It's always easy in hindsight

[StevieJS]

I'm making the transition back from cash games to SNG/tournament play. In this instance in a cash game I'm calling every time due to the implied odds involved (Dealt 77 in late position with a raise and a call in front of me).

However, in the early stages of a SNG, I elected to fold my hand to "wait for a better spot later". As you will see with what transpired, calling would have been a great, dumb? move ?.
What would you have done without the benefit of "Hindsight".

Full Tilt Poker Game #21080733256: $5 + $0.50 Sit & Go (162398804), Table 1 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 5:03:52 ET - 2010/05/24
Seat 1: Julz4 (1,275)
Seat 2: ClickBrute (1,455)
Seat 3: loic456 (1,605)
Seat 4: Dosiksi (1,215)
Seat 5: lionnel69 (1,695)
Seat 6: Steviejstar (1,455)
Seat 7: MoneyPlayer7 (1,530)
Seat 8: FLeTcH01x (1,410)
Seat 9: chislata24 (1,860)
FLeTcH01x posts the small blind of 20
chislata24 posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Steviejstar [7h 7d]
Julz4 calls 40
ClickBrute folds
loic456 raises to 160
Dosiksi calls 160
lionnel69 folds
Steviejstar folds
MoneyPlayer7 folds
FLeTcH01x folds
chislata24 folds
Julz4 folds
*** FLOP *** [7c Ah 7s]
loic456 bets 200
Dosiksi has 15 seconds left to act
Dosiksi raises to 1,055, and is all in
loic456 has 15 seconds left to act
loic456 folds
Uncalled bet of 855 returned to Dosiksi
Dosiksi mucks
Dosiksi wins the pot (820)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 820 | Rake 0
Board: [7c Ah 7s]
Seat 1: Julz4 folded before the Flop
Seat 2: ClickBrute didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: loic456 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Dosiksi collected (820), mucked
Seat 5: lionnel69 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Steviejstar didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: MoneyPlayer7 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: FLeTcH01x (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: chislata24 (big blind) folded before the Flop

As a foot note, later I limped with 45 suited, and caught my flush on the turn. I moved all in and got called with QQ with a Q on the board. He caught an 8 on the river which gave him a full house and knocked me out. Poker can be a cruel game.. What might have been

[Niccivan]

That hand can be played all sorts of ways, all which boil down to do you make the initial call. It's relatively early in the game, so you may not have the best read on the players yet. I would say that there is no real correct answer here and you can just as easily justify calling vs folding. This call would probably be dependent on my mood

[Mastro]

that early in a SNG with a middle pair i probably would have folded too. 4x BB raise from middle position followed by a call so the best you could hope for would be a coin flip with 77. it didnt work out this time but still a good fold given the pre-flop circumstances.

[Terribad]

Easy fold (usually).

Given the size at the pot when its on you, you're not getting the proper odds to call and set-mine. Even if everyone else calls behind you, you're still not getting proper odds. If we take into consideration of implied odds, we're still not getting the proper odds to call. Assuming everyone folds behind you, effective stack is only 1455. ...I'm following the general set-mining rule of: Implied odds of 20x the raise or more = call, Implied odds of <10x the raise, fold. Anything in between depends on the opponent.

Against an MP raise and cold call, I'm usually folding mid-pairs here if stacks aren't deep. You're usually not ahead here and if you are, its a very minimal edge.

[Niccivan]

If this was an LP game... and the raise came from a few certain people, it's an easy call.

[Terribad]

If this was an LP game... and the raise came from a few certain people, it's an easy call.

Easy call in MP when facing a cold-call right before you and a lot of players behind? That's still pretty spewy IMO when you're not getting proper odds. If you were closing the action, then the call might be +EV against a loose player. In the example of OP, I don't see calling here being +EV at all...unless it was deepstacked.

[Niccivan]

Easy call in MP when facing a cold-call right before you and a lot of players behind? That's still pretty spewy IMO when you're not getting proper odds. If you were closing the action, then the call might be +EV against a loose player. In the example of OP, I don't see calling here being +EV at all...unless it was deepstacked.

If there's one thing I've learned in online poker, you can't play with scared money. The bet was big, but with a caller I feel better about my mid pair than I did without the caller. I can hope that the raise was two over cards... or even a monster PP. Now, perhaps the caller also has 2 over cards.... and their chances or catching are less. Yeah, I'm thinking I lay this down most of the time. But sometimes I get a wild hair and have been known to play outside the box. Perhaps all the "rules" point to a lay down here, however, the rules have pretty much screwed me on every hand possible. I am known as the suck out girl.... however, it's not me doing the sucking out.... it's me getting sucked out on. So, whatever these odds and rules are that say I should end up winning in the long run and they should be losing.... well I must play by a different standard cause I rarely win those hands.

[KManDeuce]

If this was an LP game... and the raise came from a few certain people, it's an easy call.

What's the plan for the next three streets?

[Terribad]

If there's one thing I've learned in online poker, you can't play with scared money.

...This isn't about playing scared money. I triy to advise players from playing scared money, but this is a bit different than playing scared. It's more of, is this +EV or -EV in the long run?

The bet was big, but with a caller I feel better about my mid pair than I did without the caller. I can hope that the raise was two over cards... or even a monster PP. Now, perhaps the caller also has 2 over cards.... and their chances or catching are less.

...I really don't follow this. Let say raiser has big PP and caller has KQs, how does this improve your odds of winning? Even if raiser has AK and caller has 10J, you're still an underdog to win. At least if it was just the raiser with AK vs 77, you're at a coin-flip. If anything, with a caller before you, it puts you in a predicament if OR c-bets any scary board.

Yeah, I'm thinking I lay this down most of the time. But sometimes I get a wild hair and have been known to play outside the box. Perhaps all the "rules" point to a lay down here, however, the rules have pretty much screwed me on every hand possible.

...I don't try and follow a set of rules when I play. Every decision I make depends on many factors when I play. I'm not saying to fold here 100% of the time, nor do am I saying that I am calling 100% of the time-and playing outside the box from time to time is good, IMO. However, since OP posted the question, I am assuming they want the best advice possible and I am going to try give them the best that I can. My advice may be different than others and that's fine. This is just how I approach the game and all I'm doing is giving OP options.

I am known as the suck out girl.... however, it's not me doing the sucking out.... it's me getting sucked out on. So, whatever these odds and rules are that say I should end up winning in the long run and they should be losing.... well I must play by a different standard cause I rarely win those hands.

...I feel a bit silly saying this, being a new member and all. But it just sounds to me like you're being result oriented. However, I am not saying you should change your game or anything. Play how you wish and if it works for you, that's great. And heck, maybe there is something in your style of play that I'm over-looking. However, I don't see how saying 'I'd play the most -EV way because every time I play the 'right' way, I lose.' helps the OP.

(Sorry)

Above.

[Niccivan]

What's the plan for the next three streets?

As with any call, you look at what hits, consider your opponent, and make a decision there. You can't really "plan" these sorts of situations. You either find yourself in them, or you don't. You can sit here all day long and tell me that you wouldn't make a call, or that you should/shouldn't, but you honestly don't what you will do until you are out in the situation. So, my "plan" for a situation as described, is IF I make the call pre-flop, I can't tell you what I'd do after the flop comes. It depends on what card hits. I would play the hand differently if AQ4 hit, or if 259 hit.