2/5 live....flopped set but draw hits with monkeys behind

[jlocdog]

2/5 at a club in NYC. (9 handed)

MP1(me) $600: Playing fairly LAG in comparison to the rest of the table. Opening wider which may give off that image but I have been pretty TAG postflop. Monkeys probably can't see that part though.

HJ $400: Tilty monkey. Will call (maybeeee stack off) with as weak as TPXK. Very loose preflop with calling. Chases any draw too far regardless of situation, ....you get the point.

BT $500: Loose passive calling station (chick if that matters?). Range is small when she takes initiative, but much wider when coming along for the ride.

I limp after 2 limpers with 8 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]8 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. HJ limps and CO minraises (??) to $10. BT calls, BB calls as do all limpers.

(Pot is $70) Flop comes 9 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]8 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]3 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].

Checked to me and I bet $50. HJ and BT call.

(pot is $220) Turn comes K [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].

I check, HJ bets $40 ???????, BT folds. What the hell...

Comments on all streets plus future action would be appreciated.

-Throughout this session I have been raising almost all PP preflop. This time I saw a multiway pot developing and being in meh position, decided to call and hope to stack a monkey. I think it can go either way as long as I mix it up in this scenario.

On the turn I guess I could have potted it but this is live meaning that my bet is essentially a PSB. Plus I didn't want to jam the pot till the turn with all the draws out knowing I was getting called in atleast one spot more often then not. Hows the thought process?

[Fisher32]

Your play is standard. Don't be suprised to see a KoJack here. You still need to raise it like you hit. Pot control if the board does'nt pair. He will not come over the top here being the weak player you describe.

[jlocdog]

How is raising him here with these stacks supposed to be an excersice in pot control?

[Margin Of Error]

Your flop bet is way too weak. I would overbet that flop esp in a live game. Make it 100-120 on the flop and shove the turn.

[Fisher32]

If you raise him here, on the turn, to around 120, and he calls, chances are good he's not going to bet this river. It's probably going to get checked to you unless he really hit a flush or gets there on the river. Now you, playing live, should have a better read on this than anyone. It's just one of the advantages you get from playing live.

To me that sounds like a feeler bet. Until otherwise.

[creedofhubris]

Someone gave me good advice once when facing a tiny bet like this, and that's just to pretend that the other guy checked.

Put in your $40 and pretend it went check/check and button folded out of turn.

BTW, you're not playing LAG if you didn't raise 88 preflop.

[Fisher32]

It's either a feeler bet or a cheap drawing bet.

[jlocdog]

Creed,

I had been raising 2-4 pots per orbit. Was pretty much the only one 3 betting preflop without QQ+. This particular hand I felt a limp would be a nice change of pace and a hand that would be hard to put me on if I hit.

[jlocdog]

Please help a brother out.

How do you handle these 'nothing' bets? In your expirience, what do they normally mean? What is plan for river?

[Percula]

[ QUOTE ]
Please help a brother out.

How do you handle these 'nothing' bets? In your expirience, what do they normally mean? What is plan for river?

[/ QUOTE ]

The fish call it a "feeler" bet. They are betting their K or betting their baby flush and trying to see if anyone if going to come over the top of them. Or they are betting the nuts trying to see if they have anyone else interested in the hand.

I generally repop these little pussy bets pretty hard unless I have a read that they are really strong. Calling can be the worst thing to do with these little bets, as you will often face a big bet on the river with little or no new information, aka tough spot.