Top pair early on

[anarchoi]

I just dont wanna be invovled in hands like this early on :


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 (t1180)
MP1 (t1480)
MP2 (t1370)
MP3 (t1660)
CO (t1980)
Button (t1500)
SB (t1460)
Hero (t1500)
UTG (t1370)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2, 9.
2 folds, MP1 calls t20, MP2 calls t20, 3 folds, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (t80) 3, 7, 9 (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP1 bets t60, MP2 folds, SB folds, Hero folds.

Final Pot: t140

What you guys say? What if I had the 9 with a better kicker? Then I have to lead out here? Even though I hate playing crap like this early on....

[Staresy]

I fold this without batting an eyelid. You have absolutely nothing and have 5 outs to improve and you are not even sure that the 9 or 2 will help you or drag you further into a pot that, as you have correctly pointed out, you have no desire to be involved in. The pot is ridiculously small and isn't worth contesting, particularly with so many people still to act.

How good a kicker are we talking about? Even then, I am not too sure it makes that much difference to the consideration of what to do.

It doesn't change the size of the pot or the number of people left to act. You would have to bet something silly here to take it down here-and-now and that is the desired result with this type of hand. There are just so many cards that you don't want to see on the turn it's not even funny - thus planning what you will do beyond the flop dictates that you just want out.

[anarchoi]

Thanks Staresy - excactly this kind of reply I was looking and hoping for.

What about J9, Q9, or K9 here...I would feel entitled to bet with K9 thats for sure. I wouldnt like it, but I would do it. J9, Q9 I dunno...

[Staresy]

I might be inclined to make a bet with something like K9 or A9 because there's always a chance that some goofball who has fished the turn with overcards catches a piece and loses a bucketload to your two pair. e.g. he calls with KJ and the turn comes K; but by-and-large, I don't really want to get involved here.