Don't have the hand history so I'll have to write his one out.

$100 max NL on Stars. Both notable stacks are over $100 and this pot was never going to get out of hand enough where it matters exactly how much.

Villain: Villain was competent, up some, and never, ever showed down a hand; he either won or folded most often on the turn. I think he doesn't regard me as a donk, but either had notes on me from previous play OR just though he could outplay me after a couple of confrontations from previous rotations; he was calling almost every limp or raise I made. The last 3 hands we got mixed up in went: I limp, he raises, I fold; I raise, he calls, flop I check, he bets, I fold; I raise, he calls, flop I bet, he raises, I fold. Read or not, he may be thinking he can get the best of me with his position and aggression. I just couldn't hit anything to play back, and so this hand I had plans for our friend. If I missed the flop, I was going to c/r the turn after calling his almost sure-thing flop bet.

Hero is CO with

Folds to Hero who raises to $4. Villain (button) calls. Blinds fold.


Flop:

Hero checks. Villain bets $5. Hero insta-calls.

Turn

Hero checks. Villain checks. Doh.

River

Hero bets $9.


Having to think quickly, the amount to bet on the river was in question...if he was worried about the turn c/r from me, then I wanted the river bet to appear as a value-bet and not a push-him-off bet. He's not calling me with A high (which I think made up a large part of his range), but might with a pocket pair 88 or better, or any piece of the ragged turn/river. I was very surprised with his turn check even though I insta-called the flop bet, but I really didn't think he'd check behind on the river as well. Thoughts?

bump

You bet large on the river with nothing but board pair and king kicker?!

Know when you're beaten. Check/fold.

Those small cards make my head hurt, anyway I think it is an alright bet as long as your range is correct. I mean you could play ABC but that is boring.

lead the turn or C/R the flop. i don't see a station folding much of anything after you don't do either of these. as played I don't hate the river bet but a lot of the time I'll just check behind and use the 9 bucks i commited for knowledge for future hands (of course we are actually good here on the rarest of occassions)

Yeah I was thinking lead the turn too...I was just so sure he was betting. Maybe I oversold that I was going to c/r.

I think that this guy has gotten the best of you simply by playing in position and has frsutrated you. You are playing into his hands by trying to outplay him OOP. the reason players like him do what they do is to get you to play back at them when you are OOP. Your play here is spew and this player has you right where he wants you. Your best bet is to get up and change tables because with him there your ability to make money at this table is greatly diminished if he is restricting your actions.