Playing in a 1-2NL game the other night and I pick up a monster, J-4 of clubs in first position. I hadn't played a hand in awhile and I decided to raise to $8 which was pretty standard. I get 6 callers and the flop is J-8-8 (2diamonds). I lead out and bet $15 into a pot of about $42. Player next to me pushes all in for $25 and it is folded to the button who had also goes all-in for $25. Action back to me and I decide to call with all the money that is in the pot.

With all the money in I have top pair, one guy had 7-7 and the button has KQd. The turn brings the flush and the river gives me a J for a boat and I take the bot down.
After the hand a few people thought that I played the hand poorly so I wanted y'alls opinion.

Basically I know that raising from 1st position with that hand is not great to do alot but I wanted to mix it up again. I dunno just tell me what ya think.

I'd have to agree. You played the hand horribly.

Deception doesn't have a lot of value in a game played with these stack sizes. I don't like your raise preflop.

After the flop, the lead and call is good.

I'm a bit confused about the stack sizes. Do you only have about $50 in front of you? If that is the case, you should only be playing premium hands, as any pf raise and continuation bet is committing your whole stack almost.

Even with 100bb, nobody is going to like the J4s raise utg.

If its $25 more to you, calling isn't horrible just because the pot is so big and you're all in. I'd probably fold though because with 2 shoves behind you, you can't think your tp4k is best...

Mark

I would not have even posted this hand for the sake of saving myself the embarrassment.

It's okay to mix it up every once in a blue moon. However I wouldn't pick a hand like J4s nor try this from early position. An equally poor decision was making a weak bet into six callers on the flop!

You were priced in to call the all-ins for the extra $10. Although I'm shocked you were ahead on the flop.

I would suggest some type of drawing hand in late position if you want to pick a spot to raise with a hand that you normally wouldn't. At least give yourself a chance. You also want to wait for a pot where nobody has shown aggression, such as a few people limping in.

I read this as they both had $25 after the flop, which would mean they were only raising $10 more after matching the OP's raise of $15. If that's the case then he only has to call another $10 to win a pot that has over $100 in it. Pot odds would require him to call.

The only thing correct in this hand is your call of of the 2 all ins on the flop.

I had about $200 in my stack. I am aware that raising with garbage in EP is not a great idea 99% of the time and I will be the 1st to admit that I did it out of mostly boredom.
I was more concerned about the most flop play than than what happened preflop.

As far as the question of posting the hand, I am not embarrassed. I just was interested in your opinions.

Thanks

The reason raising preflop is bad is because you get into sticky situations post flops. It is hard to talk about postflop when your biggest mistake is preflop meaning that you should never be in the hand with top pair and no kicker in the first place.

Raising with garbage in EP is not a great idea 100% of the time. There are no situations where this move is a remotely decent idea. You have an entire table to act after you.

Like I said in my first post, I would prefer to see your blue moon attempt to be in late position with a drawing hand. Something that at least gives you a decent chance to win a pot when your opponent can't put you on a the right type of hand.

How about to create a table image or to loosen up the table? I can guarantee next time he raises he's getting now respect and then he can pounce with big hands. Stack sizes are relevant of course in creating a bully image.

That's true in general, but our hero is already getting no respect.

I was responding to the 100% of the time thing. In this case with small stacks i don't like it.

Enough said. Wait for a big hand and raise the hell out of it. Basically play smash method but with a wider range.

If flat tires were the nuts, I'd be a brazillionaire. I get dealt J4 all the time. Got it 5 times in a row once at a casino. Showed everyone the last two after saying I'd been dealt it three times.