.10/.25 Home Game

Button - Hero ($20)
SB - Loose Donk ($50)
BB - Tight Aggressive, Solid Player($20)
UTG - Loose Passive Donk who has his moments ($25)


Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, 7.
UTG calls, Hero calls, SB complete, BB checks.

Flop: ($1) 4, 7, 8 (6 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $.90, SB folds, BB folds, UTG raises to $3.2, Hero ?

UTG plays good on occasion, and I can see him doing this with a couple of hands: Overpair, other two pair, made straight, set. I don't think he would do this with either a SFD or a pair and a FD because he isn't that crafty. I'm going to rule out an overpair as well as he would have raised for sure preflop and bet the flop. So it comes down to a set, straight or two pair. This isn't to say he couldn't be drawing, it just isn't that likely. This is pretty much a "If I raise I'm commited, and if I call and a horrible card comes off, I have to play scared." If I raise, what do I raise too, and if I just call do I just look to see if he is still highly interested on the turn and fold if he is? Or is this a possible fold and look to get the money in better?

Just remember that 2 pair is a much more difficult hand to mature into a full house.

... just in case UTG flopped a straight and you happen to need it.

Pair + flush draw is not possible as you have the 8 anyway.

Here is your equity given the following ranges:

If you limit his range to any 2 pair (except 74o,84o), any set and a straight

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 36.125% 28.20% 07.93% 7258 2040.50 { 8c7s }
Hand 1: 63.875% 55.95% 07.93% 14401 2040.50 { 88-77, 87s, 84s, 74s, 65s, 87o, 65o }

If you don't think he would limp UTG with 84s or 74s

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 26.311% 17.25% 09.06% 3758 1972.50 { 8c7s }
Hand 1: 73.689% 64.63% 09.06% 14077 1972.50 { 88-77, 87s, 65s, 87o, 65o }

If you don't think he would limp UTG with 84s, 74s or 65o

equity win tie pots won pots tied
Hand 0: 31.551% 12.14% 19.41% 1202 1921.50 { 8c7s }
Hand 1: 68.449% 49.04% 19.41% 4855 1921.50 { 88-77, 87s, 65s, 87o }

77 and 88 are obviously unlikely, still possible though, as there's only one combo of each given you have top two. He could also have the same hand as you for a tie.

So what it boils down to is that if you think that a set, 2 pair or a straight are his ONLY possible hands, then a fold is probably in order. But you did describe him as loose - is it possible that he has say 98s, Ac6c, Ac5c or an overpair of some sort? (e.g. AA trying to get tricky UTG). If it is possible then obviously your equity would go way up and your not folding. If you can expand his range to these hands then I would be raising because it is a very scary board and there's a lot of turn cards you don't want to see (that either scare you or discourage your opponent from putting in any more money the times you are ahead).

I don't think you can rule out an overpair here btw. He limped UTG preflop. He might have done that hoping someone raises so he can come over the top with AA or KK.

That's generally what I think as well, but I think it tends to be read based. His range could be huge here. That said, I might call in position and go for pot control.

sounds like a flopped straight to me, if he limped with an overpair he'd most likely lead at that flop to drive out flush draws. fold.