River Play with AK
 

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

Hero ($135.1)
Button ($117.63)
SB ($100.82)
BB ($171.35)
UTG ($109.95)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]. Hero posts a blind of $2. UTG posts a blind of $1.
Button calls $2, <font color="#CC3333">SB raises to $4</font>, BB folds, UTG (poster) calls $3, <font color="#CC3333">Hero (poster) raises to $10</font>, Button folds, SB calls $8, UTG calls $8.

Flop: ($38) 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 2[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
UTG checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $25</font>, SB folds, UTG calls $25.

Turn: ($88) 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
UTG checks, Hero checks.

River: ($88) K[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
UTG checks, <font color="#CC3333">Hero ???????</font>

Re: River Play with AK
 

Do I always bet this river? Opponent had shown some decent play up until now, so I think his flop call is strong considering there are very few draws.

Re: River Play with AK
 

His decent play hasn't included calling big raises from the sb with small suited connectors? Has he gone for the ultra-slowplay in the past with big hands? I think against most opponents you're usually ahead here, but it's what they'll call with that matters rather than just what they have. I bet as much as I think I can get a worse hand to call, opponent-specific, unless that amount is so low that the risk of a check-raise outweighs the potential value of betting. You ask if I always bet here; no, against some opponents I don't bet.

Re: River Play with AK
 

you are beat by a 5, 4/6, a/4, a/a and 2/2 3/3

do you think he raised with those (besides A/A or k/k)? if you say no then at best he has a/k and probably q/q or something like that.

versus a solid player you will lose this a very low %, tie it a bit more (though he didn't bet on the river) and win it often. the bet is up to you, but the more 'solid' he is the better your chance of winning in this case.

Re: River Play with AK
 

value bet this 8 days a week. Although there is a ever so slight chance he slowplayed trips or somehow fell into a straight with trash, the most likely holding for him is a mid pocket pair, most likely between 77 and JJ.
Given that he checked the river after checking the turn it is highly unlikely that he has you beat. People who slow play trips (or 22 or 33) generally make a small value bet on the river after the turn checks through.
I'd make a smallish value bet (in relation to the pot), probably in the ballpark of 30 bucks. You want him to reluctantly call with his tens or whatever. Bet much too hard and you're only called if beaten (albeit unlikely).
30 bucks sounds about right to me.

Re: River Play with AK
 

That was my thinking... I was pretty sure he didn't have more than a pair.

I bet $25. He quickly folded...