hand for analysis

the_main

early in a tounry (1 rebuy and one addon ONLY is allowed... i took the rebuy instantly)

PokerStars Game #2271318193: Tournament #10686553, Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2005/08/05 - 20:37:02 (ET)
Table '10686553 99' Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: saturnalia (1240 in chips)
Seat 2: the_main (2970 in chips)
Seat 3: Pinkyone (2060 in chips)
Seat 4: bishop2 (1620 in chips)
Seat 5: L. Sanford (2890 in chips)
Seat 6: espiritu (1410 in chips)
Seat 7: DHic (2960 in chips)
Seat 8: CinncyKid23 (2900 in chips)
Seat 9: tallcanmn (1430 in chips)
bishop2: posts small blind 10
L. Sanford: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to the_main [Qs Td]
espiritu: calls 20
DHic: folds
CinncyKid23: calls 20
tallcanmn: folds
saturnalia: folds
the_main: calls 20
Pinkyone: folds
bishop2: folds
L. Sanford: checks
*** FLOP *** [Kc Ks Jh]
L. Sanford: checks
espiritu: bets 40
CinncyKid23: calls 40
the_main: raises 50 to 90
L. Sanford: calls 90
espiritu: calls 50
CinncyKid23: calls 50
*** TURN *** [Kc Ks Jh] [Ah]
L. Sanford: checks
espiritu: bets 100
CinncyKid23: folds
the_main: raises 400 to 500
L. Sanford: calls 500
espiritu: calls 400
*** RIVER *** [Kc Ks Jh Ah] [7s]
L. Sanford: checks
espiritu: checks
the_main: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
L. Sanford: shows [5h Kh] (three of a kind, Kings)
espiritu: mucks hand
the_main: shows [Qs Td] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
the_main collected 1950 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1950 | Rake 0
Board [Kc Ks Jh Ah 7s]
Seat 1: saturnalia folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: the_main showed [Qs Td] and won (1950) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 3: Pinkyone (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: bishop2 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: L. Sanford (big blind) showed [5h Kh] and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 6: espiritu mucked [As Qh]
Seat 7: DHic folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: CinncyKid23 folded on the Turn
Seat 9: tallcanmn folded before Flop (didn't bet)

would anyone bet on the end here?

Unknown

Preflop: I like limping in with this hand in your position after two players have already limped, provided (of course) that you're able to fold a hand like top pair if you're pretty sure you're beat.

The flop: Personally, I don't like your raise.  Note that I don't mind *raising* necessarily, but the micro-raise will only get you in trouble, usually.  Here, it didn't.  I guess what I'm saying is that you should probably either raise big enough to try to take down the pot right then and there, or just call.  I prefer calling.  First of all, you're not even sure you should be chasing your straight draw on this paired board, so you should invest as little as possible while you're trying to figure that out.  And secondly, a raise here opens the door to a BIG re-re-raise from the original bettor or caller (or checker, for that matter), which would probably end up giving you insufficient odds to continue drawing.  Why not just take a card off at the discount that is being so generously offered?

The turn: I think your play is fine here, and I think that, judging by the action, your hand is very likely good so far.  Would you/could you fold your hand here to a big all-in re-raise?  My thinking is that it probably depends on who re-raised. 

The river: I'd probably check behind here too, because L. Sanford's big turn call would terrify me.  Better players than me would probably have bet this river card, though. 

westside8

all_aces provided a pretty thorough read into this hand. As he already said, limping in wasn't a bad idea with other players ahead of you doing the same thing. Raising the flop was a questionable call. Should either make a bigger raise, or simply call.

Edited: Pressed tap+space bar by accident so it posted before I finish posting

Turn play was fine maybe except I personally might have made a bigger raise, but thats just me. I might consider a raise (maybe same size as your bet on the turn) on the river, but as said already, the big call worries me so bet might cause a re-raise, so checking was fine.

the_main

thanks aces, i appreciate you going through the hand


i understand what youre saying about the turn raise, but here is my justification:
i wanted to make a small, odd raise to create sucspicion.... (who raises a 40 bet to 90???) this was of course to get my free river card if i needed it... someone with the king might check thier hand thinking someone else filled up

also, seeing sanford check and call a raise on that scary flop, gave me a lot of info (albeit possibly erroneous)
i was terrified M.sanford had flopped a boat after he called, especailly after the turn call

if he came over the top of my bet on the turn, i probably call hoping to see AJ (it was early in a tounry, and that wouldve been a great start.... if i bust, it wouldnt be the end of the world)
however, if he moves in on the river, or makes a really big bet.... i probably drop it