Stud 8b low pair on 4th street - advice please

[nick604]

7 Card Stud High-Low ($1/$2), Ante $0.10, Bring-In $0.50 (converter)

Seat 2: $83.45
Seat 3: $20.55
Seat 5: $37.90
Seat 6: $34.45
Hero: $45.70
Seat 8: $33.45

3rd Street - (0.60 SB)

Seat 2: xx xx Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]___folds
Seat 3: xx xx T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]___folds
Seat 5: xx xx 9[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]___folds
Seat 6: xx xx 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]___folds
Hero: 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]___brings-in
Seat 8: xx xx 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]___calls

4th Street - (1.60 SB)

Hero: 7[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
Seat 8: xx xx 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]___bets


<font color="#666666"> </font> Found myself in this situation a few times now. Any advice please? <font color="#666666"> </font>

[Alchemist]

I'd certainly peel here. He might just have a crappy draw to an 8-low and wants you to fold, hoping you have some trash random hand as the bring-in. Re-evaluate on 5th.

[SweetLuckyMe]

Call. You may be up against a pr of 8's, but even that doesn't put you in terrible shape. Just be quick to dump it if he improves again and you don't. You really want a low card on 4th, and not 2 small pr.

[*TT*]

Call me fishy, but I'm willing to bet that the hero has the best hand by a mile 75% of the time at this limit. The 3 limps in with absolutely nothing very often, because he assumes he can represent a low draw, the bring in is unlikely to have a hand.

2) If the hero hit a better 4 card low I would raise.
3) If hero pairs I would call down assuming he has the high hand. Villain will usually fire away again and again hoping to steal the pot.

Note - My decision is based on an assumed read, its not the ABC play. You must of course adjust the read if your up against a player who has a clue, plays well, etc.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[PokerJans]

I would probably raise.

The only thing I am worried about here is if that guy has an 8 in his hand.

He probably just bet because he know you were the BI...homeboy can have a lot of hands here that we are ahead of.

And if you do raise its hard to get three bet because the guy caught an 8. He has a weak board. Our board is fairly weak also but not as weak as his.

So if he does 3-jack it - and he isnt maniac-retardo then we can know we are in trouble.

Also everycard in the deck is live. This is a great spot. Definitly jack it up yo.

[jambony]

Call. You have positive equity easily more than half the time. If I thought there was any chance of this guy folding I would raise here, but this is 1/2, and the guy would probably call with (KJ)38. Typically low limit players will donk any 4th street heads up against the bring in.

[Phat Mack]

I raise, also. It's possible villian has an 8 down, and I know in a 1/2 game it can hard to read hands, but with a 3 as a door card it is unlikely villian has made a pair of 8s. Plus it looks like hero is racing to a better low on 5th street, while villian needs to hit 2 cards to beat a 7. Lot's of good things can happen to hero: e.g. he can make 2 pair and scoop against a crying call, or get villian to lay down a crumby low.

Since the OP asked a general question--as hero's pairs get smaller, I am less inclined to raise here. I prefer to do it with 7s or 8s when heads up.

jmo

[electrical]

Being the B-I your hand is under-represented, and he's probably just betting because he has two qualifying cards showing. Raise for value. If you improve on Fifth to a low draw and he doesn't, then you should be willing to get a lot of chips in there.

About the only hand I would hate to make on Fifth is a crappy two-pair like Sevens-and-Fours, because then you're obligated to see the river without much up-side. If he breaks into an open pair at that point you have to give it to him.

[ACPlayer]

i would raise.

You are a favorite against low draws, smaller pairs and of course donk betters.

You are only a dog to bigger pairs. No way I give him that automatically -- I raise.

And ... your hand plays pretty good, IMO.

[Andy B]

I lean towards calling, although raising certainly has merit. So long as you don't fold, I don't think it matters much.