Help with DYM - Strange small bet on flop and turn

D96RNWE

Hello,

Always looking for advice and i seem to struggle with these little bets people put in. I was ok in a 3.30 DYM and the SB limped to me and i raised and he called.  I missed the flop but then he lead into me for 100 which was a bit worrying as to me a small bet like this is either he is massive or is trying to protect his flush draw?? I re-raised to continue the story and was called. He then led again for 100 into a pot of 1100.

Q - Was i right to fold? Do you think he had a big hand or was bluffing? WHat do these small bets and 'donk bets???' usually mean

CHeers for the advice.

Also should i have continued on this board with my AJ??

PlayerActionCardsAmountPotBalancevillainSmall blind 50.0050.001845.00D96RNWEBig blind 100.00150.001730.00 Your hole cardsAJ   xFold    xxFold    xxxFold    xxxxFold    villainCall 50.00200.001795.00D96RNWERaise 150.00350.001580.00villainCall 150.00500.001645.00Flop  5K9   villainBet 100.00600.001545.00D96RNWERaise 300.00900.001280.00villainCall 200.001100.001345.00Turn  4   villainBet 100.001200.001245.00D96RNWEFold    villainMuck    villainWin 1100.00 2345.00villainReturn 100.000.002445.00

Phantom66

In my experience min bet leads are usually villain has something but not much - something like middle pair, or top pair weak kicker, bottom pair + a draw.

In some cases but too few to worry about without specific reads it can be a monster hand - usually wanting to induce a raise from you - it could even be an attempt to get away with a very cheap bluff.

In this hand facing the first bet you have A high and your opponent probably has something, eg raggy K,9T, 5dxd, possible to have a pair that has missed the board too.

To justify the post-flop raise I would like a good player specific read on my opponent - we need to be fairly sure villain will fold the sort of holdings above for that to be the right play.

If we call, then it cant be just to hit an A - we have to be planning something down the streets.

Folding feels horrible to such a small bet - but against a weaker player who probably is ahead of you right now it may be the best strategy for a dym. Preserve your chips and use them better in a later hand.

As played with the raise/call you have a card that probably doesn't change anything on the turn and the last call strengthens villains range. You know you are behind and I think you should give up especially in a dym.

VespaPX

Seen this a lot in DYM's , more so recently.

Quite a few i have notes on will auto bet any flop to see if you have hit.
They usually have some part of the flop , so unless you have hit big or got a good draw i would save you chips.