NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

50NL, effective stacks about $65

Villain is 35/5 over 70 hands who loves to open-limp and slowplay

Folded to SB who limps. I raise to $2.50 with 9 [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 5 [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] in the BB

Is my raise bad? Standard?

Flop (Pot $5) 2 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] K [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Q [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
SB checks, Hero bets $4, SB calls

Turn (Pot $13) 5 [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
SB checks, Hero checks

River (Pot $13) 9 [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
SB checks, Hero bets $7, SB calls $7 and raises $18

Okay, WTF?!!?

Why would he do that? If he has a monster he was slowplaying (or JT), wouldn't he want to lead the river after my turn check? There's no indication of me wanting to bet the river. Are plays like this common in NL and if they are, are the more likely to be slowplayed monsters or desperate bluffs.

Finally, should I call? I've never seen this guy bluff but then again, I haven't seen this guy play that much.

Re: NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

This is usually a better hand than yours, so I fold.

Re: NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

Your raise is shocking. Limit yourself to raising at most, suited connectors, suited one-gappers, A-Qxs, A-Kxo, any other two broadway, and offsuit connectors and you'll still be raising plenty enough in a blind battle. There just aren't many chips to steal.

In my experience this kind of random river play, or ultimate slowplay, does come up quite a lot in uNL. You just have to suck it up and call here.

Re: NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

Wow, I call all day. This is a donks 'brilliant' river bluff or a Kx/Qx way too often for me to fold.

Re: NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

this is never a bluff from that villain, and i doubt hes raising 1 pair for vale, i think you see JT here most of the time.

Re: NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

You have to call, but I don't know what you are going to see.

Oh, and I'd never raise that hand.

Re: NL noob hand: River checkraised out of the blue
 

[ QUOTE ]
Is my raise bad? Standard?

[/ QUOTE ]

certainly isn't standard, but this is fine once in a while