Okay, this was a live game, so sorry for not being able to use a converter, but here you go. This is my 3rd hand at the table, and I was on the button. 1-2 NL game, usually full of great players, last night though was full of some good, and some bad. I have $200 in front of me when this hand comes up.

Dealt to me on the button : 9 9

Folds around to the cutoff, who calls the $2.
Hero raises to $15.
SB calls $15.
BB folds.
CO calls $15.

Flop: 9 8 7

SB bets $30, CO calls, Hero calls.

Turn: A

SB bets $50, CO raises to $100, Hero...

What's the reason you raised to $15? That's not a good play at all. The most you should be raising here is 3x BB... and then 1 guy came along so you raise 5xBB if you'd like... But never more than that w/ only 1 limper.

I raise that much because the normal raises in these ring games is anywhere from $7-$20, normal is around $10 or so. On the button, it looks like I am trying to steal. Thanks for the suggestion though, I am more of a tourney player than cash game player. Just now g etting around to playing NL ring games.

You raised to 15 from the cutoff at a 1-2 table? That seems like an awful lot when it has just been folded around to you.

You should have raised the flop to see where you are at. It is very possible CO has the naked A:spade: but the way you played this you absolutely cannot call in this position.

Next time, raise the flop and see what SB does. Something like Q:spade: Q:heart: seems likely to me.

I suck at NL for the most part, but I see a straight, flush and straight flush could have all made it there. You would be playing to see if a 7 8 9, or A hits to make your boat which still might not win it and even then the A may be dirty.

I think I would have raised the flop (?)

Even if you did call the $100 raise on the turn, you risk being re-raised by SB and you could be drawing dead.

1) I was on the button.
2) I know the results, as when the SB bet his $50, he only had $25 left, and when the CO raised it to $100, he was invested and called once I folded. I havent posted the results yet because I thought we shouldn't until later in the thread?

Results:

SB has 88,
CO has Aspades 9, for top 2. River is a blank.

Okay, If the games playing loose what does that mean? That means that they are making a lot of mistakes by raising too much w/ sub-optimal hands right? So why would you join in the fun just because everyone else is? Play Correctly and You'll beat this game I promise.

If you're just starting to play NL Ring Games I suggest roughly following these guidelines (again, I'm not a regular at the NL tables, I'll frequent the $25 ones for the $100 dollar races and the 1/2 and 2/4 tables play the same.

If there are no people in the pot you raise 3xBB
One limper = 5xBB
Two limpers = 7xBB
Three Limpers = 9xBB

This is a general rule to follow w/ some hands... although I often won't raise more than 7xBB in any case because I like playing smallball pre-flop and letting them make there mistakes all day postflop.

Jayson,
Thanks for the help. Just one question... what does raising to $10 instead of $15 in this case do differently (following the 1 limper=5x BB raise)? I still get those 2 callers, and still hit top set.

I wasn't suggesting you report results, wolfe. I was merely suggesting logical hands for the way the action played out. Raising on the flop is the winners play.

Please include stack sizes and any reads next time as well...and yes, do wait longer to post results.

Thanks guinevar, sorry... I am just starting to use the Strat forum. Your suggestions are noted.

It's all good! Welcome to the party!! 8)

I know a lot of people will be able to answer this but I'll try. I am not good with words but... Basically you should never be raising 15 in this situation. a $10 bet and a $15 bet are going to do the same thing, the blinds are folding to both these bets if they don't have anything.

Never raise based on money, raise based on Big Bets first, and there Stack Size secondly. A lot of the times my friends will think I made an insane play in a tournament but it's just a semi-bluff into someone w/ maybe 10-15 bets left... They are basically commiting themselves by calling my bet (I will rarely raise and pot commit against one of these players, there is never really any reason to do that).

If you are a good player you want to be seeing a lot of flops w/ these people because they're making big mistakes. You can take your shots at betting a lot more post-flop if you think they're that bad and they'll be calling ridiculous raises. (Although to them it's standard)

Google Smallball Poker... I've been fortunate enough to listen to Daniel give his thoughts on it and if you don't believe me that it works Just look at his results