Top Pair Weak Kicker

#1 10-07-2005, 03:45 PM

Bet 2/3 of the pot on the turn, or hope to check/check it down? Opponent is very loose, tad aggressive. I have him covered.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em (NL$200) (6 handed) link

Preflop: Hero is CO with J[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], T[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img].
UTG calls $2.00, Hero raises to $9.00, 3 folds, UTG calls $7.00.

Flop: ($21.00) T[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $15.00, UTG calls $15.00.

Turn: ($51.00) 5[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (2 players)
UTG checks

#2 10-07-2005, 04:13 PM

These are tough hands against loose & aggressive players even when you have position. If he has a T, he might have bet out. Is he tricky? Does he like checking and then putting you to the test?

You probably have to see this through against a loose and agressive opponent. A check gives him a freebie which might beat you, but I like it for 3 reasons:
1) You won't get check raised and possibly outplayed here.
2) It will probably cost you less when you lose.
3) If you do have the best hand, you probably cannot win any more money unless you show weakness with a check and induce a bluff on the river.

Of course, if you check, and he moves in on the river, you have to guess. It's these situations that keep me in the small limit games [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

xorbie · #3 10-07-2005, 05:02 PM

My standard here is to bet again, if only because even of his "made hands" many are still losing or split (JT, 9T, 89, T9 are all possible... and frankly more likely than QT/KT). It's also a very drawy board, so you can easily get some value out of a draw. Check behind on the river.