Opponent (LP) in this hand is solid - I've seen him play a number of times - tight, agressive. I have about $2800, opponent has me covered.

I get in the SB. After 2 limpers, LP raises to 100. I call, as do the 2 limpers.

Flop = . Pot = $420. Checks around.

Turn = . I bet $400, limpers fold, LP calls.

River = . Pot = $1220. What is your play and why? What hands do you put LP on?

Results to follow!

D

I doubt he checked an overpair, so if he has solid raising standards, I put him on [Kc] or [Jc]

A solid tight aggressive player isnt calling a pot sized turn bet with less than that.

I bet $500 which looks like a scared blocking type bet, and I hope like hell he comes over the top.

Agreed, chances are remote that he would check QQ, on that flop board. I bet 1/2-3/4 pot and hope he pushes, then slowly wet my pants until he shows me a hand without 2 ladies or 2 8's in it.

I almost think he has 88. Any decent TA player will bet that flop, it is a pretty decent flop for him if he has big cards.

I say 88, or I agree with ice, big clubs

Would he bet for 10x big blind preflop with 88? I'd probably be scared of it, but the only logical hands are those Ice suggested.

isn't it only 5x BB?

Hmmm... I actually put him on AA with the check on the flop and call on the turn.

These paired flops are (for me, anyway) a bit scary with a big pair, although the only hand with a 3 in it with which I would personally call a raise would be 33. While I wouldn't do it myself with AA, I think it's not a horrible idea anyway to think, "I'm probably ahead, there are no real draws out there, and if I let them catch up a little in position, then I can sweeten the pot while looking like AK."

I really think the board looks so non-descript that he's hoping someone will catch up to his AA. AcKc would be my second guess, but I really feel like he wants his hand to look like an unimproved AK and then let people catch up enough to bet at it.

I do agree with ice as to bet-size on the river. I just hate to bet less than half the pot here, but it invites a raise while at the same time getting more money in there. If the course of the game has you set up to bet more, though, it would be nice to be able to bet full pot. But I think you can probably get by with that only if you've been ramming and jamming quite a bit lately.

I really don't see 88 or QQ as very reasonable possibilities on this board. I don't understand why he'd be raising 88 in the first place, and QQ is just too vulnerable (as is KK imo, although more plausible) to try a "let them catch up" routine. If he has either of those, he definitely was successful in fooling me about it. I'd like nothing better than to see him move in here.

In this spot I would think you still have the best hand, with only QQ/88/33 danger holdings. I would discount the last two because of the preflop raise, although 88 would explain the flop check around. On the other hand, given the flop check, it's unlikely he has QQ.

One option is to bet about half the pot and hope he raises you with the nut flush. If he raises you can probably get him in, if he just calls you get half pot. I would expect him to call with the nut flush.

Second option would be to overbet the pot, but I'm not sure if people at high limits like this 50NL play. A good player could expect you to value bet if you have a boat, so overbetting he could think you have a small flush or you're putting a move on him, and his nut flush (if that's what he has) is the best hand.

maybe lower limits are different but at the $25 and $50 and even $100 tables I play I see 88 raised a lot.

I don't do it too much outside of tournaments but in late position steal I might.

however after listening to you guys I think you are right AK clubs.

Good analysis guys - but noone suggested the option that I chose, which was check-calling. Now I wonder if I played the hand scared.

As most of you surmised, he either has or or 88. An overpair like AA, KK, or QQ is out of the question - he most certainly would have bet the flop with those.

My thinking was this - if I bet, probably around 800-1000, I think that he probably flat calls with the flush, but certainly moves in with 88. I just don't know if I was willing to lay down the 55 to the raise, however, because my hand is so well hidden and the pot odds will be huge. It's more likely that he puts me on trips than a boat. He may well raise with the nut flush. It will be impossible for me to define my hand without calling his all-in if I lead out and bet.

But if I check - he is certain to bet his flush - why wouldn't he think it was good? - and I can just call and collect. This way, if he does have 88, I dont bust out on the hand.

Is this faulty logic? Should I have been willing to risk more, in hopes that he had the flush?

Results:

He ended up betting 800, which I called, and he showed . After a brief discussion, he said that if I had bet, he would have just called, and not moved in. Good information to know.

D

Damn Im good!

I think the check is fine Droqqa, but only if the purpose is to pot commit him when you check raise him all in.

I think you did play a bit scared. Nice pot though. Its not the end of the world.