I was playing 2/3 $100 buy-in full-ring cash game at local casino. I entered game in Seat 1, immediately to the left of LAG with large stack (about $500). Most other stacks at table were around $80-120 range, with the exception of one other player with $300. I played pretty tight for the first 50 hands, trying to build a nitty image so that I could change to a looser strategy later on. I built my stack up to about $160 when I got it all-in preflop with AA against another opponent with AKo.

All through the session, the LAG in Seat 9 was playing about 90% of his hands, often limping in early position, and raising in late position. He won most of the pots he entered with larget c-bets on flop and turn. When his opponents bet into him, he would insta-call most of the time. He showed down with pretty weak hands (top pair, bad kicker) a couple of times, but still managed to win the pots b/c his opponents had even worse hands. Table was pretty passive, and there were very few 3-bets happening preflop or on any street.

On the hand in question, I found myself with 10s9s in UTG+1. LAG limps in for $3. Trying to isolate, I raised to $12. While I expected another caller, I was hoping to eliminate other callers (aside from the LAG) with a c-bet on the flop, and therefore be heads-up in position with the LAG by the turn. I get calls from Seat 4 and Seat 5. LAG also calls.

Flop: Ks Jh 8s

This flop hits me pretty well, giving me flush draw with open-ended straight draw. While it definitely hits everyone elses range, I think I can pretty decently rep AK. I figure I will get at least one caller, but with my hand, I dont mind building the pot with a c-bet. If I get reraised, I plan to shove.

Pot = $45
Seat 9 (LAG): Check
Seat 1 (Hero): $20
Seat 4: Fold
Seat 5: Call
Seat 9: Call

Turn: 4d

The turn is a blank for almost everyone, so I find myself with a decision to either shove for $128 or make a smaller 2/3 pot bet. I decide that it is better to chase away all marginal hands with a shove, since I think that both Seat 5 or Seat 9 would have re-raised me preflop with large overpairs (QQ+), and would certainly have re-raised on the flop with a set or two pair or even AK. If I dont shove, then I feel like I am pricing in their draws. And if I bet something like $80, I would only have $48 behind for a river bet.

Pot = $105
Seat 9 (LAG): Check
Seat 1 (Hero): $128 (all-in)
Seat 5: Fold
Seat 9: Call (after tanking for 45 seconds)

River: 10c

I show my hand (pair of tens); LAG reveals Js6s (pair of jacks). LAG wins pot of $361.

So it turns out that I had a lot fewer outs than I imagined because if I hit a spade, I lose to a higher flush. But my question is: What was the better move for me to make on the turn? Shove for $128 or make a smaller bet? (Theoretically, I guess I could have checked as well, but that never entered my mind as it seemed way too weak.) What kills me here is that if I had opted to save money for a river bet, I would probably get the LAG to fold, since his flush doesnt hit, and he has to assume that I have his pair of jacks beat.

But based on my reads and my table image, I guess I feel like my shove was the best play. Opinions?

In a game where your effective stack against most of the table is around 33bb, T9s UTG+1 is a fold preflop. Meanwhile, if LAG had limped in late position, you have a little more flexibility - you can overlimp or raise.

One thing to be careful about - especially in multiway pots - is getting in money really bad against opponents with better draws. Having said that, I do think that betting about $50 on the turn and shoving river is better than shoving turn. But being that I'm not sure about the fold equity of a $50 bet on the turn, I would probably just check - looking to take a free card when Seat 5 hopefully checks.

preflop: u have only 33 Bigblinds, when UTG limps dont even ever try icolate is abselutely no reason for it the risk is way to high. like what do u do if some 4bet you?. with a hand as 9Tss u want to get cheap in and multi way, that means limp after, second u have to remeber if u get to flop u are in position but only on villan, but also remeber that u are the person that 3bet preflop (take control) this means that is not likely that vilan will go out and bet (good players avoide donk bet here) with or without the nuts, so u basickly have no clue were willan is at flop, that means u have to flop monsters often here, but u have put yourself in a very difficoult situation what to do at flop, bet fold? is the question here. when it comes to turn check is the moer clever moves in my opinium (-:

Good assesment Kan.. The Cat agrees