playing top pair/two pair with a low pair on the board...

[Gatlin Dan]

I would like some suggestions on how to play this in a low limit game. If you flop top pair with a paired board, how would you play this differently depending on the number of callers? How many other people would have to enter the pot in order for you to suspect someone flopping trips? How would this change if you were holding an overpair? The pot odds and implied odds are likely going to tell me to conitnue, but when should I fold this if I may still have the best hand but really am not sure?

[SteveO]

If you have 1/2 dozen limpers and are up front check/fold.

If you are heads up or aginst 2 opponents, "it depends". What are the paired cards "broadway cards" or deuces? If the paired board are big cards, I think you are more likely to find the set out there. What is your pair - Big pair or little? What is your kicker?

Is there a flush or str8 draw? If you are up against good opponents they will be less likely to slowplay the set with str8 or flush possibilits so I think this is the most important question. So if you are in late position and see a bet and raise before you, fold.

Generally, it is not a good spot to invest a lot of money with a paired board. On the other hand, it provides a good bluffing opportunity for both you and your opponents. I might bet from early position and hopefully pick up the pot right there. If you are raised, I might pay one small bet to see the turn and perhaps catch the miracle full house. I am more inclined to bet with a low pair on the board that likely missed your opponents.

If you are in late position and it is checked around, it might seem like a good place to bet but look out for the check-raise.

If you have more than one caller, check/fold turn and river.

If you are check-raised, fold.

If your opponent has the set and there are no flush or str8 possibilities, he is more likely to slowplay the flop and get his money in on turn and river with bigger bets.

I like to be the aggressor. If you bet and meet any resistance or get more than one smooth call, check fold.

[elipsesjeff]

Dont put your opponents on a hand until they show aggression. In a limit game if you PFRed and theres a small pair on the board, chances are they DONT have it. If you limped in from EP, the question you should be asking yourself is WHY? Don't let yourself get into those situations unless you are from the Blinds, in which case, check-raise your TPTK.

Just because there is a possibility for a hand you have to assume the likeliness of them having it. If you have TPTK with a bottom pair on the flop, don't check-fold, check-raise! Its the only way you will know if your hand is any good. If you're three-bet chances are you're beat, if they call you have them beat usually. However, if you bet on the turn and get raised, generally, they have you beat.

Same goes for 3 suited cards. Just because its there, dont assume they have it. Holding TPTK with 3 suited cards is dangerous, especially if you don't have a card of that suit. Most times I assume that the people calling me down are the ones with the A or K of the suit and are just hoping to spike that last suited card. Dont give them odds to call, raise it up!!!!!
Three-Bet you're probably beat though. Same strategy for 3-to-a-straight cards. Raise it up. Once that 4th flush card or 4th straight card comes, thats when you check-fold, unless its HU, then make a crying call and hope for the best.

[LockLow34]

Read the limit section in Super System; Baldwin writes about just this type of situation. Basically TPTK on a board like Q33 is much less dangerous than with a board like QJJ. The former I'd ram and jam with, the latter, bet and then go into call-down moad at the first sign of aggression.

[Gatlin Dan]

What about if you have an overpair. I don't have the hand history, but I recently had KK UTG and PFR'ed. I got like seven callers. The flop was small pair, medium card. No connectivity or flush possibilities. With this many callers, would you suspect someone has trips and is setting a trap since I showed preflop aggression? They can put me on high unpaired cards or a decent pocket pair because of this...
I apology about the vagueness.

I am not sure how to play it, seems low limit players are hard to put on any type of hand after they call a PFR because so few of them will cold call with almost anything.

Do I bet until I see aggression and then call down, provided aggression is shown by only one person? I don't worry about the calling stations unless they suddenly come to life.

[LockLow34]

What about if you have an overpair. I don't have the hand history, but I recently had KK UTG and PFR'ed. I got like seven callers. The flop was small pair, medium card. No connectivity or flush possibilities. With this many callers, would you suspect someone has trips and is setting a trap since I showed preflop aggression? They can put me on high unpaired cards or a decent pocket pair because of this...
I apology about the vagueness.

I am not sure how to play it, seems low limit players are hard to put on any type of hand after they call a PFR because so few of them will cold call with almost anything.

Do I bet until I see aggression and then call down, provided aggression is shown by only one person? I don't worry about the calling stations unless they suddenly come to life.

In the case where you bet the flop and get multiple callers on a Q33 board. I watch for overcallers, especially from the blinds. In later positions I'd worry about a hand like A3s. But for me the biggest tell is the overcaller, because he's not overcalling with nothing. I would bet the turn and call down or fold if I got check-raised by an overcaller.

Something else to keep in mind - if you've got KK and get 7 callers, most of the time your KK is going to be beat. (same with AA) But if your kings hold up just 2 out of 8 times, you'll make a profit on situations like this. So don't get frustrated with all the fish calling your PFR. In the long run you'll make out big.

[Gatlin Dan]

Does it make anyone else nervous when you got a monster and get so many callers. I hate having to play defense against so many when you have the best hand preflop.

[Radashack]

Does it make anyone else nervous when you got a monster and get so many callers. I hate having to play defense against so many when you have the best hand preflop.

Never, I do a cheer. If I raised the right amount and grabbed a bunch of callers I'm happy. I know I just have to take it down about 1 in 4 times and I'm looking golden (this is a NL perspective).

[elipsesjeff]

The flop was small pair, medium card. No connectivity or flush possibilities. With this many callers, would you suspect someone has trips and is setting a trap since I showed preflop aggression? They can put me on high unpaired cards or a decent pocket pair because of this...

A $hitty flop like this will also think you are bluffing, and are more likely to call you down. You should take more aggressive flop manuevers...the CHECK-RAISE woot. If you bet straight out more than likely everyone has odds to call you down, even the guy holding 44. In a 7-way raised pot its too huge to pass up and betting straight out will only hurt your chances. Best thing to do is check and hope that guy in late position with the Qxo will bet so you raise him-forcing all the other players to cold-call 2 bets, giving them incorrect odds to go for most draws. Bet out on the turn, if you get raised, well, check call to the river. Most times a PFR will get rid of just about anyone with a 3 in their hand (some fish will cold-call with 33), I think you'd be fine.