Call 88 in the BB for a Family Pot?

Close spot. 88 feels like it's on the cusp. I would probably base this decision on gameflow and my reads on the initial limpers (if they are the type to limp/call 99 or AK from EP, I am more likely to check back).

I don't think it can ever really be a mistake to check-back 88 here OOP against 7 other players. That said, I raise to $25 a lot here.

88 is not that big of a pair and realizing from OOP is difficult. I prefer checking back unless you actually think you have a chance of getting HU or buying it with a raise. My fish will have 2+ callers almost always unless you go egregiously big.

I'd rather 3B it over a raise and calls behind than open it for a raise in a eleventeen way pot. Here I just call to set mine, but if I hit I'm playing it ultra fast.

Limp or bet big.

He's the big blind he can just check?

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LOL. Sorry, check or raise big. Better? Do you have advice for the OP? Probably better than giving me advice 😉

No science here, but I don’t like raising from the BB. I would definitely raise from the SB because it looks so strong, and likely go big from the button.

Probably donk a lot of flops with 88 and a TAG image. When everyone is in for the flop, they expect someone to hit, so they get out of the way. Nobody has invested a lot so far and they will be reluctant to call with players behind.

Obviously, with paint on board and pressure we have to let it go. This is a great situation, hit or miss for a big pot without risk. No need to get aggressive until you see some cards.

Imho raising here is quite bad. This is hand that actively likes multiway pots; don't ruin it. The implied odds are way more important than the little bit of dead money.

I would be much more on board with this take if OP was $500 deep. At 100bb, which is basically a shortstack in live poker, taking down 8bb rake-free (in a very high rake game) is much more significant than you are making it out to be.

Oh no, I did miss that Hero only has 200. You're right, this makes the check less attractive. I still think I like it more, but now it's much closer.

If we knew that everyone folds to a squeeze, then definitely squeeze, but I think it's pretty likely you get called, and then you have to play a Pot OOP against most likely two overcards. Not super awesome.

Playing it a zillion way is hugely profitable, so don't spoil it. With TT+, you have to raise for value.

Just check, this is a great situation.

i dont like raising out of the blinds much so check

id raise 99-AA, AK, AQ, AJ, some but not all suited broadway, thats about it. if you checked 99 thats probably ok too.

You're 12% to flop a set and 10% to flop 3 unders in a 8 player pot. That's a really good situation. So what about a sweetener raise to $10 to get everybody to call? Now we're in a position to easily play for stacks 20% of the time instead of a probable small/medium size pot.

Not necessarily saying this is 100% the best play, but I'd think in this configuration you'd want the pot as big as possible preflop with 8 players.

unless this your usual raise size you are just opening yourself up to getting 3bet big and having to fold by doing this.

Your opponents would need to be very, very, very dumb for this to work because you are more or less announcing that you are set mining. Anyone who calls it off light after you do this is a total drooler.

Agree it's a possibility, but how often given the limp fest? Also think there would be times/opponents where you would shove in response.

Well, with 7 limpers I don't think the opponents here are overly bright. :p

Right or wrong, was just curious to see what others thought here.

I think any substantial raise is likely to get folds. Whether you're happier playing 8 ways OOP for a $16 pot or 4 ways OOP for a $40 pot I don't really know offhand. But the 4-way situation you have now isolated yourself against the stronger ranges and at the same time if you do flop very well you're half as likely to have someone else think they hit too. I think it's also a lot easier to make $20 off an 8-way $16 pot than $100 off a 4-way $40 pot, which would be direct odds just to setmine.

Results

Hero checked, whiffed the flop, and folded to a 10 dollar bet.

Excellent result and well played.

Thanks. It was a tough decision.

No point in raising here, you’re never thinning the field. Keep it small and simple.

It is possible you could make a raise, like to 15, that will probably get multiple callers, but won't be an obvious pot sweetener. A problem is you only have 200, so a limped pot keeps your implied odds better.