When you think someone got his straight or flush draw on the river, is it better to bet it or to check it (NL)? If you check, they may bet a large amount to represent a bluff, and if you bet they may raise you an absurd amount, forcing you to fold and waste your bet...

Heres an example:

Im dealt AKos
I raise
1 Caller

Flop is As Js 5d
I bet
He calls

Turn is the Kd
I bet
He calls

River is the 8s

I've put him on a flush draw the entire hand, and now I believe he has gotten it, but I'm not certain. Is it better to bet or check here?

id bet, if he raises he has you beat about 95% of the time

if you check, it gives him the oppurtunity to bluff at you and if he bets here, he could of hit is str8, flush, maybe a set or two pai, he could be bluffing

so if you check and he bets, you have NO idea what the hell he has

This is generally an excellent time to use the weak lead. Don't bet pathetically small, but something maybe like 1/6th of the pot. It can certainly be called by hands weaker than yours but he will not have the courage to raise you without having made the flush (or maybe a straight). He could hypothetically have real balls and be able to recognize your weak lead and raise you large on the river, but you should just tip your hat and lay it down rather than call in hopes that he's bluffing you. It's much more likely that he isn't.

Things such as the limits, how much you have left, and what type of player he is and what type of player you are all come into play here. But, since you didn't specify anything, there is my general advice.

1/6th of the pot is a easy read bet abd far too small, but not my point.

Obviously you bet wrong on the flop. You should have at least bet the pot on the flop with top pair overkicker and a backdoor st8 draw. Oushing isnt a bad play either as it looks like a bluff and mid pair will pay you off in these LL shootouts....

After letting him see the river and it falls spade your dead usually as he was drawing at something... or he was slowplaying a set....

How are you not all in on the turn? If he hit his straight he hit it, nothing you can do. At least he had to make a HORRIBLE call to beat you which means your favorite on the flop didnt hold up. Cant let them draw cheap. Unless you are holding the nuts.

Another one from the archives!


I think I disagree very much with the 1/6th sized pot bet very much. All your really asking for is to get raised by a weaker two pair.

I lead out for half the pot and fold to a re-raise.

It could be has a hand like AQ or AJ and is just as worried about you getting there on the flush as you are. Leading out weak tells him you're concerned about the strength of your hand. I'd raise a 1/6th size pot bet all day against most everyone but an Ultra Tricky player, if that makes sense.

This is why I bet my draws and made hands the same way. That way if the draw gets there, it's diguised. Just something to chew on.

I think the other benefit here, if you suspect the other has half a clue what's going on, would view your half pot bet as inducing a call. In a sense, making a value bet.

Although don't you think they would raise that flop if they had AQ or AJ to protect their hand from flush draws or a weaker kicked Ace? Calling down until the river would make more sense on some draw (unless they had the weaker Ax). So yeah, I think a half pot bet would be best - it's not entirely committing you to the hand but you're representing something.

Easy bet/fold situation. Oh, and be sure to tell someone in the room that you know this donkey just called you down the entire time with something like 10s 6s to beat you. (happened to me twice this week, against 10 6 both times)

HEY! You! Post in this section more.

Bet/fold. By betting around 1/2 the pot, you control the way the action goes. If you check to him an he bluffs, he may throw out a larger bet than you're prepared to call to keep him honest. By making a 1/2 pot size bet, you ensure that he's only raising you if you're beat or he's just has that good a read on you.

I disagree w/ the 1/6 bet. If action's been reasonable size bets the entire hand, the 1/6 pot bet smells of weakness and you're going to get raised whether or not some one has the flush and now you have a decision.

I agree. Rocketwadster's comments in the Stud forum are great. Maybe he'll post more in the NL section as there are a decent number of good threads here now. Or maybe he'll be content to play with himself and kowboycoop in the Stud forum.

I think a 1/2 pot bet allows you to fold if you believe your beat, and cuts him off from bluffing at the pot, like you said. I think it's a decent example of the "blocking" bet.

Ha ha ha.

The reason my comments in the stud forum are "great" is that for some reason that game to me (stud 8 that is), is like riding a bicycle (at least that is my opinion of my game).

I'm not so great at NL ring games, but NL tourneys I feel I have a fairly solid grasp, and every once in a while I have a witty snippet I feel the need to share.

Been playing a lot of Omaha 8 and Omaha though over the past 2 months, so I have bene neglecting this forum (and the tourney forum for a while). 8)

I really enjoy lurking in the Stud section. I like to post on the Razz hands, but, I'm know about as much about Stud and Stud H/L as I do neuro-surgery.

Well, it kind of works like this - the knee bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone is connected to the...ummm....hold on, I have to check that out.

Hah!

Yeah, but, Rocket's posts at least make it a little bit easier to understand, kinda like watching the Discovery Channel.