When faced with a cold call, I ask myself "Is this a hand I can raise with?" If the answer is yes, I raise, if not then I fold. After reading SSH, I rarely just cold call (Unless there are several other cold callers before me and I have some great odds).

The answer always depends on my hand and my read on the original raiser. If I know that he's willing to open raise from MP with a smaller hand (Axs for example) then I can raise with hands that I would fold to a tighter player. I also take into account whether I want it heads up and do I think I can make it that way. Amazingly enough, I've noticed that if somebody is willing to call 2 bets cold, he's willing to call 3 bets cold and so an isolatoin raise isn't something I do frequently.

In your situation, I would have folded the 5's also.

Originally Posted by Antneye

But we aren't results oriented are we?

absolutely not. your decision to fold was right no matter what comes on the flop. it sucks to see you wouldve flopped a monster, but in the long run, thats a +EV move. good job!