Here's the scoop...I'm playing a 1-2 NL game at the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida. Max buy in is 100 (bullshit, I know), and I have about 280 in front of me after 2 hours of play. The table is extremely weak with 5 limpers or so each hand. Not to be arrogant, but I'm easily the best player at the table. One weird thing about this game is the button has to post 2 dollars as well, so it costs you 5 a round (the two on the button automatically goes to the house rake and bad beat jackpot).

I'm in the cutoff, 2 people limp in before the action is on me. I look down at 7s8s and decide to pop it (normal play for me), and I make it 14 to play. The BB and one of the limpers calls. The big blind is a weak/tight player from observation....and the limp/caller is the typical guy who thinks he's better than he is, and walks himself into traps by bluffing too much because it's "sexy and all good players bluff". Either way, I put the BB on a good Ace, small pair, maybe medium pair (which is the only thing I'm worried about here). I don't bother to put limp/caller on anything at this point, I'll evaluate his play on the flop and determine then.

FLOP TIME! 4h 5h 9s. Ok, so I flop a gutshot and backdoor flus draw (dancing on table...not really) action goes check, check. I decide to make a continuation bet of 18 dollars to see where I'm at. I'm figureing if I get popped by the BB i'm done, and if I get cold called I can reevaluate on the turn. To my surprise, bot of them call me. At this point, I think the BB may have a big flush draw with 2 overs...anything else and I think he repops me here (unless slow playing a set). limp/call donkey could have anything from 4,5 to 9T-A9 (top pair any kicker) and I think this call here is VERY weak by him.

Turn comes Js....so the board is 4h 5h 9s Js, and I'm holding the 7s8s. I now pick up a 4 flush, and a double gut shot with the 6 or T making my str8. Pot is sitting at about 100 dollars, and the action goes check check to me again....WTF? BB is sitting on 80 bucks behind. Limp/Caller is sitting on 71 bucks behind, and I've got around 245 back. I decide I'm willing to go with this hand if I have to, and I.....bet out 45 bucks which essentially commits either of them for their stack if they decide to play it.

BB folds his hand rather quickly. Limp/Caller pushes his 71 into the pot with KJ off suit!!!!! WTF is this guy calling the flop for? WOWWWWW. Told you this guy was a complete donkey. Either way, I peel out the 26 more it costs me to play with my 15 outs and push it in. He asks me if I have the str8 or an over pair (moron)...and I said no as I turn up the double gut and 4 flush draw. He says "I'VE GOT YOU THEN!" lmao!

4s hits the board and I make the flush, and take down the pot. He bitches to no end, I laugh and tell him he had no business in the pot after the flop at all, and that his preflop call was questionable at best with his holdings anyhow...he rebuys and I stack him one more time last night, and I leave with over 600 in 5 hours of play.

BB said he folded AK with the A of hearts, for 2 overs and a backdoor flush on the flop...but he let it go on the turn. I don't think his play was bad at all, but I think the Limp/caller's play was God Aweful.

Since I got to hear the table talk about this hand for an hour, I'd like to hear what this community has to offer. My play and decision process, and how they think I may have played it differently (not being results oriented, as I did take it down).

Thanks Guys!

I just don't see the point of this post. And popping up 78s every time you get it is not something i'd recommend.

Don't tap the tank.

Also, I've posted alot of hands in various places that make me look like an idiot. its an important part of the learning process, so no worries bud.

one thing that u said is curious.

on the flop you said you bet 18 to see where youre at.

2 things

1- you know where your at, which is obv behind any hand
2- what you want to find out is if they hit the flop, and betting 18 into
a 42$+ pot does not really give you any information or kill any draws.

thats a flop that is going to miss people most of time, so grow some balls and bet out
properly-75% ish.

also, if your commited to the hand on the turn, why would u bet 45$ into a 120ish$ pot.
why not just put them both all in.

im usually not too critical of peoples play on these forums, but i think you played this hand quite poorly.

The basic gist of this is on the flop you should i either check or bet 75%.

Another "I'm so incredible, I crush every game out there, I do no wrong, every live game I play is 'weak' and 'easily beatable,' yadda yadda yadda" type mentality. I think everyone involved in this hand made mistakes at some point. In a short buy-in game, why would you always make it $14 with suited connectors? I don't see how this could be that profitable. If you do it for deception occaisionally, I don't see a big problem with it, but I don't think it's a good play at all if it's "always." C-bet was weak but the other players didn't do anything about it. Both opponents made bad calls on the flop. You got 70% of the money you put in on the hand in as a 30/70 dog.

All of the play was pretty God awful, but it seems you got the most money in bad of the three. Maybe next time, when you post a hand like this, don't come off as an arrogant prick if you are truly asking for advice. It seems like you aren't actually looking for advice, rather, you just want people to agree with you and say things like "oh man those weak donkeys are terrible, you sure showed them!"

Honest advice (but this plays in to my style so take it for what it's worth...)
1. Make a smaller PF-raise or limp. Building a pot is ok/good with 87s in position, but 14 is such a large percentage of the other players's stacks, you're not helping yourself win a big pot. If you're playing to just take pots down on the flop, 14 is fine (but you need to then take the pot down on the flop, and 18 won't cut it)
2. Make a stronger play for the pot on the flop. You said they are generally passive, so make them give you information about their hands. You will be able to gauge the strength of their hands better with a more decisive bet. I say this because with your 87s here, you're better off taking down the pot immediately rather than building it up more.
3. Generally check the turn, you've gotten 2 players to continue on with the hand with you. You get to see the river for free which is good for your 15 outs if you're behind (which I'd be willing to bet my life, you are), and if they show weakness again on the river, you can take the pot then if you miss. Also, you may hit and can then play to get value from your hand.
4. Generally don't criticize other people's play at the table. In this case, why wouldn't you want the KJ guy to keep making that poor play? Why encourage him to play better? If you're in a spot against a decent/good player and you want to tilt him a little, that's different. But here, let him limp/call or check/call all day long with KJ and no pair.

Rant over.