Tight Hands

With Bob "The Coach" Ciaffone

Author of Middle Limit Holdem Poker and Pot-Limit and No-Limit Poker

Check or bet a paired river?

7/13/08

A player writes:

5/10 limit, six handed

I am K♣Q♦ in BB.

Middle position limps, I raise, he calls.

Flop: 9♠ Q♠ 8♦ giving me top pair.

I bet, he raises, I reraise.

Turn: 3♣

I bet, he calls.

River: 8♥, pairing the board.

Do I bet out, thinking he has a weak queen or 2nd pair, or check-call for fear of the 8?

Bob replies:

It is clear to bet. Unlikely the 8 beat you. I am not a believer in checking with the hope a busted draw will bluff, as your betting was strong enough to deter that. So I bet. His likely hands are Q-J or Q-T. Also, since you will call if you check, you will often lose the same one bet on the end if he has A-Q or somesuch.

More columns by Bob

Confused by any of the terminology, including abbreviations?  See Holdem Tight's Poker Dictionary.

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Poker jargon

Fold equity n. The value gained from getting opponents to fold, whether by bluffing or deterring them from drawing. Usage: I knew he was ahead, but the ace on the turn gave me some fold equity, so I raised. It is a crucial tool because it adds another way to win besides having the best hand: folding the field. The amount of fold equity varies tremendously by circumstance. If a villain is unlikely to muck his hand, then betting has little fold equity. Mathematical formula: fold equity = (likelihood opponent(s) folds) x (pot size).

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