trini has been an absolute calling station, but has led the betting with a mediocre hand at odd times (infrequently). based on chat i think she is a more capable player but isnt putting effort into the game today.

so this hand comes up

Hand #5111569155
7 Card Stud *High* ($1/$2), Ante $0.10, Bring-In $0.50

*3rd Street* - (0.70 SB)

cwilson24: xx xx 4d___folds
sayamaybe: xx xx 2s___folds
SHIPdaCHEEZ: xx xx 4h___folds
LincolnK: 3h Ah 2c___*brings-in*
Trini2win: xx xx Js___calls
Killllla: xx xx Ks___folds
RverboatBoB: xx xx 7h___folds

*4th Street* - (1.70 SB)

LincolnK: 3h Ah 2c Qh___*checks*
Trini2win: xx xx Js 6c___checks

*5th Street* - (0.85 BB)

LincolnK: 3h Ah 2c Qh 4c___folds
Trini2win: xx xx Js 6c Jh___*bets*

*Total pot:* (0.85 BB)

i dont give her credit for 3 jacks here, so following that line:
i figure an ace or queen gives me a solid lead, and a 5 pretty much locks up the hand for me. i dont think calling is a good option here, so if i continue im going to raise.

i figure she calls a raise. if i catch a big card or a 5 i bet 6th and go from there. if i catch scare card, something to represent a straight or another heart, she checks to me. i check there and hope to catch on 7th. same if i pair a small card on 6th.

if she improves on 6th i probably dont call another bet unless i get my 5 and call her down. if i end up with a better hand at the end, i'm sure she pays it off, with almost zero chance of a check-raise.

so my question is, should i have continued the hand, or was i better off folding? at best there are probably 9 BBs in the pot at the end, 4 of which are mine.

Good fold. There is absolutely no reason to get involved in a tiny pot there when you can't even beat her board.

This should really not even be a decision to think about. It's a standard rule to fold when you can't beat what your opponent's board is showing. I woulda just open-farrelled

good enough, thanks for the replies. however, this leads me to another question.

when the hand is dealt and you have a small pair and someone raises and you are 95% they have a big pair, how involved do you get? assume all your cards are live.

if you have money in and everyone else folds, do you call the raise and hope to hit big? do you drop it right there and move on? what if the whole table is calling? how far do you go with it? do you play back at the raiser to put pressure on them?

i'm pretty good about letting go when i cant beat the board, but do you follow the same rule when you are sure of their hand even though you cant see it?

this seems like something basic i didnt think through as i learned the game, and i think its costing me a lot of money ending up with 2 small pair and dumb **** like that.

It'd be common sense to fold any hand if your opponent is only raising big pairs. Why would you chase when you know your behind with just the bring-in and antes in the pot?

exactly. you've got outs, but the pots not laying the right odds to chase those outs. you're drawing (if you're correct in assuming villan doesn't have trips or two pair hidden), 4:1 against to hit your hand, and the pots only laying you about 1.3:1 (if i did the math correctly). good fold.

You can play baby pairs if they are burried, you have a big up card, and your outs are 100% live. If your opponent raises with a K up and you have 3-3-A then even if your opponent makes kings up you can win with an A or 3. You can also play the hand representing you have a pair of Aces. This way, you might get a free card on 4th or 5th if all your opponent still has are kings.

If you brick then dump the hand to a bet.

Split 3's with a burried A isn't good because if you pair your door card it'll be a big red flag to your opponent and it'll be hard to make any money on the hand.