Knew I was beat, but wanted the 3rd player's money

[Hans Griese]

Ok, I’ve got a wonky one here. Villain #1 is John (not from this forum, but he is a vlog watcher). John’s fairly tight, although seems to over-value Ax at times, but he’s not a bad player. We’ve played a few times, so I have a feel for his game. Villain #2 is a looser player – has shown he likes to chase flushes a bunch, but will call-down with second-pair hands. Playing $1/$2.

I’m MP and open to $13 with AK spades. John (button) calls, and V2 (SB) calls. So three of us to the flop. John has ~150 behind, V2 has ~240. I cover them both

Flop is K76 with two hearts. Bingo! V2 checks to me, I bet $15. John raises me to $65. V2 cold-calls this, decision on me..definitely not Bingo. Knowing John, he has a set here. He’d never raise his flush draws this aggressively, and he wouldn’t play K7, or K6. So either 67, 66, or 77. He know’s I’m a tighter player, so I don’t see him having connectors here, so its 66s or 77s. That being said, I do have top-top, and don’t really want to go anywhere. I think for 10ish seconds and make the call. I am not yet worried about V2 – he has a flush draw in my mind

Turn is 3 clubs, which brings the second flush draw on-board. Shame it wasn’t a spade draw. John shoves out-of-turn for $86. We both check it, so his action stands. V2 calls. So at this point, I am sure John has a set, and I am also fairly sure V2 has a draw. V2 has $90 more behind. So I tank for a minute or so, and then re-shove. V2 just about snap calls, which was worrying.

River is an offsuit 10. So I am really hoping my read is right and he doesn’t have a straight draw instead. I flip my hand right away (last to bet after all). John flips 66s for the flopped set, and V2 mucks. I win the side-money, so I am basically back to a starting stack ($200 is our cap in 1/2)

Should I get rid of this on the flop or not? I am 90% sure I am beat, but then if the board stays clean I can get value back from V2, or even if a K shows up I’m golden. I don’t think I can get away once I call the Flop, since I’m getting pretty good odds (call $86 into $406), the turn was a great card, and V2 is loose enough to give me more value (plus, $90 for him into a pot of $582…also great odds).

Thinking about it, I don’t hate a fold on the flop, but overall I don’t hate how I played it. It’s just a very unique hand imo, and I’m looking for some feedback.

Cheers all!

[Hans Griese]

The more I think about it I like the fold on the flop, and I could fold on the turn too. I get money from V2, but it only offsets my money going to John by a few bucks, so why risk it. Sucks to fold top-top, but I really should have

[John S]

Should have been a fold on the flop if you know V1 has a set.

There is a place to do this, but V2 has to have a much large stack. Something like V1 has 200, V2 has 500 plus, and you cover. There at least you stand a chance to profit. You want to be able to make a good profit to do this, since sometimes you won’t get paid, and sometimes he will draw out on you.

Here, you’re just hoping V2 stacks off and you’re break even/lose money.

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