Poker ABCs - Middle Pair in Early Position

[silverfist]

I'd just like to get people's views on what is standard practice when flopping middle pair (I realise there are variables, and I'd like to hear what they are. I'm just looking for general guidelines, and I'm happy to mix them up). Here is a case from today:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (3 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

saw flop|saw showdown

BB (t7285)
Button (t1210)
Silverfist (t5005)

Preflop: Silverfist is SB with Q, 8.
Button calls t200, Silverfist completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t600) 2, 9, 8 (3 players)
Silverfist ???

Do I:

a) Bet?
b) Check-Fold?
c) Check-Call?
d) Check-Raise?

In the actual case, I bet, and was raised. Should I then:

e) Fold?
f) Call and bet turn?
g) Call and check-fold turn?
h) Call and check-call turn?
i) Call and check-raise turn?
j) Reraise?

Somtimes, however, I am called. Should I then:

k) Bet turn?
l) Check-fold turn?
m) Check-call turn?
n) Check-raise turn?

Of couse, some of these options are silly. I'm just trying to be thorough. I'd be interested to hear how people generally play flops of middle pair.

[Scuba Chuck]

Yummy, a quiz.

First, 3 way ITM, this is not ABC poker. So my response is different here, than it would be at a full table.

1) I would check maybe call. Sometimes, very rare, I might check-raise.

2) Who were you raised by? If you were raised by the BB, insta-fold. Next, how much were you raised by? If you were min-raised by button, then I might call for implied odds, as he probably is misplaying a good hand.

3) If you are called, you are likely up against two over cards, so how you play the turn depends on the card. If it's a Q, I give the guy a rope, and let him hang himself.

[silverfist]

Thanks for the response. Here's some more of the story:

Silverfist bets t400, BB folds, Button raises to t1010, Silverfist ???

In this instance, I can only call, since the Button is all-in. However, the above options are for the general case.

[Scuba Chuck]

Thanks for the response. Here's some more of the story:

Silverfist bets t400, BB folds, Button raises to t1010, Silverfist ???

I'll respond later, when you get more responses.

[dsaxton]

Easy fold with no other information. I usually just check. You probably make more by check-calling given you induce a bluff from a player outside the blinds a certain percentage of the time. If you bet and are called you're in an awkward position and will be prone to make mistakes later on in the hand, and there aren't many worse hands that can call you here aside from straight draws.

[TLR]

When there are three people left more depends on reads then anything else.
Without a read I fold here

[Scuba Chuck]

Thanks for the response. Here's some more of the story:

Silverfist bets t400, BB folds, Button raises to t1010, Silverfist ???

In this instance, I can only call, since the Button is all-in. However, the above options are for the general case.

OK, what's your take right now? What's your read on button at the moment? What hands do you put him on?

[A10Chief]

You're probably behind in this instance...I think a fold is best, although the possibility of eliminating that player might make this a call, since it won't eat up a huge portion of your chips. Have you been pushing this player around before this?

[Scuba Chuck]

You're probably behind in this instance...I think a fold is best, although the possibility of eliminating that player might make this a call, since it won't eat up a huge portion of your chips. Have you been pushing this player around before this?

I don't disagree, but what about implied odds of calling? Hero has chips to be a little loose here, if it means stacking.

[MAX]

From where you are now, I call it. It's 610 more into a 2000 pot. he probably has you beat, but sometimes he has overs, low pp, 8s smaller kicker etc. Combine this with over 3 to 1 on your money, having probably 7 outs + runnerrunner str8/flush (this alone justifies call based on pot odds), and having a stack that can withstand the loss and I think it is an easy call. You are still ahead of him if you lose.

[PokerPatNEU]

The only hands villain can have here that you don't have pot odds to call against is any set, or an over pair, and i think villains range here late in a tourney includes way more than that. Especially given the pre flop action, unless he plays shorthanded very trickily, he probably doesn't have any pair besides maybe 22.