AK catches the A OOP

[rael]

Villian is 38/3/2.2. Thoughts on all streets please.

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.10/$0.25
8 players
Converter

Stack sizes:
UTG: $20
UTG+1: $25.70
MP1: $24.90
MP2: $6.75
CO: $18.65
Button: $45.80
Hero: $47.45
BB: $23.75

Pre-flop: (8 players) Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
4 folds, CO calls, Button calls, <font color="#cc0000">Hero raises to $1.5</font>, 2 folds, Button calls.

Flop: 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Q[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] ($3.5, 2 players)
<font color="#cc0000">Hero bets $3</font>, Button calls.

Turn: 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] ($9.5, 2 players)
Hero checks, <font color="#cc0000">Button bets $1</font>, Hero calls.

River: A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] ($11.5, 2 players)
Hero...?

[gimmetheloot]

8$

[rael]

Will a 'typical' player with these stats call $8?

[TheSalche]

He's pretty loose so theres a decent chance. Fish sometimes see big bets as signs of weakness. If you get raised you should probably fold since he isn't hyper-aggressive, and he bet the turn small which suggests he may have a 9.

Check/call smallish bet is okay too, you'll catch some bluffs here.

[sawedust]

Flop, maybe I'd bet around $2 or so. C/C on turn is fine. River, I would make a bet of around half to the pot but fold to a reraise.

[wall_st]

[ QUOTE ]
Flop, maybe I'd bet around $2 or so. C/C on turn is fine. River, I would make a bet of around half to the pot but fold to a reraise.

[/ QUOTE ]

what he said, anyone disagree ?

[Sykes]

why not check river to snap off a bluff?

do you think he pays river with KQ/QJ?

[rael]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Flop, maybe I'd bet around $2 or so. C/C on turn is fine. River, I would make a bet of around half to the pot but fold to a reraise.

[/ QUOTE ]

what he said, anyone disagree ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting. Why bet $2 on the flop? In these situations I'm thinking that a PSB will have a better shot at folding middle or bottom pair.

Had the flop been K high (or if I had AQ) I might be more inclined to bet $2 because
1) I actually want bottom and middle pair to call and
2) I'm more interested in controlling the pot size because I'm probably going to want to bet on 4th &amp; 5th street and I don't want to throw too much money in with one pair.

Is my thinking okay here?

I agree with your suggestions on the river, and that's what I did. To me is was a decision between a 1/2 pot bet or check calling. I bet because
1) I wasn't sure how I would respond to a PSB and
2) I didn't want him to get a free or cheap showdown with a Q
3) I wouldn't have had much trouble folding to a big raise

Where I'm a little unsure of the play is exactly what Sykes said. I have no idea if he'll pay me off with a Q. Obviously, I'm perfectly happy if he folds and I take the pot, but I don't think I get full value out of situations like this and I'd like to know what my thinking should be so I that I can get value when I'm ahead and not lose too much when I'm behind. I guess this is a situation where reads are very important so I have an idea of whether he will bet with more hands than he'll call with. But of course the wrinkle is how much he'll bet with what (one thing I miss about limit, looking people up in big pots is always cheap!).

Thanks for the responses. Maybe I'm overthinking this hand.

[matrix]

preflop - flop standard.

Thats an awesome spot on the turn for a double barrel, cos the board paired.

as played VB river for ~2/3 pot, fold if raised.

[Kyriefurro]

[ QUOTE ]
why not check river to snap off a bluff?

do you think he pays river with KQ/QJ?

[/ QUOTE ]

If hero is properly aggressive, then yes, villain will easily call with a weak Q, given that hero's play on the turn looked pretty weak. Betting when an A hits the board, especially on the river, looks an aweful lot like a bluff. A lot of villains will have a very hard time folding here.

Also, leading on the river prevents villain from making an overly large bet as a bluff, which, given this board hero can't possibly call.

If you have a solid read that villain can be induced to bluff, then checking is good. But without that read, then leading is the better course, IMO.