[MLG]

I think reraising preflop planning to fold is pretty bad. I don't particularly like raising the flop either. Both of those options seem to be sacrificing EV in order to give yourself an easier decision later on in the hand.

Interestingly enough, I think betting the turn has a surprising amount of merit. There would traditionally be several reasons to check the turn. First, in order to enduce a bluff...but we don't want that, since we are planning to fold to a river bet. A second reason to check the turn, is to excercise pot control planning to value bet later streets. The call flop, and check turn planning to either call a river bet, or bet ourselves if he checks, is a traditional and good line for a good but not great made hand. However, our hand is not strong enough to value bet, if he checks, and we are folding to a bet. The third reason to check, is the most compelling...only better hands call, and worse hands fold a way-ahead, way-behind situation. The thing is, that while that's true, the vast majority of the time that our opponent is way behind he is not planning on putting another chip in the pot unless he improves to beat you, so by checking behind you are giving him a free shot to improve.


Now, that doesnt mean that its an automatic bet at all, in fact a check may still be better, because most opponents are easy to play against. That is, they play predictably, so you don't need to really worry that you are getting bluffed too often on the river, which also means that giving an opponent who is giving up a free chance to catch you isn't the end of the world, since you arent really confronted with a reverse implied odds situation since you won't call a river bet. My point is only that betting this turn is an important weapon to have in your arsenal against better players, or you end up being the one playing to predictably.