16$ : JJ

[Rodolphe]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button (t1900)
SB (t1460)
BB (t1380)
UTG (t1245)
UTG+1 (t1420)
Hero (t1470)
MP2 (t1735)
MP3 (t1535)
CO (t1355)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with J, J.
<font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to t90</font>, MP2 calls t90, <font color="#666666">5 folds</font>.

Flop: (t225) 9, 8, 3 <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t150</font>, MP2 calls t150.

Turn: (t525) K <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, MP2 checks.

River: (t525) 9 <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets t150</font>, MP2 calls t150.

Final Pot: t825


Results in white below: <font color="#FFFFFF">
Hero has Jc Jd (two pair, jacks and nines).
MP2 has Kc Qs (two pair, kings and nines).
Outcome: MP2 wins t825. </font>

On the river, I put him on a small pocket pair or something like AQ or AJ since he called me preflop and didn't bet the K.

[IFoldPktOnes]

I raise to t120 preflop, doesn't make too much difference though. As played I'd check the river and maybe call a small bet. I dont think betting the river for value is great since it looks really weak and not many hands you beat will call you. Not sure why you posted the results.

[taipan168]

I agree, I check call the river rather than blocking bet, particularly since the river came a second 9.

[Pudge714]

I would bet the turn. That king isn't really a scare card unless villain is floating.

[KoreanBuffet]

Indeed I bet the turn putting the villan on a top pair type hand.

[Collin Moshman]

Hi Rodolphe,

I like the flop bet, and while I think a turn bet is solid against most opponents, checking is ok. So let's talk about the river.

As played, you MUST bet this river. First, you are very likely to have the best hand. Villain is unlikely to hold: a) pocket pair above jacks, since he would probably reraise pre-flop with QQ+, b) the King, since he would usually bet the turn after you checked (although the pre-flop and flop calls are not inconsistent with A K), c) the 9, since there are two 9's on board and few hands most guys would call with pre-flop containing a 9, except the case
9 9. If you are beat, it is most likely with a set of 8's or 3's, or possibly the A K.

So a smallish river bet here, like the one you made, has two distinct benefits given the prior actions:

1. Value. You most likely have the best hand, and you should make a weak player with a low pocket pair or ace-high give you some extra chips.

2. Defensive. If you check, you allow your opponent to set the river price. Suppose he bets t400. Do you call? Is he bluffing, betting big for value, ...? You are then forced to lay down what could well be the best hand getting good odds, or play a much larger pot than you want during low-blind play. So you set the price, and make it a small one like the t150 you actually bet. (This manipulating the pot size is particularly important if you venture over to cash no-limit.) If Villain reraises you here to anything much more than doubling your bet, you can make an easy fold since a bluff re-raise is very unlikely.

In sum, given the prior action, I think your value/defensive river bet was excellent.

Best Regards,
Collin