Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

My opponent in this hand had been limping in with a lot of garbage. I assumed he didn't have much, so I thought a solid raise would take it down preflop. With the blinds and antes and his call, I thought it was worth a shot to build my stack.

Full Tilt Poker, NL Hold'em Tournament, 600/1,200 Blinds, 150 Ante, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

CO: 15,110
BTN: 25,283
Hero (SB): 25,640
BB: 13,850
UTG: 15,391
UTG+1: 6,168
UTG+2: 57,665
MP1: 21,190
MP2: 49,646

Pre-Flop: (3,150) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] dealt to Hero (SB)
4 folds, MP2 calls 1,200, 2 folds, <font color="red">Hero raises to 4,000</font>, BB folds, MP2 calls 2,800

Flop: (10,550) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 Players)
Hero checks, <font color="red">MP2 bets 1,200</font>, <font color="red">Hero raises to 8,000</font>, MP2 folds

Maybe I butchered this flop; maybe I didn't. I'm not sure. I hoped that my check would make him think I tried to steal and whiffed. Then I thought maybe a big raise would look like another steal. I didn't think there was any way for him to put me on a 5. I guess he probably just didn't have anything and I wasn't going to make anything more.

How would you guys recommend playing this flop? Being OOP made it tough for me to decide what to do.

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

check call flop, check call turn, raise river.

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

I'd lead the flop...

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

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I'd lead the flop...

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Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

Against a thinking player, I'd probably bet out, hope it looks like a continuation bet. Otherwise, I just trap him and make him pay later on.

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

I think the preflop raise is ok if he's been limping a lot, but it is too small. He is getting almost 3-1 to call and has position. You both have enough of a stack that any limping hand should be ok with calling without being committed to going all the way. I would have raised to about 6000 and if he calls, you have 19K chips left with and about 14-15K in the pot. This is just enough that if an ace or non-threatening flop hits, you can shove but if not, can still get away from it. In the instance of flopping the monster as you did, you could check and hopefully induce a big bet from him.

As played, I think a slowplay to the river is best, unless the third club hits on the turn. I don't worry much about a flush draw at this point...considering he bet 1200 into a 10k pot, he probably doesn't know a whole lot about the pot odds regarding a flush draw and you probably won't get him off it anyway. There is a lot more value in getting into an eventual all-in situation that there is worrying about the flush. Even if he did make one on fourth street, you still would have 10 redraw outs.

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

With a limp, I raise more preflop, to about 4800. As played, lead this flop as a check raise looks much stronger and he may play back at you if you bet out.

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

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check call flop, check call turn, raise river.

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Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

A check-raise screams strength.

I would probably either (1) bet out 1/3 to look weak or (2) c/c flop, c/r turn.

Re: Tried to steal...flopped a monster...screwed it up?
 

fold pf