Pocket 7's as the BB

BigChrisEl

I was playing in a Freeze out with 22 players and the tables just merged into the final table, so 1/2 the players at the table I have no read. The hand after the merge just knocked out the BB (I was UTG on that hand) and now I'm the BB with pocket 7's. Blinds are 500/1000 and I have about 20 K.

UTG (a new player and I have no read on him) calls, he has about 15 K

Fold to the player who I will call the Bluffer (cause he bluff's a lot and then shows) he calls, he has about 10 K.

Fold's around the kid (a new player and I have no read) he calls, he has about 6K.

More folds to me.

Should I check or bet here?

I checked and the flop came A, A, 5.

I checked it and it got checked all around.

I figured the bluffer didn’t have an Ace and he wasn’t going to bluff at it because that is not his style. If he had an ace he would have fired all-in, also because of the aces on the board he decided to not put his all-in bluff out there. Also he like to play suited connects (he played and showed hands like K-6 and 2-4 suited) so I figured he had suited cards.

I also figured the Kid didn’t have an ace because he was short stacked and if he did he I figured he would put it all-in and just be pleased just to pick up the pot.

The UTG I don’t know because he has chips and he could be slow playing cause he is UTG.

Turn was a 7.

Again should I check or bet here?

Hork42

I'd probably push preflop.

Turn action - Checkraise allin if you can. If no one bets, bet the river.

dunks

I think it was good that you checked preflop. The reason being, there is already quite a bit of money in the pot and if you hit a set you can milk it. If you don't hit anything then you can throw away the hand without having invested anymore than you had to.

I'd say bet on the turn when you hit your boat. If you get a guy that's slowplaying his ace, he'll probably be in it all the way down.

BigChrisEl

I decided that I would go for the check-raise.

My thinking was some one may be slow playing an ace and if they are they would probably bet, and if they weren’t I make my move on the river.

So I checked the turn waiting for some one to bet but it got checked all around.

The river gave another 5.

So the board is A, A, 5, 7, 5

Check or Bet?

dunks

I'd probably bet on the river.

If someone has a 5, they're probably gonna call you. If someone is still slowing their ace, you'll get a raise and then it might be a sign to let your hand go as your boat got counterfeited.

WaterLooser

I also would have pushed pre-flop. That being said, the last 2 tournaments I have played I was lower (but not critical) in chips, pushed with 77, to run into AJ both times! Co-incidence? I think not ... both times I also busted with the 77. So maybe the next time I won't play them as hard.

BigChrisEl

dunks wrote:

I'd probably bet on the river.

If someone has a 5, they're probably gonna call you.  If someone is still slowing their ace, you'll get a raise and then it might be a sign to let your hand go as your boat got counterfeited.

I bet 2K on the river and the UTG player thought for a bit and raised to 4 K. I figured he had an ace but was %100 sure thinking he was making a move with a K or possible he had a 5 so I called and of course he did have the ace.

ScoobyD

I think I prefer leading out on the turn rather than check raise. If no one has an ace, you probably weren't going to get much more out of the hand anyways (you might miss the chance of someone making a bluff here), but if they do have the ace, they will likely raise and commit themselves to the pot. I think if you check-raise you potentially give a weak ace a way out of the hand...