How do I play this hand?

corblimey

I'd consider myself a competent enough pokerer, but there's one situation that I always seem to play wrong, and I can't get the hang of it.

I'm in the SB with 85o. There's a small raise or several limpers, I complete and we see a flop. Flop comes 8-high rainbow, no real straight possibilities. Now I'm first to act, I've got top pair but I've also got the problem that there's any number of hands out there that can beat me.

Do I check and fold to most bets?
Make a small bet and fold to most raises?
Make a large bet and try to take the pot there?

Each method has its own pros and cons, and of course, you have to take players and stack sizes into account, but in reality, you've got a hand that's more than likely going to need some help and also avoid any overcards. Of course, avoiding any overcards on a pair of 8s could put straight draws out there or pair the board.

How do things change if my hand is say J8o?

Every time I get in this situation, I always feel like I could have won it if I don't win it or get more chips if I do.

ArmaniJeanss

To be honest I wouldnt limp in the SB with that sort of rubbish. You are going to need a major unlikely set of circumstances to win a decent pot.
More likely you find yourself with a morsel of the flop, out of position etc.
In the first situation, I'd normally check-fold to a decent bet.
In the 2nd situation. Dont like it but probably lead a 3/5ths pot bet and see what happens.
AJs

P.S All tourney play answers., cash I don't know???

Goodluck2me

in my opinion the reason you should calling with 85o is to hit a monster flop. your looking for a flop that will stack someone, TP is by no means a monster on an 8-high board. you should be looking for flops of 467o or the like and hope someone has 77, 66, etc. to make 85o +ev you probably have to fold in preflop 95% of the time and on the flop another 90% and then when you hit the flop hard, stack them. depending on what level your playing at you could well get paid by anythin from 99-AA on the 467 board. if you have aces youll be saying...he hardly played 85, did he?? so just let the TP go and carry on with the game there are 155 other hands out there so dont worry about it.
with regards to J8 in my opinion JJ8/ J88 is the only flop you can comfortably put your money in with as 89T will get you hammered with QJ, which will be delighted to see your J8. this obv isnt copperfastened as reads go etc 2-pair can often be enough..
GL2M

Edit:- id say more suitable for cash here, just to mix up your hand selection and only in a low action LP, for tourneys throw it away.

Gholimoli

what u do is check and fold to any bet .the more ppl in the hand the more you should be inclined not to bet with your 8 high.
as another poster explined when you call with a hand like that against several players your not hoping to hit TP .your hoping to hit at least two pair on an other wise drawless board.
if your cards are connectors esp high ones then you need to be very careful even with two pair as it puts draws on the board.
ie you have TJ and flop is J T x .
i often dont lead with less than two pair from my SB,BB .obviously to mix things up some times i lead with nothing or just a pair but im willing to fold to any resistance at all as my intention is purely to mix things up.

Hectorjelly

If you feel you have the best hand you should almost always bet. Giving up pots like this just because you are out of position is weak tight, andd giving up a lot of value. Firstly you need to look at the texture of the flop - Then the players who are in the pot and their preflop standards. If you feel you are likely to have the best hand then bet, and dont bet either small or big, bet a standard amount, which should be at least the pot and not less than 3/4 of it. If you are called (or raised) you need to reevaluate on the turn.

Folding J8 on a 9TQ board is something you should aim to do just about never,

Bandana boy

Buy poker tracker and see what your return is on completing with unsuited connectors in the sb
When you see that it is a hand/position that is losing you money fold every time and you never have the decision to make.
After 10K hands this was the biggest leak in my PT

Hectorjelly

You are supposed to lose money in the sb. If you fold a hand in the sb it costs you .5bb, or .25PTBB. So as long as you are losing less than that you should continue to complete with them.

Goodluck2me

Hectorjelly wrote:

You are supposed to lose money in the sb. If you fold a hand in the sb it costs you .5bb, or .25PTBB. So as long as you are losing less than that you should continue to complete with them.

yes but ptentially it can cost you much more than .25BB getting involved in marginal hands OOP with muck imo. also re: J8 would be be happy to put your whole stack in everytime with it at any stakes/buy in? yes its a great but perfect..rarely are you called here by 78 imo.

Edit: for stupidity... point taken.

Bandana boy

Hectorjelly wrote:

You are supposed to lose money in the sb. If you fold a hand in the sb it costs you .5bb, or .25PTBB. So as long as you are losing less than that you should continue to complete with them.

Taken for granted

valor

Unless I have an absolutely sick read im never folding j8 on q910..obviously 78 wont call u, they dont have anything!

I fold 85off in the sb 100% of the time