Anyone fold this river?

[RolldUp]

Button player just sat down, no stats. Anyone fold this river or play anyway different?

Party Poker 2/4 Hold'em (9 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img].
<font color="#666666">3 folds</font>, MP2 calls, MP3 calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Button calls, <font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, Hero checks.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], A[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(4 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, MP2 folds, MP3 folds, Button calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, Button calls.

River: (5.25 BB) 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises</font>, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.25 BB

[Nick C]

I wouldn't really expect to win, but I'd probably go ahead and call the river raise.

Button may in fact have trips. But there are a number of Party 2/4 players who like to bluff and bluff-raise when the board pairs.

That doesn't mean Button either has trips or nothing, though. Except for the wheel possibilities, there was no draw on the flop, and Button has found reasons to call up until now. Button may have an ace of his own, and if so, I think the chances his kicker also doesn't play go up a little, since he didn't raise the turn. Also, though, he could be making a play with 66 or 97s or something, so there are times when you'll win the whole pot.

I wouldn't be too happy about having been raised, though.

Anyway, I think your play in the hand is fine.

[crunchy1]

Against an unkown that just sat down I'm calling 100% of the time.

More importantly than calling though is gaining some information about your new opponent from this hand. If Villian is ahead here - by how far? And why did he wait until the river to raise? Did he call down with bottom pair and hit on the end? If he's behind is he making an advertising play to get future action? Or is he just a complete donk who bluffs too much in bad spots?

Call down - find out what he had and ask yourself why he played it that way.

Finally - make a note. (and where appropriate add to Buddy List [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img])

[FoodForThought]

I check the river for two reasons. One, to induce a bluff if he was on some kind of draw. Two, there are not many hands he would call that you could beat (unless he is a complete....). If he has an A...you either tie or lose. I think a river bet either gets a fold or a raise....negative EV.