Cut-Off vs Tough button 3-bettor

[J.A.Sucker]

The problem in spots where you have a weak, but possibly best hand, yet there are lots of bluffing/semibluffing cards out and to come is that you never know where you are or what you are rooting for. You need to decide whether to go on or not. If you do call the turn, you pretty much commit yourself to the river most of the time. That's why small pairs suck in these spots, and your buddy's reasoning can't be wrong against a tough player.

If you do decide to play on, how would your foe play a pair between 55-77? Would he ever fold if you initiate the action and bet the turn out? Just as important, would he semibluff raise you with a hand like AJ on this board?

How would he react to check-raising on this turn? This might also be a decent play to make against some.

Check-calling is also fine, but I know it seems lame. All the options suck, but they are all possible, depending on the player. That said, this is a reason why small pairs are lousy in these spots with tough players - there's just no "play" to them and it feels like you end up mucking the best hand more than you should or you wind up paying off when you shouldn't.