50NL - Top Two gets c/r on flop

[Rambino]

Am I always beat here? I have been playing a little laggy. Villain is fairly tough. Doesn't do stupid things, but is perfectly capable of make moves into perceived bs.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

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

Button ($65.35)
SB ($24.20)
BB ($55.60)
<font color="#C00000">UTG ($48.40)</font>
UTG+1 ($27.90)
<font color="#C00000">Hero ($47.05)</font>
MP2 ($44.75)
MP3 ($51.70)
CO ($30)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. CO posts a blind of $0.75.
UTG calls $0.50, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $2.5</font>, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, Button calls $2.50, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, UTG calls $2.

Flop: ($9) A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
UTG checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $7.5</font>, Button folds, <font color="#CC3333">UTG raises to $15</font>

Hero ??

[jetsetboy]

Simply push and suck out if he hold 88. By the way if you are not pushing here what kind of flop do you want to have to push with AJo ? AAJ ? That will not happen too often.

[Windforce]

def. push here

[Rambino]

That was pretty much my thought process. Couldn't get much better flop, so I pushed.

But I am not sure what his range is here, though. AA is possible but unlikely, ditto JJ. J8 - I don't think so. Other pp - not this guy. That leaves something like T9 of hearts or spades, but that's about it.

Even though the flop smacked me in the face, I think his range is crushing me here, since his range is either 88 or really good draws.

[mxp2004]

[ QUOTE ]
That was pretty much my thought process. Couldn't get much better flop, so I pushed.

But I am not sure what his range is here, though. AA is possible but unlikely, ditto JJ. J8 - I don't think so. Other pp - not this guy. That leaves something like T9 of hearts or spades, but that's about it.

Even though the flop smacked me in the face, I think his range is crushing me here, since his range is either 88 or really good draws.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with you on his hand range. You can beat KK, QQ, AK, AQ, and AXs, but none of these are consistent with the line taken here of good and tough opponent, as you describe him.

You can also beat TT and 99, but is Villain playing those hands aggressively with two overcards on the board and the bets that you've made? Again, doesn't seem likely to me.

The only really "big draw" -- and by that I mean some combo draw of straight and flush -- are hands like Ts9s, KsQs, Qs9s. Again, those don't seem like the kind of hands that a TAG plays OOP preflop for a raise... or hands that a TAG plays post-flop for a min-bet check-raise. What would be the point of a min-bet checkraise from OOP with just a draw, even a good one?

88 and JJ just seem like they fit best with Villain's line. This would be a really tough laydown. Definitely a hard spot. Is just a call here so terrible?

[mce86]

You pushed, what happened?

[jaydreb]

This is an easy fist-pump push for me absent an airtight read on Villain.

[crazymoose]

If he's tough I bet he 3-bets AA/JJ pre-flop. He's probably got some kind of combo draw or a big ace and thinks you are full of it. He checks and then thinks hmm another c-bet from this guy, I prolly got the best hand/draw, I raise.

That being said I think I like a shove b/c half the deck either kills you or kills your action.

[Rambino]

[ QUOTE ]
You pushed, what happened?

[/ QUOTE ]

What - a 2+2'er wants results? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I guess I feel validated by the responses here. It was a tough spot, but I felt goodish about my push at the time. Less so after he turned over 88.

[maso]

This just screams set limp/call min checkraise. I see this line alot.