Need your feedback - fire away!!!

This was in a live game between friends. We play all the time and more or less know each others style of play. The game is no limit, $0.5-1 blinds, with rebuys. One huge stack (the dealer in this hand) and everybody else is at approximately $45.

I'm last before the dealer and I look at 3c 3h. Everybody calls the BB. Pot is $9. The flop is 2c 3d 4h. At this point I know that with that many people in, somebody has a straight draw. Everyone checks, I do the same, so does the dealer. The turn is 7c. A calling station (small blind) raises $7. Another calling station calls. Rest fold to me. At this point the pot is $23. I push all in (call $7 and $37 more). Dealer folds. BOTH calling stations call. The river is 9c. Small blind has Ac 5c, big blind was on the straight draw and didn't make it.

Here's my reasoning for my actions. I didn't want to raise pre-flop with a weak pair. I checked on the flop because I wanted to disguise my set (and when I think about it now, I should have raised the size of the pot there to see where everyone stands). On the turn, I figured that they both either have draws or high cards (and maybe even a high pair), so I wanted to push them out, with the thought that even if somebody made their straight, I had outs for a full house.

Feedback plz?

I can't see too much that you could have done to alter the outcome of this hand, in all honesty.

You are right that you really don't want to push pocket 3's too hard pre-flop, and with his A5s, he would have called any modest raise, any ways. Your opponent flopped the wheel straight, and had to think that it was the best hand, assuming no one was holding 5-6. I doubt you are going to get him to lay that hand down, even with an All-In bet on the flop. At best, he probably would have pinned you on a small set or two pair, which he already has beaten. He slow played his straight on the flop, and then pushed in a near pot-size bet with the 7 showing on the turn. He was trying to trap a lesser made hand and he got you with your set.

That's a tough read, and maybe the only hindsight was that you you could've made a smaller (non-A.I.) re-raise to see if you'd get a call, but if you thought your trip 3's were good, then the 9 on the river wouldn't have changed anything, and you probably would have bet your remaining stack on the river figuring you had your opponent trapped with two pair or something.

You probably were going to lose your money here no matter what - but it was a misplay to check the flop. You should bet hard there because that board is very dangerous. Any low card coming out that doesn't pair the board - an ace, a five, a six - is potential trouble for your hand, and you're giving them a chance to see it for free.

Thanks for the comments!

Just some thoughts about betting on the flop - I realize that a big bet is a must in that situation to get rid of the straight draws, but I felt that if I bet really big, and the calling stations will call (or at least one of them), I'm pot commited on the turn and will pretty much have to call down/push the rest of the stack in. On the other hand, if I bet small (1/2 - 2/3 pot), it would entice more people to stay in the hand, and lowering my chances to pick up the pot.

I also don't know if you noticed, the villain made his flush on the river, because he also had a flush draw on top of his straight.

/also bump :)

Only a big preflop raise could have scared off youre opponent, but with the 2 card street after the flop I would (as youre opponent) called everything

Quote:

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I'm last before the dealer and I look at 3c 3h. Everybody calls the BB. Pot is $9. The flop is 2c 3d 4h. At this point I know that with that many people in, somebody has a straight draw. Everyone checks, I do the same, so does the dealer. The turn is 7c. A calling station (small blind) raises $7. Another calling station calls. Rest fold to me. At this point the pot is $23. I push all in (call $7 and $37 more). Dealer folds. BOTH calling stations call. The river is 9c. Small blind has Ac 5c, big blind was on the straight draw and didn't make it.

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LOL. What's the logic behind that?! 'I know someone has outs to beat my hand, so I'll give them a free card.'

BET!

-'rilla

'rilla,

i see your point.

so if i raise hard and i'm reraised, it's a clear fold (even though i have the outs for the boat)? or should i just follow the pot odds (if i'm reraised just a little - call, and if reraised big - fold)?