Re: QQ headsup
I think a better play might be continuing with the lead and betting on the turn. This way it may make him define a stronger hand earlier and will also remove doubt from your mind that he is attempting a steal due to you showing weakness on the turn after a seemingly standard c-bet on the flop, it also adds a little value to your hand if a 9 or an 8 call. Betting the turn may also convince the villain that you will again bet the river (from pre-flop action he may put you on an overpair to the board). Villain may be looking to check raise the river with a monster, a turn bet therefore can essentially work as a blocking bet for the river and allow you to check a nice sized pot through.
It is v-tempting to value bet on the river with the hopes of the A9 or some other hand of a similar strength trying to get stubborn and pay you off. However its not really a spot to value bet here IMO, you do not have a big hand considering the board and by betting this street you have essentially committed 1/3 your stack to these cards with little chance of being called by worse hands. If you have been beating up on this guy a bit by 3-betting him etc then he will be increasingly be likely to make a move out of frustration, don’t give him the opportunity to make this play in a crucial pot such as this. KEEP IN CONTROL OF THE ACTION.
To me it looks as though the villain either has a strong ace with which he is trying to call you down (he wont call a river bet), or he has a very strong hand he is trapping. Why not show down a big hand here and rebuild a bit of table image let him know he can’t start to try calling you down with A-high or bottom pairs.
An even better reason to check the river here, if he is attempting a trap then you will have paid him off the least amount possible- I am pretty sure this will put villain further off his game and will confirm in his mind that you must have ALL sorts of reads on him. Why not even show the QQ if he has a monster? That has to mess with his head doesn’t it…….....
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