Check the river?

[PhilipJ]

One of the few playable hands tonight. But I think I botched the river.

PokerStars 0.05/0.10 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]. UTG posts a blind of $0.05.
UTG (poster) checks, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls, CO calls, Button folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 3[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, BB calls, UTG calls, MP2 calls, CO calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(5 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, BB folds, UTG calls, MP2 folds, CO calls.

River: (8 BB) T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="blue">(3 players)</font>
<font color="CC3333">Hero bets</font>, UTG calls, CO folds.

Final Pot: 10 BB

Just want to be sure, the flop and turn are ok, right?

UTG just sat down. I bet out on the river hoping he would fold. Are check/fold or check/call better alternatives?

[AncientPC]

I think flop and turn bets were fine.

River bet is up to you, but I doubt anyone's going to fold a 10 BB pot to 1 bet. It seems like he's complacent with calling you all the way through, so I don't see why he would fold on the river.

[uuDevil]

[ QUOTE ]
I bet out on the river hoping he would fold. Are check/fold or check/call better alternatives?


[/ QUOTE ]

There is a chance your hand is best, so I don't think check-folding in a fair sized pot is reasonable. Check-calling 1 bet is better, but I think you made the best choice and played the hand fine.

[Webster]

I think the bet on the river is fine. You risk is being raised and I can't seen anybody raising. Looks to me they the group were all searching.

I'm all for checking calling on the river but here - stay with the bet, which goes against my rules but , I always go against my rules. . .

Reason for check calling
1. you don't want to risk a raise
2. If you bet and a guy missed he'll fold anyway-you get nothing
3. He might have a better hands and you lose a bet

[Peter Harris]

[ QUOTE ]
Reason for check calling
1. you don't want to risk a raise
2. If you bet and a guy missed he'll fold anyway-you get nothing
3. He might have a better hands and you lose a bet

[/ QUOTE ]

4. The player might bet hands as a bluff on the river that you would have to call. Checking the T gives the player the opportunity to bluff a T holding.

See Theory of Poker pp209-220 for discussions on check-call, check-fold or bet out options. I understood it for the first time yesterday [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

against microers i bet the river. If they spiked a T then so be it, you can't check-fold given the hands play.

Regards,
Pete Harris