At my local casino last night. Here's the scenario:

I'm in the SB with 77. One early position limper, one MP limper, I bump to $10 total, BB calls, EP calls, MP folds. 3 runners to the flop.

Flop is: 5c, 8c, 7c

So I've hit my set, but it's not a pretty board, obviously. With $33 in the pot, I lead for $15 to see if I can take it there. No luck, I get 2 calls.

Turn: 9c

At this point, I'm more than willing to let it go. 3 checks.

River: 6c

So now there's a straight fulsh on the board. I check, BB checks, EP bets $20 into the $78 pot.

So the scenario is this:
1) It'll cost me $20 for a best case scenario split.
2) the guy in the BB looks like he's going to call as well.
3) I can't win this pot outright, obv.

So what do I do? Just call assuming it's a split pot? Or let it go & if they're playing the board, so be it?

What you have to think about here is that there is only 1 card that beats you....

Think about your bets... What hand could a person have that would have the 10c? pocket 10s? That is the only hand I can imagine that they have... It would explain the calling of the bets..

I'd dump it...

First off, I wouldn't raise from the SB..You are going to be playing the hand OOP, and most likely against multiple opponents because you didn't make a big raise..Just complete and see a flop

On the flop, playing it like you did, you need to bet closer to the pot because the board is super super coordinated..1/2 potting it isn't going to cut it, and if the first guy calls, the second guy will more than likely come along as well with the attractive pot odds he is getting

On he river I call..Only one card in the deck that beats you, and betting on his part is so standard playing the board

I don't even need to waste my time responding when someone has such a good analysis like this one.

IF bb calls, I do too.

Thanks guys, especially Throwemaway.

As it turned out, the BB had QcJc & the guy in EP had AcTc. So his $20 value bet was probably about spot on. He got calls from us both, adding another $40 to the pot for himself. If he made a $30 or $40 bet, I think I would've ditched it.

I generally raise any PP above 5's or 6's from the blinds if it's an unraised pot. Perhaps that's something I need to look at. And generally I go with between 1/2 & 3/4 to lead the flop, regardless if I've hit or not.

Obviously, the chances of the flop hitting all 3 of us that hard is reasonably unlikely. After they called me on the flop, I wasn't going to invest another penny in the pot (or so I thought...).

So I guess my next question is - what hand would I get them off with a $15 bet, and what OTHER hands would I get them off with, say, a $30 bet?

It's not a matter of getting them off hands. It's a matter of getting value for your hand, and protecting it. You will usually have the best hand on this flop, as scary as it is. The scary part is the fact that there are a million draws, and a million cards that scare you on the turn. You need to bet more on the flop. Ac is almost never folding, same with other high clubs, etc. You need to get value from these hands by making them PAY on the flop.

I disagree, i think its fine to make small raises w/hands like this (small-mid pairs, middle suited connectors), especially multi-way pots, make the pot bigger so you can make lots when you hit a good flop (set, straight, straight flush draws, etc.) if you just complete and flop a set, there will be nothing in the pot and you will most likely end up playing a small pot

I don't know much about your game, but this is almost certainly a rather large leak in your game. Middle and low pairs, OOP against multiple opponents are hands that you want to try and hit cheaply or ditch for free. If you're raising hands like 77 and 88 out of the blinds on a regular basis (unless it's a large raise intended to end the pot there) then you're throwing away money. Blindly c-betting flops is bad as well. Position is so important in this game, it's not a good thing to build a pot with a weak hand and no position. More importantly, if you miss the flop and you bet and are called or even raised, whether your opponent is on a draw or not, it's hard to continue with the hand since you likely have overcards to your pair and you won't know where you stand.

I agree doing it all the time isnt good, and i agree blindly c-betting isnt good, but i find w/ preflop hands where it's fit or fold, they are easier to play out of position since you arent getting involved unless you make something strong.