whats the optimal way?

[DavidW]

Hey there

I have in my hand KJ clubs

flop is AT6 all clubs
i check, villain bets into me

on the turn off suite blank card
i check again
and oppoent bets into me again,
now in this situation, i raised hoping to take down a decent pot right there and than, because im afraid that he has a set and the board will pair. recently lost a huge pot on the river by board pairing when i had the nuts on the turn.

is that the right play? or should i have just called on the turn, and let him bet into me on the river again or make a bet on the river, hoping he calls if a blank comes out

thanks alot
cheers
david

[John]

I think either is fine actually. What you can’t let happen is previous bad beats having an impact on your play. That time the board paired has no bearing on the current hand. Make the play that is best for the opponent in front of you and do not let the bad beat influence you. If you think your opponent is strong and has a set make him pay a price to draw out on you. If you think he is weak and betting into with top pair check and let him keep betting. My point is let the current opponent dictate how to play the hand not a bad memory of an old hand.

Bad beats will happen … It sucks and I promise it will happen again when you make the correct play. Focus on making the right decisions and the best possible play on the current hand and you will do better in the long run.

[Patrick]

I think the bet is good for a couple reasons. first, pot wont build if you dont put money into it. 2nd, you are OOP and he has more pot control than you do. if you check the river again he will shut down unless he has at least a set or a flush also and check behind. most likely even with a set he checks.

More so, to range this guy properly, we need to give more information about table images and preflop action, how many players at each street, stack sizes, etc etc.. If he has a big A kind of hand you will win no money on the river, but MIGHT stack him on the flop. A set might pay you on the turn, but likely not the river. If he flopped a smaller flush, and another club comes on the river does he call your bet?

Again, I like the bet because the river can only hurt you by his filling up, or worse a 4th club coming and he has to fold! Nothing on the river can help you. But its possible (with more information) that earlier streets could have been played more aggressively for a better pay day for you.

[Author]

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