Callers in Early Position?

[silverfist]

I really don't know what to do when I'm called in early position with a good, but not a great hand. Half the time, it seems I'm being slow-played. Otherwise, if I check on the turn, they bet and I have to fold. Here's a hand from today:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t100 (4 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Button (t3385)
Silverfist (t2885)
BB (t3535)
UTG (t3695)

Preflop: Silverfist is SB with 9, A.
2 folds, Silverfist raises to t300, BB calls t200.

Flop: (t600) A, 4, J (2 players)
Silverfist bets t300, BB calls t300.

Turn: (t1200) 8 (2 players)
Silverfist ???

What do I do here? Please don't just give me advice for this hand. I'm looking for general advice on how to deal with being called. If it depends, that's fine. What are the variables and how exactly do I employ them?

I'm running into players over and over who just call, call, call until I stop betting, then they bet. I feel like I'm making an all-in decision every time I enter a hand.

[aislephive]

This is tough because you're out of position, you can either check-call or make another smallish bet and hope he doesn't reraise you. I think there's a 50% shot your hand is good. There's no draws on the flop, but he might have a worse kicker or he may have middle pair and he thinks it's good. I can't fold here, though. Your kicker isn't that bad and if he had a strong ace I think he'd reraise you. I'd make a bet of half the pot and push on the river, but that's just me. You're on the bubble so you do have some fold equity. A bet of 600-900 will let him know that you came to play.

[silverfist]

On thing that's occured to me is that maybe I should check the flop, and then check-raise if he bets. It's a little more agressive, but might work. Then, if he doesn't bet, I could bet on the turn. It gives a free card, but at least I'd know where I'd stand.

The problem is that a call means anything from "I flopped a set and am slow playing you" to "I have bottom pair, but want to see if you'll stop betting and I can push you off the hand". I don't know how to interpret them.

[aislephive]

A check-raise might work, but if you're called then you most push the river since you're pot commited. Getting called down from somebody in position could mean a few different things. One is that they are trapping you and wants you to do the betting for them. It could also mean they have middle pair and think that they have the best hand. Some players will call you down and hope that you check to them so they can bluff you out of the pot. I've played it that way myself on several occasions.

From what I've seen from a lot of the HH's you have posted, is that you are playing out of position far too much. When you're in position then you can maximize your winnings and minimize your losses, and you have so many advantages. If they check you can take a free card or bet and hope their check meant weakness. Try not to play big pots out of position without a strong hand.

[silverfist]

Thank you for the response. I realise I'm playing out of position a lot, but that's because I'm playing tight and the only time I'm really in a pot is when I'm in the blinds.

I'm just going to start letting go of anything under TPTK when I'm in out of position. I'll bet at the flop once if I have something, but if I get called, it's his pot. I'm just losing too much money this way.

[Scuba Chuck]

What the hell is going on here? This is a beautiful flop for you. Attack. Don't make these wimpy bets. You have great position here, announce, "I have an ace!" Bet 600 or 700. Now, if you get called, there's something to think about. When you make these wimpy bets, it gets more challenging. Anyway, the way you played it, your victim likely has a jack or something even worse. On the turn bet hard again. Penalize him for calling. This flop and turn card is not draw heavy at all.

Anyhow, when you're called, and you did not play correctly, it makes everything more difficult. If you bet correctly, and then you get called, you can look for draws. If there is zero draws, you should know that you're likely beat, or he's a complete donkey. The higher the buyin, the more likely you're beat. The smooth call is easily identified on the turn when you get the min-reraise.

[Trikflow77]

drop the hammer (pot it) on the turn if you half pot the flop. I bet 400 or so on the flop, which i would bet if i hit or miss, either way. Ony way i pot this flop like scuba said to do is if its a draw heavy board, which its not, i'll take a gutshots action here.