Ladies and gentlemen of the jury of the DEALMESUM kangaroo court, what say you?

[SycoSteve]

Second thought after taking a better look at the game I see it a $0/$15/$30 so assuming it real cash and not play money this is a instant fold for what good really is a Q3????

If you'd like to reconsider, this was the 1^st or 2^nd level -- can't remember if we started w/ 10/20 or 15/30 -- of the DEALMESUM Feb League Game 1, not a cash ring game. . .

[offrdmom]

If you'd like to reconsider, this was the 1^st or 2^nd level -- can't remember if we started w/ 10/20 or 15/30 -- of the DEALMESUM Feb League Game 1, not a cash ring game. . .

Oh my! a DMS League game well that does change early stage too boot then I would call in that case as I said before hero is playing it right if he holding KX or any 2 painted is raise is with only the 2 of us it makes for a nice coin flip situation

[offrdmom]

When will we learn the true out come of this hand??

[SycoSteve]

Since you insist. . .

HERO made the call with thinking pretty much along the lines laid out by datsme53:

1. Not much to call the raise with the SB folded and your BB already in at an early juncture of the tournament
2. A standard raise by UTG+1 should indicate a strong hand, but that can be many things: PPs, suited connectors, couple of this case a maniac with ATC is unlikely given his play in the game up to now
   
3. You can close the betting action w/o fear of getting 4-bet [if you decided to 3-bet]
   
4. You're guaranteed to be heads up in the hand with the raiser
   
5. You probably have a better idea of what he's holding than he does what you're holding with a call

So, off to the flop they go HU. . .

DEALMESUM Sept League Series T12052768 -- Table 2 -- $0/$15/$30 NL Hold'em -- 2026/09/08 - 18:18:47
Seat 1: SEAT1 ($1,786 in chips) DEALER
Seat 2: SEAT2 ($1,612 in chips)
Seat 5: HERO ($1,660 in chips)
Seat 7: VILLAIN ($1,348 in chips)
Seat 9: SEAT9 ($1,302 in chips)
Seat 10: SEAT10 ($1,542 in chips)
SEAT2: posts small blind 15
HERO: posts big blind 30
Dealt to HERO [Qc,3c]
SEAT6: folds
VILLAIN: raises to 89
SEAT9: folds
SEAT10: folds
SEAT1: folds
SEAT2: folds
HERO: calls 59

*** FLOP *** [3d,Js,Qs]
HERO: checks
VILLAIN: bets 99
HERO: ?????

HERO's flopped about as well as he can hope for with his holding -- top and bottom pair, but unfortunately not even a backdoor flush draw. What now?

What should HERO do now after VILLAIN's rather standard flop bet in position. Is VILLAIN just going for the pot with a continuation bet -- maybe with a draw [straight, flush or combo]? Is VILLAIN value betting a made hand [overpair, Jx, Qx, Js & Qs, a set of one or the other]? Maybe a probing bet with a middlish pocket underpair to the board?

Should HERO fold [he's in deep $#!+]? Call [pot control and see what the turn brings]? Raise? If so, how much?

OK, let's hear what you've got to say. The poll has been revised for turn voting!

[offrdmom]

Well time to take control so it a pot raise lol
I don't get the feeling he holding anything higher then 10 10 or even if he's got AA unless the boards pairs or the turn/river brings an A your 2 pair looks good enough to go to the turn and beyond

[datsme53]

I'm not sure I would have checked in Hero's spot there.. but the situation says... Hero checks... Villain bets 99.. soooo... I think Hero needs to raise here.. and probably a good pot bet... maybe a small overbet to the pot. Villain made a pretty standard CB of 99 .. after a check from Hero. Hero.. I would think, at this point, should be raising a good pot bet.. maybe even overbet of the pot ... some perhaps. A bet such as this from Hero would make Villains pot odds at 2 to 1 or worse.. so if Villain wants to call.. he should have a hand (like a strong drawing hand) that he believes gives him odds at no worse than 2 to 1 or better to win the hand. If Villain doesn't have such a hand.. the pot odds would dictate him to fold here... barring some thought that Villain thinks Hero is bluffing... not likely though.

[JamesDaBear]

A check raise here looks like a fine play... probably pot-sized around 270 to look like you want folds. On such a wet board, you're not going to get much value out of just calling and then checking the turn. Anybody with any equity in the hand at all and two wits about themselves will check behind unless they have you crushed. C/R flop, bet out on non-scary turn. Most likely check/call river to induce a bluff and not value-town yourself with a weak two pair... unless you run into a full house, of course. (EDIT: I meant you caught a Q or 3 on the river, not worried about villain having a full house.)

[jsaw]

Raise or check raise are fine especially since you have no hsitory and are at 6 person table. But it is time to find out just where you stand especially on, as James said, a board that wet. The other player may be C-betting but two or the cards are squarely in the normal range for a lead out bet and even if the player is loose most likely hit the other player in some fashion. Folding even two weak pair at this stage is not an option and calling, while deceptive, provides you no information and clearly gives the villain a free card if on a draw.

[SycoSteve]

As it was suggested, HERO did make a check raise play, but not quite as much as has been suggested. In part so as to not to drive out the draws. Yes, HERO would have to be aware of a draw completing, but wanted to get some value out of them if they didn't. VILLAIN calls the raise and here comes the turn:

HERO: raises to 200
VILLAIN: calls 101

*** TURN *** [5d]
HERO: ?????

Effectively a blank as the board is now 3d,Js,Qs,5d, yes? But, The danger of draws becomes more ominous now. So, now what should be HERO's play?

[Akorps]

I would have shoved on either the flop or turn