"slowplaying" Top Pair (.50/1)

[CobaltBlue 662]

FCP .50/1 NLHE (8-handed)Cobalt $138MP1 $104Cobalt is UTG+1 w/ A K . Villain seems TAG, but no great read.Pre-flop:1 fold, Cobalt raises to $4, MP1 calls, 5 foldsFlop ($9.50): A J J (2 players)Cobalt checks, MP1 checksTurn ($9.50): 3 (2 players)Cobalt bets $4.50, MP1 raises to $10, Cobalt callsRiver ($29.50): 6 (2 players)Cobalt checks...I played this one way more passively than normal. I'm typically leading out on this flop (>90% of the time), but I decided that I'd probably pretty much locked up the hand at that point. I think a pair is more likely than a weaker ace. On the turn, he's either got the jack or he's bluffing...in which case I'd like to get to showdown or keep him bluffing.

[DrawingDeadInDM 0]

If you don't play it like this all the time, I don't mind it as a means to mix up your play.Two questions; What do you do if he bets the flop? How big of a river bet are you calling and why?

[gaddyjr 0]

Personally, I hate slowplaying only one pair. If you are merely mixing up your play I guess it can be excused, but I think you put yourself in an awkward position (obviously, since you posted the hand). I agree that it would be hard for him to put you on an A, and that therefore he could be raising with a PP, but I think he would play a J the same way. I think that because you started the hand passively, you are now forced to play it that way.To DD's questions:1. I think you would reraise about 4x his bet2. I am definitely calling anything 1/2 the pot or below (14 i think). Anything above that would really make me think - probably make a crying call up to 25 and giving it up to more than that while I curse myself for checking the flop.

[CobaltBlue 662]

Personally, I hate slowplaying only one pair.

Believe me, aggression's my game. If the board wasn't so tame and/or it wasn't HU, I wouldn't even consider it.If he bets at me on the flop, I likely go for a check-raise on the turn...though a check-raise on the flop works also.I'm prepared to call up to about a pot size bet on the river.