Value betting the river

[The Bride]

I’m trying to fix a leak in my game, which I think is not value betting the river often enough. Here are a couple of examples where I think I should have bet.

The villains in both hands were donkeys, and I think I clearly should have bet. But I’m also interested to know what the correct line would be against a good player – are these also clear value bets in those cases?

What about if you get check-raised by a good player on the river – would you pay it off, or fold?

And what about if you get check-raised by a donkey?

I think I’ve started to get too gun shy on the river, and this resides in part, because I’m unsure of how to deal with check-raises. A number of times I’ve called a check-raise from a donkey, only to be left scratching my head at what they showdown (total bluffs). However, I may be overestimating how often this actually happens, as when it does happen it makes a big impression.

So basically, I don’t know how to handle river checkraises from donkeys, I don’t know how to handle river checkraises from good players, and its making me too reluctant to value bet the river. Sorry this is a bit long, but I’d appreciate any advice you guys have.



Hand 1

Party Poker 3/6 Hold'em (5 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
<font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Button calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, BB calls.

Flop: (6.33 SB) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], Q[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
BB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls, BB calls.

Turn: (4.66 BB) J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
BB checks, Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets</font>, BB folds, Hero calls.

River: (6.66 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: 6.66 BB



Hand 2

Party Poker 5/10 Hold'em (5 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

Preflop: Hero is SB with K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">MP raises</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero 3-bets</font>, BB calls, MP calls.

Flop: (9 SB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">BB bets</font>, MP folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 8[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">BB bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises</font>, BB calls.

River: (9.50 BB) A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, BB checks.

Final Pot: 9.50 BB