Sorry this might be a little long.

My local B@M runs a tournament every Tuesday night. I played last night and this hand is within the first orbit. The starting stacks are $2500, blinds are $25-$50. I have a great read on the villian- That is critical to this question.

SB $2200
BB $2500
UTG $2500
Hero $2400
MP $2900
Villian $2600
MP3 $2500
co $2500
Button $2500

Dealt to Hero K k

UTG Folds, Hero raise $200, MP calls $200, Villian Calls $200, Button Calls $200, blinds fold. $875 in pot

Flop J 9 2 rainbow.

Hero bets $800, MP folds, Villian Calls $800 Button Folds $2475 in pot

Turn 10

At this point some information. when the villian called the flop he really did not want to call. I was 100% certain that he was behind on the flop. I was 90% certain that the turn did not help him. His range is either AX or a PP, he would not call pre flop with a hand like KQ, J10, 78. So unless he had pocket 10's I was still ahead and a huge favorite.

I also know that if I push he might go away, but If I check he is likely to fire at the pot. The question then is- Do I go all in here and take the chips in the middle, or check raise him all in and try to get the rest of his chips. The check raise gives him a maybe 15% chance of sucking out. (I figure the villian for between 2 and 6 outs)

I am dead certain of my read, just questioning how I played it. Is pushing and closing the action now and stacking $4000 in chips better then trying to get villian's last $1400.

The two key points for me would be:

1. You are 90% sure that the turn didn't help him and 100% sure you were ahead after the flop.

2. If you check, he is likely to fire at the pot.

I hate giving a free card but if you're very sure about #2, then I think that the check would be worth it to get him to bluff off his chips.

I'm not a B&M player but it sounds like you had a very good read on this guy so changing up your usual strategy would b appropriate.

i dont think you can be cute with broadway draws out there. I think his hand is AJ. Thats the only hand i can see calling a pot size bet that doenst have you beat. The dark horse is 88.

i make a large bet on the turn and dont give a free card. THe pot is big enough to grab now then you can be greedy by using your new chips to steal blinds and bully people.

Would you rather have 100% of a medium-sized pile of chips, or, an 85% chance of getting a large stack/15% chance of getting nothing? Answer seems clear to me with your PAIR...;

You have to be certain he'll fire at the pot, and I simply have to trust your read here.

I know the B&M situation you are in - you start seeing the same players and learn them...you know who always makes continuation bets and who will fire at a pot and who won't. You also learn quickly if a 4x bb raise thins the field or not.

Even if he did call with KQ or 78 pf, he rarely calls the flop bet to the gutshot. I'll put him on QT or QJ before I put him on KQ.

If you're dead certain he'll fire at the pot here, you could check/raise him all in.

The issue here is definitely that you're letting him see the river - first, if he's gonna fire at the pot he's pushing all-in anyway (he's got 1500 left in a 2500 pot)...and if he doesn't push all-in he has to call your raise.


If stacks were deeper I'd check/raise (provided I know he'll fire) - here, I'm happy to take the pot right now (and if he calls, he calls). The last thing you need here is for him to check behind.


On a sidenote - is getting three callers to your 4x bb raise normal - you may want to adjust to 6x bb, unless you like acting first against 3 players. I call from the BB here without looking at my cards and then check blind.

He had 88- I check raised him all in.

He may have called my push anyway with OESD and 4th pair, but I knew he would fire if I checked.

Knowing my read was right- was the check raise appropriate???

The responses seem split- I am truly split. Part of me would be happy to just take the $4k, part of me wants every last chip. Does the marginal utility of the last $1500 worth the 15% chance of getting outdrawn? That is the real question to me. I think that doubling up early is worth taking some chances, this seems like a good spot.




My raise was the largest opening raise so far this tournament, and this was the first hand that went 4 handed. At this point 3 times BB has been the standard opening raise, and the flop has been seen heads up. I really don't want to see 4 callers with KK, but I did not think I would.

85% of the time you'll get an extra 1500 chips.
15% of the time you'll lose the 4000 you would have won if you pushed, not to mention your remaining chips.

You can calculate it several different ways but it looks like a long-term net of about 600-700 chips, or 1/4 of your original chipstack (1/6 of your new chipstack)...I see no value...now, if you each had about 8000 chips left instead of 1500...


You've added 60% to your chipstack...no need to exactly double up every time.

nothing much to add that wasnt said already but.....

I like putting him all in on the turn. There is a somewhat coordinated board and giving him a free card would be a nightmare here.

There is not that big of a difference this early in the tournament between 6500 and 8000 in my opinion. Take the pot and enjoy sitting on a very large stack for this early on in the tourney.

Judging by posts, you are a good player, probably better than most at your table....so with a big stack it should be fairly easy for yu to pick your spots and add those 1500 or so chips.

Also, all B&M tourneys I play in have an uber fast structure, so it is more important to pick up those 4000 so you can be more patient in later rounds, or even blind steal