Limit Texas Holdem Hand Quiz #4

[Matt]

You are in a fullhanded game filled with loose but mostly passive players. You are in middle position with A:spades:J:spades:. An early player and a middle player limp. You raise. Two players behind you cold-call, the blinds fold, and the limpers call. The pot contains 11.5 small bets. The flop comes 9:clubs: 5:spades: A:clubs:, giving you top pair and a backdoor flush draw. The first limper bets and the second limper calls. You call, planning to raise on the turn. The player behind you calls and the final player raises. The first limper calls, and the second limper three-bets. The pot contains 20.5 small bets. It is two bets to call, giving you pot odds of about 10-1. What do you do?

[Nima]

I would call.

The guy who made it three bets will raise on the turn and I can reraise him to force the other players out.

The player on the button probably has flush draw while the second limper has an Ace - possibly two pair.

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Actualy on second thought - I already voted but - I probably will fold.

You mentioned its a loose passive game. So if there are all these raises and re-raises my Ace can not be good. I might try to call the two bets and hope for a flush draw or two pair to hit on the turn, but that's if I suspect everyone to call the bets therefore giving me better odds to call.

I will also not raise on the turn. (after my above new thought)

Cheers,
Nima

[Matt]

This hand should hit the muck immediately. Someone most likely has a set or at least two pair. If someone has a set, your only hope is to backdoor a fullhouse, quads, or a flush. Your outs for a full house or quads are probably dead, but you are a big underdog even if they are live. A backdoor flush is also a longshot and might still lose if the board pairs, giving someone else a full house.

This example comes from a hand I played (badly) online. The turn and river came Q:hearts: and Q:diamonds:. One player held 5-5 for a full house. Another had A:diamonds:5:diamonds:.