KJs makes top pair and meets resistance

[Harkon]

Ok, another case where I have no idea whether my play was retarded, mediocre or brilliant. I have no reads here, less than ten hands at the table.

Please critique.

PokerStars 0.05/0.10 Hold'em (9 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. MP3 posts a blind of $0.05.
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero calls, MP1 calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, MP3 (poster) checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO raises</font>, Button calls, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, Hero calls, MP1 calls, MP3 folds.

Is limping ok, or should I raise?

Flop: (10.40 SB) 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP1 checks, <font color="#CC3333">CO bets</font>, Button calls, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, MP1 folds, CO calls, Button calls.

What I was hoping for was to have CO bet and knock button out, and then knock MP1 out myself with a check-raise. Then I'd be HU with the preflop raiser. Nice plan I guess, but didn't work.

Turn: (8.20 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, CO calls, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises</font>, Hero calls, CO calls.

Button's raise was unexpected and unpleasant. I have a hard time putting him on any likely hand here. Not to mention that I'm not sure if I'm even ahead of CO at this point.

River: (14.20 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, CO checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, CO folds, <font color="#CC3333">Button 3-bets</font>, Hero calls.

Cool, I improve. Either I beat his two-pair or lose to his set. I don't really like my play here, but I'm not sure. I almost capped it, but wimped out. Also, should I just bet? Or check/call, hoping that CO overcalls?

Final Pot: 20.20 BB

[Genesis]

Preflop, it's ok to call or raise this preflop.
Flop, I'm fine with checkraising this to knock someone out and get a good feel for your opponents strength.
Turn, button's raise is definitely a cause for concern, seems like two pair or possible set.
River, button's turn raise makes me play this cautiously so I bet out and call a raise. Also gives me a chance to catch CO in the middle.

[tehox]

[ QUOTE ]
Preflop, it's ok to call or raise this preflop.
Flop, I'm fine with checkraising this to knock someone out and get a good feel for your opponents strength.
Turn, button's raise is definitely a cause for concern, seems like two pair or possible set.
River, button's turn raise makes me play this cautiously so I bet out and call a raise. Also gives me a chance to catch CO in the middle.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah checkraising the river sucks. If you bet you likely get CO to call, then if button calls you get 2 bets when you're likely ahead. If button raises, you only put in two bets when likely behind, but you also have CO in for two bets. By c/r the river, we force out CO, so get only two bets when ahead, and lose three bets when likely behind if button 3 bets.

[KinkyKid]

I'd usually fold this preflop at UTG+1. But if you are going to play it (which seems fine at such a loose table), I'd just call hoping to get a lot of players in. I probably lead the flop, hoping to 3-bet CO. The button waking up on the turn is a little scary. What does he coldcall with preflop that makes sense to raise here? If he's an absolute donkey, maybe Kx suited and he has two pair. The other possility is 77, 22 or 33. I think this is far more likely, but at this point I can't see folding away such a large pot.

[KinkyKid]

I agree with the rest on the river. I bet/call. What happened showed exactly why you didn't want to check-raise. He has showed strength on the turn, so now you have let him 3-bet you with a set. By bet/call, you still win the same amount from him if you are ahead, plus whatever CO puts in.

[XRolandX]

I am just a rookie, but here is how I would read the hand. The Button is sitting on 77 (maybe 22). He called the preflop raise and called the flop. Why? Maybe he was slowplaying his set. After all this is nickel/dime and anything is possible. Maybe he was scared CO had KKK. When CO called the turn, Button believed he had top hand and raised. Since no flush or straight possibility, the set of 7's looked pretty "nutty".

I would have raised the flop with my KK and J kicker mostly to test the waters and knock out the weakest hands. If CO and Button just call I figure I'm ahead and will continue to bet at the pot. If either re-raise then I must consider trips or another KK with a better kicker and probably fold. Like I say, I'm a newbie so take it with a large grain of salt!

[MadMike]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd usually fold this preflop at UTG+1.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think folding KJs is pretty bad- unless you were thinking about KJo in which case I'd agree with you.