Biscuit

Playing $0.25/0.50 full ring NLHE, on the BB. I have $14 in my stack, UTG has $38.

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, K.
UTG raises to $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, UTG calls $2.50.

Flop: Q, J, 2

There's $7.10 in the pot and it's my bet. I probably still have the best hand, but the flop has lots of drawing potential. I have $10.50 left in my stack. Do I bet to build the pot ($4) or do I bet to protect my hand (push)?

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beaston

But, most of the time you're going to get a call no matter what you do. Best case scenario is that UTG has AK/AJ/small pp and will fold if you push.

Bottom line - push. No reason to give a cheap card away and let them draw out on you. There's plenty of hands in this situation that will hit and beat you. Slow play kills

bobbysands90

In general, I would put in a pot sized raise in that situation. As you only have $10 left with $7 in the pot, I would go all in. If he calls, you get about $27 or nothing. If he folds, you still have $17.

If you raise $4, you still have $17 for the fold, and you will still find yourself all in for $27 or nothing. Make him pay $10 to see it.

a flush draw is about 4/1 to land so take the value out the hand, you are hoping for him to have top pair on the board

propiper

If he is on a flush draw AND plans to take it to the river (and who doesn't online ) he really only needs 2:1 pot odds for it to be a right call - your $4 bet puts him in the right to call.

I'll eliminate QQ and JJ because I would think he would have re-raised pre-flop.

That being said - You can't fold and I doubt the "villian" here will fold anything that involves a draw but I would push in the unlikely event your playing against someone that could lay down a draw or if he missed a smaller pocket pair.

QJs is a hand I would consider him playing but you have the second best hand in poker and a reasonably good flop for you, if you push and he calls with top pair - that's what you want. If he calls with a draw, he made a mistake, which is also what you want, whether he hits it or not.

If he has made top two pair already - In reality I would think and Ace coming on the turn would be the only thing keeping you from calling if he put you all in anyway so be the aggressor here.

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donktheclown

Only good play would be to go all-in.
Reasoning for this is that not only do you more than likely have the best hand, but online players will generally assume your over-the-pot all-in is a bluff. If he had nothing at all, he'd fold no matter the bet. And if he has something, he's going to call.

WhoopsIdidItAgain

Yeah, I would risk an allin on this scenario. Theres nothing worse than holding KK, giving someone a free card then an ace lands. A smalling raise and he might be inclined to call with an open ended straight.

If he is the sort of player that raises habitually, let him raise but still put him allin

Dyno_Don

I would just make a double bet, or weak bet, to see what UTG's reaction would be, or even check it.

Since Hero has the better pair thus far, the odds of any large cards coming on the turn and river are in his favor of not showing. There is a good possibility that UTG might also have a set with the Q or J or have AA, so you may lose everything by going all-in.

I like to make a bluff bet to make my opponent think I have a small pair and to see what he will do, thus a possible trap layed down.

Also if Hero keeps betting; how does he know what UTG will bet, until it is too late to feel out his play?

A good way to know what the other person has, but not all of the time, is to let them make a bet or raise. That would be my opinion.

bobbysands90

Don, since his bankroll is capped, i would just push all the way. A $4 raise might induce a draw. If the high card comes out and the other guy raises, you are in a pickle. You can argue that the other guy is playing against the odds calling but on an ace, he might just push allin and force you to make a decision. My plan would be to go for the pot at that point, if he calls Im hoping and expecting to be ahead.

Deco

I'd shove but anything around potsize is fine just don't make a $4 bet, that board is very very drawy.

Dyno_Don

What was the outcome of this game Biscuit?

Did you push and UTG fold, or was it taken to the river?