the hand out as follows, I have pocket 5's, this guy called in LP and didn't raise preflop. I have middle pair and a gutshot straight draw (I know, its not that big of a deal). I don't make Player B for a big pair, no reraise preflop. 2's, 4's or 6's makes sense, but Ace King, King Queen also make sense. I am calling this raise. It looks like a bluff to me. I assume that those in a 50 dollar MTT probably know how to play, and are not overbetting like this guy is.

Am I wrong here? In an MTT with blinds moving every twelve minutes, am I wrong to keep moving? If I know he has the set, obviously I am not calling, but in my mind, especially with so many people wanting to play like that idiot Mike Matusow, I think calling is right. In online poker, it seems that no one respects the continuation bet.


Side note : IF this is LIVE poker, with slower blinds, I fold, no questions asked. I am taking into account online, with fast, 10 to 12 minute sessions.

Re: low middle pair question
 

I don't think there is a definitive right answer and the board was looking quite good for both players. The continuation bet was fine. Often All ins can be interpreted as weak bluff to push the over guy off the pot.

Player B would have been pretty sure to believe he had the best hand, and was hoping maybe 'A' had a big pocket pair. Player 'A' decided it was worth drawing to the straight on a gamble as it was very unlikely 'B' had 52.

Online play being so quick, it's easy to get caught up in the action and not really consider a situation when it is a gamble.

Small pairs are good to see cheap unraised pots early when you have lots of chips, and take it from there. Sometimes they become a monster, other times you may even need to muck trips if it's made clear in a multiway pot a straight or flush has been made. But thats what you should expect from a cheap flop, all players looking to improve once the flop has hit.