NL25: Top two facing river checkraise

[Emperor Norton]

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: 2+2 Forums)

UTG ($35.10)
MP ($8.80)
Hero ($56.85)
Button ($9.10)
SB ($28.20)
BB ($58.45)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img].
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $1.5</font>, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, SB calls $1.40, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG folds, MP folds.

Flop: ($3.75) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $2.75</font>, SB calls $2.75.

Turn: ($9.25) 4[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">SB bets $3.2</font>, Hero calls $3.20.

River: ($15.65) A[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
SB checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $6</font>, <font color="#CC3333">SB raises to $20.75</font>

This is such a weird line that I have a hard time putting villain on a hand. What does this read like to you guys? Only read I have is that villain is moderately aggressive.

[JROK777]

I call hoping villian made a smaller 2 pair. You've induced a bluff with your small river bet, now pay it off. Next time bet $9 on the river.

[Emperor Norton]

If I'd bet line would you be less inclined to call?

[creamfillin]

I think I raise the turn, and shove this river

[nuggzfan]

i definitely agree with raising the turn, but i would bet more on the river and hope that he check raises all in which you should definitely call. i think you are way ahead of his range here could be holding any ace, smaller two pair, or decent pocket pair all of which you have beat. if he shows down a set obviously you got bad beated, but most of the time you will take his stack.

[Vyse]

Raise turn, snap push river.

[Emperor Norton]

I didn't raise the turn because doing so would make the pot so big that if he pushed I'd be committed to call with just one pair. It's kind of a tough spot, though. Maybe he leads the turn with KQ or KJ, maybe he's blocking with a flush draw, maybe he has a hand like 99 and is testing to see if I have whiffed overs. A set is also a possibility, but it's a weird way to play it. Since a set isn't really high on the list of possibilities, I guess a raise is OK, but playing TPTK this strongly ensures that I'll always lose the most to better hands, which is an outcome I'm uncomfortable with.

[Vyse]

"I didn't raise the turn because doing so would make the pot so big that if he pushed I'd be committed to call with just one pair."

That's not how you play poker. The most EV for every decision you make, every street you're at. Not raising the turn just because you're scared of a potential river (or turn, if he shoves over your turn raise) is -EV if we agree to the general assumption that raising the turn is +EV.

A set is pretty much not happening at all, and from the way he played, I'm thinking A6 or A3.

[Emperor Norton]

Fair enough. When I look back and consider what villain's range could be on the turn, a raise does seem best. What if the board were a little dryer? If there were no flush draws available on the flop, would you still raise the turn?