AJo (Top Pair) With Monotone Board

[666shooter]

I think I played this hand horribly. I was a little steamed at the time. MP3 is a loose player and I haven't seen him raise preflop or postflop; seemed to be a calling station.

Paradise Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

saw flop|<font color="#C00000">saw showdown</font>

Button ($21.55)
SB ($7.25)
<font color="#C00000">Hero ($25.00)</font>
UTG ($45.35)
UTG+1 ($24.65)
MP1 ($35.20)
MP2 ($27.80)
<font color="#C00000">MP3 ($14.40)</font>
CO ($38.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $0.10.
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, MP2 calls $0.25, MP3 calls $0.25, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Button calls $0.25, SB (poster) completes, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $2.1</font>, MP2 folds, MP3 calls $2, Button folds, SB folds.

Flop: ($5.25) 7[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 6[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $22.75</font>, MP3 calls $12.15.

Turn: ($40.15) 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

River: ($40.15) 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

Final Pot: $40.15

Again, I think I played horribly. My reasoning at the time (someone please correct me) was that if I bet the pot here and he calls with a club (hoping he doesn't have two of them and I think he would call with one of them) then he is probably going to call the next bet regardless with only $7.15 left and a $15.25 pot (assuming I bet $5 on the flop and he calls) on the turn so I figured I'd just push.

I think what I should have done was bet the pot and if he calls judge what to do based on the turn card? I certaintly don't check this to this guy?

I look forward to your criticism.

[666shooter]

Bump.

[Dan Bitel]

I hate it. What worse hand pays you off?

[traz]

Don't raise oop pf with AJ. The open push is so terrible it hurts to look at. Bet and shut down to any resistance

[cata1yst]

Just bet $4.50-$4.75 on the flop. If the turn is a club then you can check/fold and save $8. Personally, this flop play is terrible. You are only getting called by better hands. Just make him chase his flush and if it hits then lay down your hand.

[666shooter]

Thank you all for confirming my wretched play.