Tricky (for me) river spot
 

Villian is a Tagish kind of passive kind of tricky player. Ok I guess. Comments on all streets very welcome. I think his turn bet is often a diamond draw/top pair. Axs very possible too. Flopped boat is possible too. Basically I'm in a tricky spot on the river. How best to maximize value and minimize loss here?

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter

UTG ($101.95)
Hero ($278.35)
Button ($181.60)
SB ($191.20)
BB ($200)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 9[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. SB posts a blind of $1.
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Hero raises to $8</font>, Button calls $8, <font color="#666666">2 folds</font>.

Flop: ($19) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $15</font>, Button calls $15.

Turn: ($49) A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
Hero checks, <font color="#CC3333">Button bets $10</font>, Hero calls $10.

River: ($69) J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>

-SmileyEH

Re: Tricky (for me) river spot
 

you could check raise and fold to a push.

Re: Tricky (for me) river spot
 

I would bet again on the turn as he could really just have a middle pocket pair too and he will release it most of the time with the Ace.

In this hand he dont look like he is very strong with his small turn bet, but he could be the kind of player who bet small with a big hand, I just dont see it very often.

I lead on the river for something like 50 $ and I think you will be look upon some of the time, especially because the diamond draw did not make it. Since he is passive, I dont think he will try a bluff enough of the time in this dangerous looking board to compensate for the time he will check back a hand he would have called a bet with.

Re: Tricky (for me) river spot
 

I bet 1/2 pot and I hope he thinks it's a blocking bet and raises me. I would just flat call a raise of course.

Re: Tricky (for me) river spot
 

[ QUOTE ]
Villian is a Tagish kind of passive kind of tricky player.

[/ QUOTE ]

By the definition of some of these playing styles you have contradicted yourself. How can he be TAG, passive AND tricky? That makes no sense.