You're a Bunch of Factors

#Game No : 450533004
***** Cassava Hand History for Game 450533004 *****
$25/$50 Blinds No Limit Holdem - *** 09 09 2009 18:47:39
Tournament #24632031 $1 + $0.20 - Table #1 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: lbjaco ( $810 )
Seat 2: SmokyBry ( $1060 )
Seat 3: julieta11 ( $1090 )
Seat 5: suncity3 ( $1110 )
Seat 6: Bacon8100 ( $1185 )
Seat 7: wickersj ( $3480 )
Seat 8: regisszt ( $1140 )
Seat 9: doudoudodu ( $1170 )
Seat 10: DavidD19 ( $955 )
julieta11 posts small blind [$25]
suncity3 posts big blind [$50]
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Bacon8100 [ 7s 7c ]
Bacon8100 raises [$150]
wickersj folds
regisszt calls [$150]
doudoudodu folds
DavidD19 folds
lbjaco folds
SmokyBry calls [$150]
julieta11 calls [$125]
suncity3 folds
** Dealing flop ** [ Jh Js 7h ]
julieta11 checks
Bacon8100 checks


???

I would check the crap out of that in order to trap. Alternate thinking these days, advocated especially by Ferguson, would actually raise here. The thinking is that a check here would indicate a J.

do you have any reads on the players? i dont recognise any of them.

given that the general play in 888pl games is fairly passive, i would probably go ahead and bet this. lots of value from flush draws, other pocket pairs, and jacks obviously. you are multiway, so i think its a good spot to bet and try to build the pot right there.

i would bet half pot and hope you get some flush draws to come along.

also, players will sometimes check a jack here to slow play, and a heart might kill your action from them.

i would go ahead and bet 3 streets here

I would bet this. Often the best way to disguise your hand is by betting. People are less likely to put you on a J, and more likely to put you on a pocket pair, or a 7 (or flush draw) which means you will get action from similar hands.

If it were heads up, then checking and trying to catch a bluff on later streets could be profitable, but in a multiway pot, people probably arent bluffing anyway so if everyone folds to your bet, then you have maximised your value anyway.

I would bet just half the pot.

Oh 888pl game. Then I would bet 1/2 pot, 1/2 pot all the way down to the river. You will get callers chasing just about everything like people with 8 9 waiting for a 10 to fall and then all in despite 4 hearts on the paired board - that's 888pl.

It was an 888 game, not 888pl.

It depends how quickly you check.

When players click check quickly it means two things:

1.) The check/fold button tab is ticked - hand is weak
2.) Opponent has already planned out how to play hand - very strong hand.

When I am out of position facing several callers and flop big I actually do like to check the flop now, you normally can garner one or two BB by this action. And your opponents bet sizing can you tell a lot about their holdings.

On this flop you are waiting to see who bet's bigger than half pot and on that flop and you can sumrise it's KJ, JTs or possibly QT.

I would flat this bet and then see what the turn falls.

The problem with an underset, is that you are open to being drawn out on. There isn't much you can do about that as anyone with trips is not folding.

I like the check and re evaluate at later streets. Checking also probably does give you more value over much more marginal hands such as pocket pairs or Ace high in later positions.

I bet this every day of the week.

Checking doesn't get much value, because anyone with a jack is going to call/raise your bet anyway. The only hands that will check behind, are lower PP, overs that have missed, or possibly a heart draw. So yeah, I bet this all day to get value from those sorts of hands. If I get raised then you can slow down and call. If they fold... it happens.

Actually had this very situation today when I held QJss on a JJ8 flop. I raised PFR, I lead into two players on the flop, and I get crammed on. Obv I snap, and he has 88. Oops, turn Q.

unsurprisingly, I would bet.

the reasons why have been fairly well canvassed.