After reading the other hand with a set playing 1/2 NL i figure id post one of my own that i played this weekend.

I'm up pretty good at this point, im sitting with about $400. SB is a kid who seems to be a regular, he knows all the dealers etc... he's only been at the table for 5 or 6 hands, but he's wearing a hat and sunglasses at a 1/2 NL table...so hes probably somewhat of a donkey. the BB is an old man, he's the only one at the table that has me covered, he probably has about $600. I've been playing with him for about 3 hours now and he's a definite TAG. He's had the goods at every showdown ive seen and plays his hands strongly. He's taken down a few pots with big bets earlier but i assume they werent bluffs based on how he was playing.

now the hand...

i have 8 9 in MP

2 limpers, i limp, everyone folds to the kid in the SB who completes, and the old man checks in the BB.

Flop: J 9:diamond: 9:spade: Pot $10

Kid bets out $20, old man thinks for a second, asks how much the kid has left and then raises to $56 (exactly enough to put hte kid all in) folded to me and i seriously start considering folding...



ill give the action for the rest of the hand after i get a few replies, but for now, whats your play?

The problem with folding on this board is that it's ripe for semi-bluffing.

This is a tough hand. Im thinking of a re raise here. Try to test BB, and fold to a re raise.

oh gawd, would a min raise be best here?

I think we definatly need to reraise. maybe to 150? im thinking you likely have old man beat. If you get reraised, fold.

I'm seeing BB w/ a weak nine, maybe 94 or 93 off so I'd have to say call the $56 and make him sweat a little. We have position on him. He weak bets or checks the turn we move in.

i don't see why you should get involved with the old man here. you have $2 invested in the pot. you said that the old man hasnt made a play all day long. he has a nine. you have no idea what cards ,other than an 8, are safe for you. why raise hime $100 just to fold to his reraise. if you are going to continue, i would just call and see the turn. the old man will let you know where you are after that.

I say the best play here is to call the old man down. If he does have a 9, he likely has a 9 with a low kicker, prolly lower than 8. He doesn't have the jack because he'd try to get as much money as possible and wouldn't raise the kid like that. This leaves a 10 Q K or ace as opposed to 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 cards to accompany his 9. If you call, he thinks you have a hand similar to J K and he'll keep betting into you. Since most of the time you either win or split (if he has a 10, a q k or ace can save you, this card would come around 35% of the time), which means the only hands that really have you in trouble are A 9, K 9, or Q9. i say call him down to the river. I know a lot of players disagree with calling ppl down here with the mentality that if you're good enough to call, you're good enough to raise, but you get the most value out simply calling IMO.

Pot $10


This is what you are fighting over. If you aren't 95%+ sure you have the best hand, you shouldn't get involved, especially with a bettor and a raiser. That's the beauty of the cash game, you can pick a MUCH better spot and only lose $2. Disregard the previous sentence if you have an absolutely killer read.

this is what i decided to go with, i called his $56, the SB folded and we're heads up going to the turn which brang...

Turn: Q :spades: Pot: $142


old man checks.....



ok, now i know he doesnt have a 9, but that is one hell of an ugly card. Do i continue with my original plan to move in now that he's shown weakness...or did he just pick up a few more outs to broadway which may be enough for him to call me with the big jack ive put him on at this point, he could even have a diamond or spade draw now. Do you move in? bet 3/4 of the pot? the whole pot? check behind?!

bet 100.

I don't really think the is that ugly a card. What straights did that complete? KT and T8. Based on what you've said, do you really think the old man has either of those hands? All it does it put more draws out there. I think a healthy bet of $150 is in order. If he puts you all in at that point you have to seriously re-evaluate the situation. But it looks like a bet will take it down.