Top Pair/Weak Kicker

Preflop, I figured it'd be easy enough to get 20x my .75 BB if I hit. Post flop, I felt like with a preflop raise ahead of me, I was likely to have the best hand here. Should I have slowed down on the turn rather than the river?

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (10 handed) converter

Hero ($26.3)
BB ($64.65)
UTG ($49.5)
UTG+1 ($60.75)
UTG+2 ($14.35)
MP1 ($41.55)
MP2 ($40.9)
MP3 ($97.05)
CO ($57.7)
Button ($14)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9, 8. Hero posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG raises to $1, UTG+1 calls $1, UTG+2 calls $1, 1 fold, MP2 calls $1, 3 folds, Hero (poster) calls $0.75, 1 fold.

Flop: ($5.50) 5, 2, 8 (5 players)
Hero bets $2, UTG calls $2, UTG+1 calls $2, UTG+2 calls $2, MP2 folds.

Turn: ($13.50) 6 (4 players)
Hero bets $5, UTG calls $5, UTG+1 calls $5, UTG+2 folds.

River: ($28.50) T (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks.

Final Pot: $28.50

I like the play. Too many clubs at the end, there, plus the T, so I'd do what you do hoping it gets checked behind 'cause both opps were chasing overcards. I could definitely find a fold if one of 'em bet. That would indicate that they hit the T or the clubs, or that they were smoothcalling your ass the whole time.

To answer your question, I don't think there's a reason to slow down until someone plays with you. Your bets aren't that big here, and they're STILL not taking you on.

I think you have the best hand, but checking is still the best option on the river. Possibly use a blocking bet, but that's not a big part of my game yet.

If you felt like you had the best hand on the flop shouldn't you have BET like you did? You made a weak bet on the flop and the turn giving your opponents a chance to outdraw you. I think a 5 dollar flop bet would have shown more strength and folded more people. I'm not sure about the turn. I'd be scared to commit to the hand more and bet 10. Maybe another 5? Ideas?

The intention was to bet 1/2 the pot on the flop. I rounded down badly in my estimation, and I agree - a good post flop bet should have been more like 2/3s.

I cant imagine someone chasing the flush draw (only one club at the flop)

I think I would have made a bluf on it at the river, you were the only one making bets from the start and you werent raised. think I would have bet 10 doubling the amount you bet on the turn

With that many callers, someone with a flush draw could easily have played. Assuming it was UTG+1, he had the odds to call the whole way, if he had any other reason (over cards?) to stay in at the flop.

That said, you're right that no one had the flush draw.

UTG had A8o. UTG+1 had 32o. I can't possibly fathom why UTG+1 was even in the hand, let alone playing this far. UTG's play was pretty horrid too.

I slowed down largely on the off chance that someone had me outkicked, or on the better chance that someone had a set. Even half expecting it, I was barely able to believe someone played A8o UTG, let alone raised with it.

Originally Posted by JeffreyGB

I slowed down largely on the off chance that someone had me outkicked, or on the better chance that someone had a set. Even half expecting it, I was barely able to believe someone played A8o UTG, let alone raised with it.

agree, but if you were holding A8s would you have called a big bet?

Based on the play of the hand...I think your 89 is worthless. The fact that you got two callers on your flop and turn bets are telling me your hand is no good. The check on the river really seals your fate, since they obviously didn't pick up the club flush draw on the turn.

I can't see them calling $5 on the turn just on overs, and there isn't an obvious straight or flush draw out on the flop based on the preflop action.

I'm thinking someone has pocket 9's or J's here, but I may be totally off base.

I wouldn't have called the preflop raise with that hand, especially from that position. They may be just letting you build the pot for them since you are betting out everytime, then got spooked by a combination of your aggressive betting + the 3rd club hitting on the river. Really hard to tell where you are here.

Be sure to post the results later, I am interested if YHIG or not.

wow you guys need to simmer down with pairs. NL is just a bunch of dancing around until you actually hit a monster. I woudl check fold the flop.

i dont like being out of position with a suited connector facing a preflop raise... i might fold... depending on the preflop raiser.. unless he is raising every hand.

also UTG raising usually sounds like AA KK AK.