Quote Originally Posted by OhBollocks
The 4bet on the flop tells me Im normally way behind, so why do I usually feel commited here?
...'cause by the time you've 3-bet him on the flop, you pretty much are...

Take this for the noobie 2cents it's worth... I spent more time than most at $10NL (over 225K hands...), and when it comes to TPTK type hands, I really think you're picking between two generally broad options -- play them hard, fast and for stacks or, unimproved, lean towards pot control and smaller pots. I say this as broad approach, recognizing all the it depends, opponent specific, board texture, reads, yadda yadda.

All that being said, and I'm prolly gonna get yelled at here, but I found naked TPTK to be a vulnerable hand at $10NL to play for stacks. So in my mind it was a choice...

1. Play 'em hard, fast and for stacks -- Advantage is taking money from fools stacking off w/ worse pairs and busted draws that don't improve by SD. Disadvantage is you will donk your stack into sets consistently, lose stacks to the "wish-a-flush" crowd, blah blah. This approach can be +EV, but higher volatility. Your hand here is a good example of this -- if I was vil I would have happily stacked off with a bunch of hands on this flop (66, JJ, AKs, AQs, AJ, Ax or Kx flush draw, Jx or 6x flush draw). Would play the line a bit different, but end result is the same.
2. Pot control unimproved -- Advantage is lower volatility and smaller losses. In this example, call the min-raise and re-evaluate on the Turn. Wouldn't save you from the boat in this case, but may make you think twice if a spade peels off or a Q etc. You have some room to move (and improve...) before committing. Disadvantage is you leave money on the table by giving up on TPTK hands where you really were ahead. This can also be +EV with less volatility.

Which is technically better long-term? F-k if I know... I think if you're okay with the way hands like this turn out, and are consistently aggressive w/ TPTK, your okay long-term at $10 but roll with the volatility. You don't like the volatility? Try considering TPTK as a "small pot" hand unimproved, and play it accordingly. Then this kinda sh!t is less bothersome...

Dunno if that helps, but my 2 cents nonetheless...