[TxRedMan]

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i find myself in this situation mostly when i'm in the blinds and out of position on the river. here's a hypothetical hand to illustrate my dilemma.

Hero has KQJT and the board on the turn is 4 9 8 T. Hero bets and gets 3 callers. River pairs the 4. Should Hero bet, or check/call(or even fold)?

does the answer change if:
the river pairs the T?
Hero get's more or less callers on the turn?
there's a low possible?

My thoughts so far are that you should bet if you can fold to a raise, meaning no low possible so only a Full House will raise you. otherwise check/calling is probably the way to go, but i'm not certain.

also, anything else to consider when this happens on the turn? maybe simply check/folding more often since the pot will be small and not usually worth pursuing?

thanks in advance

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Over the long run you'll find betting a paired board on the river has more value then checking. In this instance you can get paid off by a lot of hands that are going to call your bet but would check it down if given the option, such as 6-7, J-7 as well as trips 4's and all the low hands that are out. You'll doubt this situation when you get raised and someone turns over a full house, but the times you get paid off are far more valuable than the times when you bet and get raised, and don't fall intoa habit of this, but- you'll be able to fold to a river raise once in a while and not lose sleep over it against specific players. Also keep in mind that some players are often drawing to a low only hand, and if the flop comes 3-6-9 turn 8 river 8, those low hands are going to call your river bet as well.


Bet.