Flop Analysis
Flop Qc 9c 8h gives us middle pair in a limped pot, SPR still big. Checking range from BB is standard; we don’t need to start leading this hand, it fits well as a check-call versus a stab.
In limped pots, a middle pair like 8x on Q98 facing a small stab is too strong to fold once; we should usually check-call and see a turn.
Flop Qc 9c 8h gives us middle pair in a limped pot, SPR still big. Checking range from BB is standard; we don’t need to start leading this hand, it fits well as a check-call versus a stab.
Into 4.5BB, BU stabs 2BB on Qc 9c 8h. With a pair of 8s in a limped, wide-range pot and needing only ~31% equity, folding is way too tight; this is a routine defend and then re-evaluate on turns and sizing.
Note: Folding middle pair to a small c-bet in a single-raised limped pot gives up too much equity; we should almost always continue at least once here.