A With Weak Kicker

[mojobluesman]

Correct to value bet the river here?

He didn't raise pre-flop. AK/AQ seemed less likely. Could be calling me down with a pair of Js.

Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (9 handed) converter (http://www.selachian.com/tools/bisonconverter/hhconverter.cgi)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A/images/graemlins/club.gif, 8/images/graemlins/diamond.gif.
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, UTG+1 calls, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>, MP3 calls, <font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, Hero checks.

Flop: (3.50 SB) 3/images/graemlins/club.gif, J/images/graemlins/spade.gif, A/images/graemlins/heart.gif <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG+1 calls, MP3 folds.

Turn: (2.75 BB) 9/images/graemlins/heart.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG+1 calls.

River: (4.75 BB) 9/images/graemlins/club.gif <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG+1 calls.

Final Pot: 6.75 BB

[LowDown22]

Absolutely bet the river. Nice hand.

[davelin]

Ni han.

[Kumubou]

[ QUOTE ]
He didn't raise pre-flop. AK/AQ seemed less likely. Could be calling me down with a pair of Js.

[/ QUOTE ]
Or an ace with an even weaker kicker. There is no way in hell you will ever be able to pick up if a loose-passive is calling you down with a strong ace, and you are out of position. So just bet bet bet until someone gives you a reason to do otherwise.

Depending on the read (ie: if he'll fold utter trash or even a weak made hand on the river), you can try to get cute and induce a bluff bet on the river. A lot of players will bet the river with any part of the board when an aggro player goes bet/bet/check, thinking they were trying to muscle them off their hand with ace-high -- but that might be some henious FPS there.

-K