Playing Top Pair From Out Of Position

[thebenCA 0]

I have the vague sense that I played this hand horribly but am not really sure why. I would appreciate analysis and critiques on the decision i made on every street.POKERSTARS 6-Max Cash Game: No Limit Holdem ($0.10/$0.25)Seat 1: ($13.35 in chips) Seat 2: ($32 in chips) Seat 3: ($23.10 in chips) Button: ($25.05 in chips) Small Blind: ($40.85 in chips) Hero-Big Blind: ($30.95)*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Hero [9d Ad]Seat 1: folds Seat 2: raises $0.50 to $0.75Seat 3: folds Button: calls $0.75Seat 5: folds Hero: calls $0.50*** FLOP *** [9c 8d 2s]Hero: checks Seat 2: bets $1.50Button: calls $1.50Hero: calls $1.50*** TURN *** [9c 8d 2s] [Kd]Hero: checks Seat 2: checks Button: bets $2.25Hero: raises $4.75 to $7Seat 2: folds Button: calls $4.75*** RIVER *** [9c 8d 2s Kd] [2h]Hero: bets $10Button: raises $5.80 to $15.80 and is all-inHero: calls $5.80

[pokerinc 0]

your suspicion is confirmed. Pre flop's bad. a9 is a funky hand oop, you've got no information on the initial raiser's strength and can't know that your ace is good. Basically you're hoping for a 9 high flop where no one has an overpair. Fold it pre. FLOP: ZOMG!!! It's the flop you're looking for! ZOMG AGAIN, you checked...okay cool nice spot for a check raise....hm...no you just flat. OUCH.So now the initial raisers shown strength the button has cold called twice and you, still being oop, are just coming along for the ride w/ top top on the best board for your hand. If you're not going to raise a9 in this situation you're never going to raise it meaning you're never going to get value from it meaning don't play it.TURN: Ok, that's an interesting card for you, puts an over out to your hand but gives you the flush draw. Button fires out a weak probe bet, I can understand the want to check raise, honestly here I think just calling maybe good b/c the button's line all hand has been funky passive but he's sticking around, I don't know that the check raise gets a fold from anything you want it to. And seeing his weak bet here I think you can call a cheap brick river and be done w/ the hand or get paid if you hit. Bloating the pot here makes a river brick harder to play....RIVER BRICK: ****. That's a whiff. Here the buttons been cutesy all hand, try and blocker him cutesy. It seems like you could have gotten the same info w/ a 4.5$ bet from a player like this.So hope that helps or even makes sense since I can't sleep and have apparently just written the most epically long reply ever. Basically, fold pre flop.

[Solar 0]

^^^ what he said ^^^A pair of nines is not a big hand, once you are in this hand you needed to win it on the flop. Check raise is best here, reraise the flop bet to $5 or so. You likley have the best hand right now, so now is when you should be taking that pot.

[Sheiky 0]

I think you played it fine apart from the river

[simo_8ball 0]

What is your thinking on the turn?

[krup24 0]

^^^^^^^^i wondering the same exact thing. that turn play is extremely odd.i just go ahead and lead the flop i think that makes everything play a whole lot easier.

[Giggidy 0]

^^^ what he said ^^^A pair of nines is not a big hand, once you are in this hand you needed to win it on the flop. Check raise is best here, reraise the flop bet to $5 or so. You likley have the best hand right now, so now is when you should be taking that pot.

What's the thinking if the flop raise is called, c/c if the diamond/A/9 comes, c/f if not?