I posted this hand on another forum and there were some mixed thoughts on how I played it. Some felt calling the turn was bad and others suggested I just push on the river instead of making a standard raise. I'd like to get your thoughts.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($63.35)
Button ($69.95)
SB ($99.70)
Hero ($54.35)
UTG ($52.95)
MP ($90.30)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, Q.
3 folds, Button raises to $2, SB calls $1.75, Hero calls $1.50.

Flop: ($6) K, 9, Q (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $4.5, Button folds, SB calls $4.50.

Turn: ($15) Q (2 players)
SB bets $3, Hero calls $3.

River: ($21) 5 (2 players)
SB bets $8, Hero raises to $21, SB raises to $90.2, Hero calls $23.85 (All-In).

Final Pot: $156.05

I felt leading the flop as standard. I decided to slow down on the turn and just check. I did this for two reasons. First of all the villian had been playing aggressive and had shown the ability to bluff regularly. I felt he was likely on a draw and wanted to give him a chance to catch up and hang himself. If he was on a draw and missed on the river, then he would be first to bet and I expected him to try and steal the pot.

Thoughts?

Looks like you played it well and got maximum value (unless villain has KK here). Standard.
Youve got position on villain so you don't have to do any guesswork as to if he will bet if checked to, etc. Since he's leading, I don't mind the turn call, although a raise is fine too. What do you bet here if he checks the river?

The villains bet on the turn is quite confusing. He bets 20% of the pot out of position... which confuses me greatly. A hand of J/10 is possible, but I can't really put him on any hand. I feel no doubt that you have the winner... but the villain played this incredibly odd. If he had KK, I really don't believe he would bet so small on the turn with the draw out there.

You played the hand perfectly, and got him to get all his chips in the middle. That's what you were wanting... I hope. So congrats.

As far as the river play, you have to question whether or not he would have called you if you went all in instead of raising. I think you played it perfectly.

I wasn't worried about KK since he didn't reraise preflop. The villian was playing big hands PF in a standard fashion so that wasn't really a concern. If he checked the river I probably would have bet around $8.

pretty standard play here, I would have raised on the turn, however your read on the villian gives us reason to think he would probably bluff off his chips on the river so thats fine. His bet on the trun is really odd which leads me to the conclusion that he is probably a fish with AK or KJ.

Interested to see how this pot concluded...

I didn't say I was giving him any credit for KK, either. Just saying that KK is the only hand that beats you.

Seems more like a standard draw blocker/bet to me.

I'm inclined to make a turn raise designed to price the initial bettor into calling, for a few reasons:

1) The pot's bigger, so you win more if he whiffs

2) The pot's bigger, so you win more if he gets there and value bets, and you raise.



The only reason for NOT making this small raise is that you take the lead away, and he might not bluff the river.


Wang

Thanks for the replies. The villian ended up tabling

Yep. I would need a good read that he will bluff big regularly not to value raise the turn here.

That was pretty much my read on the guy. Because of that I figured he'd likely bluff off more on the river than he'd call on the turn if I raised. And if I raise the turn and he wiffs the river, then he's going to check/fold. And if he had a decent holding or completed a draw on the river, then the hand would play itself and I'd still take down a decent pot either way.

With a read, I think that's easily the best play. I would have to be fairly sure of it though. You sound like you were.

Yeah, but we'll never know for sure since he actually had a hand. Certianly didn't expect Q's full of 5's to show up. Not that I'm complaining.

Seems like you got max value out of this hand so you played it perfectly, although I probably raise the turn some.

hahaha god that's nice...