How's my line? Bet the river or check behind?


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (9 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FCP)

CO (t1460)
Hero (t1030)
SB (t1480)
BB (t1500)
UTG (t1280)
UTG+1 (t1500)
MP1 (t1500)
MP2 (t1500)
MP3 (t2250)

Preflop: Hero is Button with T , K .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls t20, 1 fold, MP2 calls t20, 1 fold, CO calls t20, Hero calls t20, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (t120) K , 2 , 3 (6 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP2 checks, CO checks, Hero bets t80, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 calls t80, MP2 folds, CO folds.

Turn: (t280) A (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets t160, UTG+1 calls t160.

River: (t600) 4 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero?.

I check behind..Its most likely busted clubs, and he might have the Ac, in which case hes calling a bet..There just isn't a whole lot that calls another barrel that you beat

what hand do you think he's gonna pay you off with?

First, I'm probably just dumping KT preflop. I know you have position and everything, but KT is a high risk/low reward hand.

As played I agree with the river check. A bet will only get the busted flush to fold but a better hand to call.

Winner - K10 is the worst hand in poker.

I did check the river, and it was a busted flush draw that paired the 4 on the river. I was wondering if anyone could find a value bet here, but I guess not.

I'm not sure about dumping KT preflop. That's a bit nitty for me on the button with so many limpers in the first level. Low reward? possibly. High risk? I don't think so. If there's ever a place to limp KT, I have to believe this is it.

I think this is a definite fold PF.

I think it's a fold with ATo as well.

The problem is that there are some hands that are high risk/low reward regardless of position. There are too many flops that can get you in trouble with KT, unless you're lucky enough to flop 2P. On that flop you could be behind KJ and KQ, both of which could have been limped PF. If the flop comes TJx or TQx or TAx, your second pair may be no good. Even if you flop something like T62, you could be behind a limped AT.

I'd actually be more willing to limp KT in position with fewer (or no) limps in front because you stand a much better chance of taking the pot if you connect against fewer opponents. Here you have TP with a decent kicker on a club draw board against 5 villains - not a good spot to be in.

In a deeper stack tourney I think you can make these kinds of positional plays, but not in shortstack SnGs, especially turbos, where you can't really afford to spew chips early.

Check behind on the river. Nothing at all wrong with limping this PF if you are careful post flop. I like the flop bet, but I would probably check the turn. Theres too much risk out there, keep the pot small, and be happy if you collect a few chips on a longshot hand.

I thought about a turn check, but bet it for three reasons:

1) It checked to me again.
2) A turn check pretty much gives my hand away, inviting villain to "bet to win" on the river.
3) Free card to the club draw.

So why is this a turn check, and if we check the turn, are we giving up on the hand? If not, how much are we calling on the river?

I check the turn primarily for pot control. With your bet villain may well have implied odds to call. He only needs to pick up 300 or so when he hits, so your bet doesnt solve #3 so unless youre giving up the hand to a flush card.

What is the cost of the free card if youre willing to give up the hand to any club? Its about 20% of 440...the current pot plus what you can get him to call the turn for but fold the river when he misses, or about 90 chips.


I agree somewhat with #2..there is the potential for him to steal. However, most players who are awake enough to steal to a blank on the river are going to semi-bluff the turn, and he didnt. The A falling after you led the flop is a perfect semi-bluff card. For you to believe a river bet to a blank card you have to put him on an A that didnt try and protect against the flush or had hoped for a check-raise. So yes, there is some risk of a naked bluff that you would fold to, but not a huge one. Also building the pot on the turn gives him more incentive to try and steal the river if a flush card hits that he really wasnt looking for.

If your stack was a little larger, I would much prefer to raise the button.

As it is, limping with KT is not the worst crime in the world. You have position, so your ten kicker isn't going to get you into too much trouble. Your implied odds are good too. I think it's better to pot it on the flop, but your bet is sufficient. I agree with copernicus that it is probably better to check the turn. You would be representing a king, but that means that you will pick up some value from his draw firing on the river when a blank falls.

For the river - you bet to get better hands to fold or worse hands to call. Betting the river does not accomplish either one, so checking is much better.