20/180 FT river decision
 

Villain had been raising fairly loose in position, and following up with weak c-bets on most flops. I was planning on check raising the flop, and then assumed he had nothing when he checked and I tried to take it down on the turn. Thoughts on river decision and previous streets?

PokerStars Game #5929161296: Tournament #30015621, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level XI (600/1200) - 2006/08/15 - 16:44:43 (ET)
Table '30015621 11' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Super_Maws (46885 in chips)
Seat 2: m@tt26 (46973 in chips)
Seat 3: mickelson (75383 in chips)
Seat 4: buddyrock (61269 in chips)
Seat 5: Danielr273 (39490 in chips)
Super_Maws: posts the ante 75
m@tt26: posts the ante 75
mickelson: posts the ante 75
buddyrock: posts the ante 75
Danielr273: posts the ante 75
buddyrock: posts small blind 600
Danielr273: posts big blind 1200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Danielr273 [Jh Qd]
Super_Maws: folds
m@tt26: folds
mickelson: raises 2400 to 3600
buddyrock: folds
Danielr273: calls 2400
*** FLOP *** [6c 2c Qh]
Danielr273: checks
mickelson: checks
*** TURN *** [6c 2c Qh] [4d]
Danielr273: bets 5000
mickelson: raises 5000 to 10000
Danielr273: calls 5000
*** RIVER *** [6c 2c Qh 4d] [8s]
Danielr273: checks
mickelson: bets 61708 and is all-in

Re: 20/180 FT river decision
 

I'm always lost in these situations too. I think to myself "how dumb does this guy have to be to push all in with the nuts...no one tries that kind of dumb play unless they have a really weak hand", call, and prompty get shown the nuts. In retrospect, I imagine this is why they do that play.

Given your read, going for a c/r on the flop was probably not a bad plan. The fact villian didn't bet when expected should make alarm bells go off in your head though.

I fold that river.

Re: 20/180 FT river decision
 

if hes been making weak c-bets in position, then checks here, that would tell you hes slowplaying usually. fold.

Re: 20/180 FT river decision
 

I think you have made this decision pretty tough for yourself by not putting out some kind of blocking/value bet on the river. You action so far is check, bet call, check. This means he could have you beat with most likely AQ, KQ, or he could be making a move on you.

I think your line would depend on your read of Villian, if you were confident he would make this river play with air, then checking with the intention of calling is clearly best. However, as you dont seem to know where you are or what your action will be if he bets, I think a bet of some kind would make your life easier.

Re: 20/180 FT river decision
 

I've got to agree with some of the above comments about a normal c-bet not showing up. That would worry me and make me think he picked up some sort of hand. Ethier a made hand or a draw he didn't want to get pushed off of before seeing another card. I think your probably beat if your reads right but by checking the river you made yourself a hard decision not that making a bet was probably a good idea ethier as if your planning on folding to a reraise you have to worry about not pot commiting yourself with a bet.