Poker - Hand Analysis

[Handyman]

Been doing the local card room tour on the weekends lately...still not comfortable playing live as I tend to get too excited sometimes [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Anyhow....here's a hand that has been bugging the hell out of me...$3/$6 Fixed Limit...

I get dealt JJ on the button...5 limpers + me and I CHECK preflop.

Flop comes Js 8s 2d

BB bets
2nd position raises to $6
I reraise to $9

Was I correct in rerasing with 2 spades on the board or should I have slow played the hand?

Turn was Ah and both checks to me and I bet...

River is a 10s....again both checks to me and I'm thinking...oh no...so I check but in hindsight I should have bet the river.

I did win the hand but I got the feeling I could have won more and that I play that hand pretty bad. Any opinions?

Same thing happened earlier at another table where I flopped top 2 pair and had position where there was a bet and a raise in front.

[Minnow]

My opinion, and I am probably wrong..

Since everyone limped I would raise pre-flop. You flop top set and actually have guys raising and calling still? Don't check or slow play, as you are giving them free shots at sucking out with their pairs and draws.

Even if you had said you lost the hand, I would have advised the same thing.

It's hands like that that make me appreciate NL for the ability to protect the best hand from potential doom.

[SlipperyPete]

Not so bad.
10s is definitely not what you wanted to see.
Maybe you would have been better served just calling on the flop because your reraise would not have gotten out the drawing hands but a raise on the turn would have made it a lot tougher for them to call
As far as the check on the river is alright, I think. 10s makes a lot of possible drawing hands.
If they missed they would fold, but if you got reraised then you know you are in trouble

[stinkeye]

I would raise before the flop as you did. On the flop, with a set of J's, you should bet and raise as much as possible, as you don't want players drawing at you for free and possibly making some goofy straight. Also, a small flush draw may think he's dead to a bigger flush and fold. If a flush comes on the turn you still have a re-draw against him. Good luck

[alm]

In your spot with JJ on button no question raise preflop.

[Bobby C]

Originally posted by: SlipperyPete
Maybe you would have been better served just calling on the flop because your reraise would not have gotten out the drawing hands but a raise on the turn would have made it a lot tougher for them to call...

I disagree.

Normally, this would be correct. But in this case, since there was a bet and a raise before it got to our hero, he gets to drive the price up to $9, which is almost as good as two bets on the turn. The difference is so minor, it doesn't pay to wait.

Also, with the BB and UTG+1 doing the betting, a raise on the turn won't force anyone to make a decision for two bets cold--another reason to start jamming on the flop.

If I'm in that spot, I raise pre-flop. If I do this, I probably won't be confronted on the flop with the sort of action we see here. But if I was, I'd three-bet the flop.

In a tough game, I'd check the river. But in the game you describe, I'd bet it once, and pay off any raises that might arise.

[xpanda]

People rarely pull the old 'check - raise' trick on the river so you probably should have bet at that time. Raising pre-flop is also sound advice.

[SeattleSlew]

Pre-Flop would have raised up.

Post-flop you made the correct call to raise to $9, imo
Sounds like you have at least one loose caller that will pay you.
You can't be betting scared of the flush.

Three-handed on the river, more times than not you still have the best hand in that situation; you bet.
If one raises, call it. Agree there. If someone ran you down w/ the flush the damage is already done.

[Ahead]

Bet the river.Like people say,in a situation were it´s checked to you,bet the river.You´ll earn more just by doing this.You´ll lose some-but you will win more over time.
I would have raised preflop.JJ is tough to play,but it´s certainly a decent pocket to start out with anyway.Raise it preflop and see what the flop tells.At the same time you´re punishing those people limping in with crap.You always wanna do just that with a pocket like JJ.
Three of a kind at the flop.Definetly correct to raise.You can say with 100% security that you have the best hand around at this time.You always wanna raise with the best hand.It might look a little scary when fearing a flush-but you´re still a decisive favourite to win the pot.You have to raise in situations like this.The more you can raise-the more incorrect it is for the guy holding two spades to call.You wanna give him as bad odds as possible.Because of the spades,and that ace,you ain´t wanna slowplay it here.

[mvan]

Without a doubt you should have raised before flop. Anyone who says different doesn't know what they are doing. You need to get the blinds out and you might get some others out. And then you have the best hand unless an Ace, King, or queen comes on flop.

[cerberus]

I think you should quit playing poker, and get back to your specialty, horse matchups. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[Inside The Pylons]

Originally posted by: cerberus
I think you should quit playing poker, and get back to your specialty, horse matchups. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Cerb,
H-man's specialty is casino gaming.

[cerberus]

ITP,

I haven't spoken to Handy in some time. I know we used to discuss Carib's horse matchups when they still offered them, which was ages ago. I am glad that he has found another profitable venture.

Casino gaming is probably better for him anyways, as he was never awake when I pm'd him in the old days. I know he is a west coast guy, and I am on the east coast, but he was missing some betting opportunities snoring away.

Casinos are the perfect match for him, he can sleep in, and they will always be open, whenever he decides to wake up. He probably dreams about how he is going to spend all the money he is winning. No wonder he sleeps a lot. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Handyman]

Originally posted by: Inside The Pylons

Cerb,
H-man's specialty is casino gaming.

I quit that casino crap a long time ago...JJ was correct...anyone who plays online casino should have their head examined!

It's now Poker and Horses 24/7 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[Inside The Pylons]

I quit that casino crap a long time ago..

Just because you quit doesn't mean that it is not your specialty.