Full Tilt 5/10, so no one's an idiot

doogie69 [8s] folds
max258 [8d] calls
Brownbeard [Js] brings in... folds
aptharry [6d] folds
Dimag55 [6c] folds
garamond10pt [2h 9c] [5h] completes
KQGuillotine [As] calls

4th: (~5SB)
Max: 83
gara: [29]5A
KQG: A6

I bet, they call.

5th: (~4BB)
Max: 833
gara: [29]5AA
KQG: A6J

checks to me, I bet, they call

6th (~7BB)
Max: 8335
Gara: [29]5AA3
KQG: A6J7
checks to me, I ???

I'm really not sure what the right move is. In the actual hand, I checked, but I think it's really close to a bet.

If they both caught good, I'm still 20-25% to win the hand, which isn't terrible. Since I only see one 5 and no 7's, it's really possible one paired 6th, and I can probably get him to fold for a bet. The problem is making the 2pair fold pretty much only helps the hand that's in the lead, so if I'm behind, I don't help my pot equity much by making him fold. If I'm behind, betting costs me about a third to a half of a bet. [edit: notice that it's actually better for me to be up against two good hands than one]

Where I really help myself is if I'm ahead of both hands. If KQG has something like a 9 in the hole and max made 2 pair, I raise my pot equity by 15% or so by making the 2 pair fold, plus the fact that I'm betting when I'm ahead. I gain a little more than a bet when this happens.

On the off chance they both made two pair, it's disastrous if I let one of them outdraw me. I gain about 3 bets when they both fold.

So are the times when I'm ahead enough to make betting worthwhile?

(on a side note, what's my line on 7th?)

I've never played Razz, but I will try to use my Stud 8 knowledge and use it here. I am also a little shady on the rules (so my analysis below may be totally wrong). I am going on the assumption that the lowest hand wins, using any 5 of your 7 cards.

5th street is the key to your hand. You paired your ace, bet, and they both called.
We have seen 2 - 6's, an 8, and a jack.

Now on 6th, you have 9, 5, 3, 2, and an ace. If either max or KQG have not paired in their hole cards, they currently have you beat (you have indicated that no-one is an idiot, so they must have started fairly good IMO). Therefore, I feel your only chance of winning this hand is to bet on 6th here, hoping that one or both has paired their pocket card(s), and one or both folds to your bet. By getting it heads-up, you still have an outside chance to win if you improve (4 - 4's, the final 6, 3 - 7's, 2 - 8's if I have added the cards correctly). You may not even have to improve to win if they have paired up and call.

7th street - if you improve as indicated above, bet.

What do you think? :?

Sitting on a 9 high you've got ~36% chance of improving your hand on 7th. Assuming max and KQG don't have any of your outs. However, I would give at least one of them a 4, possibly even both of them - taking you down to ~27% chance of improving on 7th.

More than likely I bet on 6th and check down 7th assuming no further action. I call 1 raise, and probably drop if both players raise. But this is highly dependant on the players and how often they will chase with poor hands, bluff, etc...

I wouldn't be surprised at all if max already had his 8 low and was simply scared by KQG and your boards. Either way, your the big favorite to win the hand on 6th:

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1223576

68.58% - you
14.70% - max
16.62% - KQG

bet, so many times you can take a pot down in razz through aggression. If Im Max here Im folding a bad 8 based on your and your opponenets board. If KQG already has a made 7 he would almost certainly have led out here to figure out where he's at in the hand, since you are almost certainly at least drawing to a hand that can beat him if you don't have him beat already. I think there is a decent chance you have the best hand, and if not may still take the pot down right here. By checking you give KQG a chance to make what is probably a 76 draw and decrease the chance that your 9 low will win the hand if you don't improve here. Assuming the players here are not calling stations I would bet on 6th, and if Max were to call and KQG fold, I would lead out on 7th whether you hit or not. If Max does not improve on his 8 he cant reraise you, but if you check to him he may bet out and you will be faced with a tough decision.