I am occasionally delving into the NL games from time to time as a change of pace from my normal limit games. I played a hand today that I thought perhaps I could have played different to extract some more $$ but haven't decided as of yet how I might have played it to do so. Both players that are involved are fairly predictable players that play "good cards". I called the reraise of my bet because I figured I could break one or both of them with a good flop for my "bad cards". II got a dynamite flop and I am sure that neither had an A the way the hand went down which was very unfortuante. Any comments appreciated.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed)

MP3 ($111.85)
CO ($77.50)
Button ($74.95)
SB ($238.85)
BB ($196.05)
UTG ($89.80)
Hero ($176.50)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($98.50)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
UTG calls $1, Hero raises to $4, MP1 calls $4, 1 fold, MP3 raises to $13, 4 folds, UTG folds, Hero calls $9, MP1 calls $9.

Flop: ($41.50) , , (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, MP3 bets $11, Hero raises to $22, MP1 folds, MP3 calls $11.

He makes a VERY weak bet into a 41.00 pot. I raised just a little hoping that perhaps the other player or the better might come over the top and I could set them all in and I guess hope that neither held AA. When he just calls my bet I am pretty sure he doesn't have an A and it's going to be hard to get any more from him.

Turn: ($85.50) (2 players)
Hero bets $89, MP3 folds.

Perhaps a smaller bet was called for here but with another heart out I didn't want a cheap draw that could get me although I think he was likely on an overpair.

Final Pot: $174.50

Hands like these are why I like to raise suited connectors, but I do think you misplayed it Piers.

I wouldnt have raised the flop. I want the other guy to call. If he doesnt call thats fine, but without your flop raise, MP3 may lead out again. If he does, surely it will be more than the $11 you got out of him with your raise.

Also, why bet so much at the turn? You can give him bad ods to draw without betting that much. Plus its doubtful he has the flush draw anyway.

Yeah I agree with you that I played this hand poorly. After thinking about the hand some more I think the MP1 player that folded to my raise might have very well called 11.00 into a 60.00 pot with a wide variety of hands that wouldn't be of any worry to me and thus I would have gotten the same 11.00 that I got from the initial raiser and I would have been in a much better position on the turn to extract some more money. These are definately the kinds of situations that I need to improve on to raise my game another level.

I agree with Ice that the bet on the turn is a little to big, but still not a horrible play, it is unlikely that he is on a flush draw here, what cards would he call you with preflop that would involve a flush draw maybe AK or Aq of hearts but that is a pretty remote possibilty and even if the heart hits he's not going to be able to push hard at you with a pair on board.

You should either smooth-call on the flop or raise more. Here is why: If he is halfway decent you aren't getting him to call much more if he's got a high pp. So if that's your read on him, then I would smooth call and give him a chance to take another stab at in on the turn. However, the problem with smooth-calling is that there are absolutely no draws out there on the flop, meaning he'll probably be done with it if he's got KK or QQ. If you have an aggressive table image, a raise to $35 would be okay too. If he's got AK then he's probably calling any amount of a flop raise, so if he's got AK then you want to build the pot as quickly on the flop as possible. I'm 100% sure that if he had AK there and you raised to $35 or $40 he's at least calling, if not coming over the top.

Now, in a 3-way pot like this I'd be very tempted to lead out on the flop. Between MP1 and MP2 I would tend to put at least one of them on AK or AQ, and with that ace they are probably raising a weak lead by you. If you bet $15 into the $41.50 and get raised to $40 you can just call it and almost surely get the rest of the money in on the turn.

Finally, you definately should not have bet so much on the turn. At most I would have bet half pot but with MP3 only having $75 left you probably should only bet like $30 and expect to get in the last $45 on the river.

I love leading out into a hand like this on the flop Piers. If he holds the ace with a decent kicker he will raise your bet. You then call his raise...then commit him on the turn or river with a raise of your own.

As for how you played it.....I agree with guys about smooth calling the flop. I beleive smooth calling or leading is the best play here. A check raise looks too strong and since you're out of position, you're gonna have to come out firing on the turn (which you did) and he's not guarennteed to pay you off this way. AK and AQ don't look so good with the way you're playing your hand.