Posted By DiggerB on 1/27/2010 1:18 PM
I know there never is just one play to make and everyone has opinions on hands but Im just looking for thoughts on this hand.
2/4 blinds
I am BB with 3 limpers ahead and the SB limps too...so 5 blinds in the pot....I look at A 10 offsuit...mediocre hand out of position.
check - or- raise Raise. It's probably the best opportunity to take it down now
I check cause why do I want to get reraised (there are a few players at the table that may have been limping to trap) and then I would have to fold. I decide to play the flop and see. (opinion #1)
That's a very reasonable option and acceptable. But raising versus checking dictates the rest of your decision making abilities the rest of the way
yea taking my approach lead to having to convince myself that a pair was good.
Flop comes out 10 7 4 rainbow ...top pair top kicker. Im only a little worried about a set but the people who limped late like to raise with small pairs.
So I decide to bet 3/4 of pot (bet of 15), (opinion #2) reasons being, all based on previous play with the players
1) early limpers would shove if they hit a set or might call if they hit the 10 with a hand like K 10, Q 10
2) late position players would shove to steal and I could re-reraise..Or if they hit a set they would smooth call.
This is flawed thinking. It sounds as if you are trying to convince yourself that one pair is good. I would be more worried about a junk two pair
It really is rare I go broke with just a pair, at least early in a tournament
limpers fold, Button resaises to 75. I have him covered and my gut screams he is trying to steal my raise. I really dont think he hit a set just cause he did not raise preflop from the button. So I trust my read or gut feeling whatever you call it and shove (opinion #3)..Button calls
turns out i was partially correct. No set but he hit 2 pair 10 4 offsuit. And then i caught a lucky Ace to win. But the outcome doesn't change the choices made above.
The whole issue between checking and raising becomes what story do you want to tell. If you think you may be repopped pre by a weaker hand (steal/ resteal) Then raise. Now you have them in a bad spot. If you check, you have to be aware that the flop might crush two or more of those limpers putting you in a bad spot. when there is 5 players to a flop One pair is usually never good.
If you do raise, you are telling everyone that you have a hand. If you check, you really need to crush the flop, or play the pot as small as possible. you got what you wanted. That is, his stack. But you needed to get lucky to do so.
Oh I totaly got lucky, but I am only looking at the choices I made....not what happened afterwards.
just realize that by checking, you are going to be up against a complete range of hands, and will need to play cautiously without ever really knowing where you are. This is why I like the raise better.
And I know what Tom will say "A 10" why are you playing crap like that 