[Buzz]

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I don't understand this raise. If Rick the Rock has a hand (let's say a Kxxx or a 99xx), he's not folding. Otherwise, he's dead money. A hand like AAxx has one out. A hand like QJTx has 3 Ts. Do we really want to discourage dead money from calling here?

[/ QUOTE ]Hi Mack – Good point. We will have a better idea of where we stand if Rick folds to the raise. (We will know Rick doesn’t have KXXX or 99XX). Would Rick call a single bet with anything less than KXXX or 99XX? Hard to say.

Without KXXX or 99XX Rick probably folds anyhow, even without the raise.

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It seems as though our raise will only drive out hands we can beat, or charge us a couple of extra bets to chase hands that beat us.

[/ QUOTE ]I think Hero is probably ahead here. But vulnerable. The trip kings need protection. We don't want Rick playing a pair (or two pairs) behind us and making a full house on the turn or river with us meanwhile not improving.
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Are we worried about runner-runner flush draws?

[/ QUOTE ]Vaguely. [ QUOTE ]
Are we trying to define hands while it is still a cheap bet?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes! We get a better idea of where we stand by noting the reactions of our opponents to the raise.

You make a good point. When we make a strong full house, we’d rather have an extra paying customer on the last two betting rounds than last position.

However, more often than not, (and by slightly better than 3 to 2), we’ll miss quads or a full house on the turn or river. And then it’s really nice to be in last position.

Buzz