bet the river when the 3rd suited card falls?

[Crumpled Ear]

I realize there are no certainties in poker, but since I'm new and still have poor card reading skills, can you offer general advice on this: say you have top pair, top kicker with two folks who have called you all the way to the river. The flop had two cards of the same suit and a third comes on the river. Do you bet or check? If you're inclined to answer, "it depends on your opponent," imagine you're new to the table with no reads. Thanks!

[bisonbison]

bet the river when the 3rd suited card falls?

yes.

[Haupt_234]

Bet, even if there are 4+ opponents. To try and ease the "flush draw paranoia" that many timid or beginning players may have, just realize that there isn't a flush draw nearly as much as you think.

A player who checks and calls could be on such a broad range of hands, and the flush draw is just a small piece. Checking the river instead of betting when the flush hits will lose several bets from the calling hands you beat, but only save a bet to one hand you don't.

Haupt_234

[Bob T.]

What dynasty told me a two or three years ago, is bet the river, and call one raise. In most low limit games, I just do that and don't spend anymore energy than that on the problem. If you bet everytime, you will more than make up for the raises that you pay off. If you have a read on the player, and KNOW that they wouldn't bet without a hand that you can beat, you can lay down some of the time, and save some bets. Withoout a read, you just pay them off.

Good luck,
play well,

Bob T.