[25NL FR] TPTK, how's my line

This is button's 3rd hand at the table, so no reads.

Full Tilt, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
Hand History Converter by Stoxpoker

BB: $28.50 (114 bb)
Hero (UTG+1): $25 (100 bb)
UTG+2: $8.70 (34.8 bb)
MP1: $43.50 (174 bb)
MP2: $10.45 (41.8 bb)
MP3: $44.25 (177 bb)
CO: $18.45 (73.8 bb)
BTN: $24.65 (98.6 bb)
SB: $38.50 (154 bb)

Pre-Flop: Hero is UTG+1 with A K
Hero raises to $1, 5 folds, BTN calls $1, 2 folds

Flop: ($2.35) 7 5 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.50, BTN calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.35) A (2 players)
Hero bets $3.50, BTN calls $3.50

River: ($12.35) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $18.65 and is all-in, Hero ???

I checked the river to induce bluffs. Is bet/fold a better line? Is this one of those flops that's better to not c-bet? Standard here to not go broke with TPTK against an unknown?

Thoughts on all streets welcome.

flop cbet is kinda meh. Board is coordinated.

turn bet fine.

check to induce bluffs? I'm just not sure you can do that against someone who have no stats on. Maybe if you knew he was super aggro or something. But his line has been pretty weak so far. I say keep the small pot by no cbet on flop, bet turn, bet fold riv.

Your beat...you fold. While certainly you will run into the occasional bluff more often than not you are beat. All you have is one pair. How do you play AA when an opponent calls your pflop, calls your cbet, calls your turn bet, do you really go off firing again on the river or do you "check to induce a bluff"?

I think you played the hand fine. Raise with AK pflop, fire a cbet on a missed flop which will most often take down the pot, A improves so you bet the turn fine....but you have to wonder what villain has to keep smooth calling. Villain is not reraising. So your plan was to check/call a reasonable river bet. You fold here.

Yeah I don't like cbetting the flop much either. Players flat the button with small pairs and suited connectors. None of which are folding that flop. Just ch-fold.

As played, turn bet is good, I probably make it slightly bigger with all the draws out there, but meh.

River for me is a snapcall in my 6max games since it's less likely he'll have the 9 when the second one drops, and players are generally a lot bluffier in 6max games so they'll bluff their missed draws and turn some random pairs into bluffs too when we check. In FR, well I'm not sure...I think it's a lot closer and against an unknown it's fine to fold. Bet/fold river is ok too.

I agree with ChuckTs with calling that river shove in a 6-max game. It wreaks of bluff. I'd call in a 6-max game.

You acted weak on the river. If he has a big hand, how could he expect to get any more money out of you with that shove?
You checked the river to induce a bluff, and I think you got one.

But like ChuckTs said, 6-max is a more aggressive game. I'd be interested in seeing an established FR player's analysis of the hand. But from my perspective, I'd call unless I had a specific read on the guy.

The flop c-bet isn't that bad.

Turn bet could have been a bit higher.

I disagree with the check on the river I would have bet again. If they had a 9 wouldn't they reraise the flop with all the draws? Them calling the turn makes me feel they had a draw or A10 AJ. Checking the river could show you are scared of the 9 or Ace since you were called down, good time to try and take the pot from you.

I don't know. Overbet reeks of "omg please don't call." But at this level, people don't know how to value bet. So it could be "OMG I have trip 9s, ALLLLLLL IN!"

So he has two spades or three 9s.

With no reads this is impossible to say.

It could be lots of things.

All in shoves at $25 NL FR like this usually mean one of two things depending on the player type. They either mean "OMG I have the nuts (or close enough to it) ALLL INNN" or they mean "I have nothing and think he'll fold if I shove".


On the flop, not crazy about the cbet on that board.

Turn bet is good.

On the river... against an unknown I tend to lean towards a call here but I don't absolutely hate a fold. If he has a nine so be it but I think you see random aces (lots of players play something like AJ this way for example), busted flush, or a random pocket pair here alot too.

I guess I don't understand why quite a few posters say they don't like the c-bet on the flop. Hero raises UTG +1. If hero fails to make a continuation bet it SCREAMS "I missed the flop, I have nothing, I raised with AK, AJ, AQ, KQ, etc. please please take my money!"

I have found if I'm the raiser and make a c-bet I will take down the pot over 50% of the time. And I have found if a raiser checks to me and I bet I take down the pot well over 50% of the time, because most times I'm right, they missed the flop.

I see several problems with checking the flop, (1) your indicating you missed the flop, (2) your showing weakness, (3) your begging for villain to bet and take the pot away, (4) your losing the initiative, (5) you possibly give a free card, and (6) your not finding out where you are in the hand.

So if the posters that disagree with the c-bet post flop could explain what I'm missing. It has to be something I don't understand because there are several that posters that disagree. The only thing I can see is checking based on the idea the flop is wet and you don't want to give villain the opportunity to raise and bluff you off your hand?

I'd continuation bet in this spot too (I'm definitely no expert) so I don't quite understand why not too either on a board with so many draws, and after the smooth call I'd be putting him on either a flush draw/suited connectors with the 9(89/910) or a set. On the turn you most likely have the best hand, but after the smooth call you should be getting suspicious, why hasn't he raised throughout the hand? I'd put him on suited connectors with the 9, but could very well be a busted flush draw.