flopped the nuts... what's my line?

[Leonid]

Hey guys,

This is an old hand that I just dug up cause I wasn't sure what line to take at the time (this is a 50nl hand... I'm playing 100nl now). I'm sure I'll get several different recommendations here, and any advice is appreciated, but my real question isn't so much what line to take but why take that line. I really want to know how to think about this situation clearly. Thanks.


Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 handed) internettexasholdem.com

BB ($113.60)
UTG ($37.02)
MP ($20)
CO ($24.79)
Hero ($49.80)
SB ($45.08)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Qs, Td. SB posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, SB (poster) raises to $0.75, 1 fold, MP calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50.

Flop: ($3.50) Js, Kd, 9c (3 players)
SB bets $3.34, MP calls $3.34, Hero raises to $12

[antidan444]

I like it. A lot of turn cards can kill your action (or your hand if the board pairs), so might as well pump it now.

[goofball]

Easy raise, nice amount I think. Anyone who calls will have a hard time folding a decent hand given what's left in their stack plus what's now in the pot.

[Leonid]

Cool, thanks guys. Just one other thing that I was thinking about is that when you raise the flop you don't look nearly as strong as when you raise the turn, so you're going to get more 2nd best hands calling you down, which is exactly what you want here. This also fits nicely with what you guys said - if you raise the flop and get called you're opponent is going to have an even tougher time folding later in the hand because he's already committed a large amount of money to the pot. Also, since a lot of turn cards will scare other players into folding their 2nd best hands, it's better to show strength on the flop so that it's harder for them to put you on a hand that improved on the turn.