I think I played this badly – I felt quite lost.

100NL Ladbrokes FR

Limped to me with [9d] in MP. I limp, as does villain on my left. After 300 hands he’s one of those 55/12 players. I have $122 and he has me covered.

The remaining 4 players also limp, so 7(!) of us see a flop of

[7s][7c] $7

Checked to me; I bet $5; villain calls, as does OTB ($78) who is unknown and has only recently sat down.

Turn [7s][7c][5c] $22

Now I feel stuck. Worried about facing a larger overpair or a 7 and trying to keep the pot size down, I decide to try check/calling to the bitter end, barring plausible scare cards.

Villain bets $10; OTB calls; I call.

River [7s][7c][5c][7d] $52

I check; villain bets $68, making the pot $120; OTB folds.

I ???

I really need advice on how to play hands like this OOP, and other thoughts too please?

IMO you have to pick a spot to make a stand and do it, most likley on the flop. You btp on the flop and get 2 callers, then go passive and call. This is terrible IMO. If you plan on playing the hand to showdown, you need to be more aggressive with such a drawy board. As played the river is a fold, but only because you never really forced the villain to define his hand. QA turn check is only ok if you plan to fold or CR huge, possibly all in.

Not to sound like a dick, but I think the way you played the hand is about as bad as could be done. Sorry bro. Mid-range overpairs OOP are VERY tough to play.

He definitely isn't bluffing that river - he knows it's likely someone will call with something. I actually think there's a good chance here he has quads. He's overbetting the river to make you think it's a steal, when he knows that someone will call with a FH of some sort. I almost never fear quads... but here... I dunno. And with 7 people on that flop, someone has it. Tough position.

Yep, I thought as much. I should've bet the turn too.

As played, the river card led me to fear a 7 less than previously, so I called. He showed [8h] and I took the pot. If I'd CR'd all in on the turn I'd have made things a lot simpler and might have doubled up.

Thanks to all.