Something I was recently thinking of, and wondering what you guys feel as far as a strategy goes and what's a better approach. I'm looking more at EP/blind playing here comparing the idea of giving/creating odds vs. betting your hand. Here's an example, which I just read about:

We're at a full table in the SB with T9s, 3 limpers (one being the button) come in we complete BB checks. (5 bets on the pot)

Flop is 9,7,3 rainbow...now what do you guys think would be a "better" strategy, leading out with TP or checking here? I have mixed ideas on this, if we lead out and everyone decides to call for 1 more bet the odds get better for them as their positions get later, the button is getting 9:1 to call. Or are we better off checking here with the intention of raising a LP bet?

My thinking is if it checks around and we lead out on the turn it cuts down on their odds especially if no broadway cards hit, which is good for us. The flip side is what to we do if a J or higher hits? Still lead out assuming our 9's are still good? Check/call, check fold?

This is something I find myself thinking about fairly often and was hoping for some perspective on it, I tend to stick to the "bet your hand if you think it's best" theory. However by doing so can also create great odds for people to continue especially if they just like to "call to see what the next card is". Which can be correct for the LP players as well. Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by Antneye

With no reads I tend to bet my top Google Page Ranking, and if all call I am lost on how to proceed. I often fire again and end up being called down with no clue where I stand in the hand.

too often my line is Bet, Bet, Check/call.

That's what got me to thinking, betting here just increases the odds to call from later position players, again I think it's best to check raise especially if it will make it 2 to go for certain players who checked behind you. But betting and getting all or 3 callers just increases the pot odds for certain positions. Which I'm wondering if checking is the best although it goes against bet your hand if you think you're ahead.

I can't picture the whole table folding to your bet.

That's why I started this thread, to get some opinions. While we may have the best hand there are 4 over cards that can still beat us. Which is why I was wondering if betting just sweetens the pot here. Especially because most people probably aren't folding overs here. It seems like a catch-22, we bet and the turn is a J,Q,K, or A...can we assume out 9's are still best against 4 players to lead out again? In theory it seems like we're supposed to unless we get raised, but let's face it it's not uncommon for people to be playing at least 1 A or broadway card especially it it's sooooted. And while they may not raise because they have a weak kicker, I would expect at least a call, then we still have the river to contend with.

This would be a good situation to wait for the turn.

If you are ahead, half or more of the deck are bad cards for you.
You cannot offer your opponents bad odds, making it impossible to protect your hand.
If the turn is a good card for you, you can protect your hand more effectively, AND your equity will be higher with only one card to come, making the bet more +EV.
If the turn is a bad card, you can get away from it, knowing that betting out wouldn't have made your opponent fold ANYWAY.

-- ideally the button would bet when everone checks to him, and you could raise. This would allow you to protect your hand if you are ahead, and will often lock the button in with you for several extra bets without much of a hand. The check/raise is so much the best play here that the slight loss of EV from not betting the flop is more then made up for by the extra EV on a good turn and the chance of a check/raise on the flop.

I don't believe intentionally waiting for the turn is a good idea. Your hand is very weak in regards to future cards. There is goign to be a lot of hands with just two overs that can beat you on later streets.

But, if you got a bunch of passives in the LP spots, then Trying for a CR will have little success, since the point of a CR here is to isolate. Either it gets checked around or an EP player bets and everybody calls, negating any isolation odds you could come up with.

Really depends on the table, but I would try not to play this hand on the turn. It's about 50/50 whether I bet out or I go for for the CR.

Originally Posted by Marm

I don't believe intentionally waiting for the turn is a good idea. Your hand is very weak in regards to future cards. There is goign to be a lot of hands with just two overs that can beat you on later streets.

But, if you got a bunch of passives in the LP spots, then Trying for a CR will have little success, since the point of a CR here is to isolate. Either it gets checked around or an EP player bets and everybody calls, negating any isolation odds you could come up with.

Really depends on the table, but I would try not to play this hand on the turn. It's about 50/50 whether I bet out or I go for for the CR.

The only reason I thought waiting for the turn is because chances are you'll get people with overs calling here, so your not driving them out leading out with a bet, if anything your making the pot sweeter. Now lets say a baby card comes on the turn, are you still checking or would you lead out here? If nobody bets the flop we'd have to assume our TP is good right now. The pot is 2.5 BB going into the turn are you still checking here?

No, If it got checked to here, then We HAVE to bet this. The added size of the bet will help intimidate the other players. But with 3 unders to a 9, we have to be wary of made straights and wheel draws that add outs to the Ax hands that may stick around.