Interesting check-raise from WCOOP-44

Hi everyone!
I was watching WCOOP-44 this lunchtime (the high roller heads-up one) and I came across a hand where I can't understand the thinking of one of the players. To watch it, it was hand number 5 of Otb_RedBaron vs DJK123, if not I'll write it out below:

Otb has 13310 chips
Djk has 6690 chips

Otb (button) posts SB (25) => Jd Js
Djk posts BB (50) => 10d 9c
Otb raises to 129
Djk calls

FLOP => 9s 10s 10h (pot = 258)
Djk checks
Otb bets 152
Djk calls

TURN => 3s (pot = 562)
Djk checks
Otb bets 443
Djk raises to 1413


Now, I can't work out why he's check-raising. Otb could be chasing a straight or flush (or even have a flush by this point) and he beats both of those. So I would have thought calling here would be better, as it gives his opponent another card to improve with, and hopefully get another street of value, either betting or check-raising the river.

What are your thoughts?

I feel that dkj was probably thinking that otb is either bluffing or have a high pair already based on the pre and flop raise. So he can be sure that his hand is best here unless otb decides to reraise again which can raise some doubts. Again this takes knowing the tendency of the other players style.

Guess he wants to built a big enough pot to be able to get it in on the river

Rain92 said:

I feel that dkj was probably thinking that otb is either bluffing or have a high pair already based on the pre and flop raise. So he can be sure that his hand is best here unless otb decides to reraise again which can raise some doubts. Again this takes knowing the tendency of the other players style.

Click to expand...

If otb reraises again I believe dkj is gonna make a fistpumping dance around the table....

At that point he has the nuts though, so surely if he thinks Otb is either bluffing or has a pair he would do better to try to induce another barrel on the river? Playing the check-raise would push out all the more marginal hands so you have no chance to extract more value from them, I would have thought?
I see what you mean about building the pot, but once again, given the amount of hands he's pushing out vs the amount that would call a check-raise in that spot, does it not end up being -EV?

These players are thinking at a way higher level than me and I'm sure they have some history.
I think dkj believes if he just calls this turn, there's not gonna be additional action on the river, or if there will be action (donkbet or check and getting an otb bet) he's not gonna get more value than by check-raising on the turn.
Pretty sure dkj had an otb calling percentage in his mind, such as...otb will call my checkraise 50 % of times so a checkraise is more ev+ than just a call.
Ofc he has the nuts there but otb doesn't know that.

Ah ok, that makes sense. I suppose my view of the hand is skewed by knowing both sets of hole cards. And as you say - they are probably thinking about it at a much higher level than me. That's why I figured I'd ask about it - use it as a learning point
Thanks for your replies!

at what point do you try to extract chips if not here? the 3rd spade hit thats the money card. he is probably gonna make this bet even with air. lets say he does have air here do you still question the play? no because you know he is repping the flush and trying to steal the pot. i think its only messing with you because you know he has a monster and you know the other guy has an over pair with a flush draw. ther eis no value for him on the river because what sense would it make to check call check call lead out hoping the river gave the villian something to call with

heads up is really about the meta-game so analyzing 1 hand in a vacuum is going to be of limited use. For instance, maybe in the match Otb has check raised the turn 6 times already out of 30 hands? (just made that up as an example) in that case, he's hoping Djk get's fed up and makes a stand with an overpair, or with a flush draw or something.

Also, if Otb puts Djk on an overpair, he may want to get his money in before a 4th spade comes and kills his action. Or he may be figuring "He either has a big hand or he doesn't. Now is the time to find out if I can get his whole stack"

I think he should have bet the flop. Then if I got a call on the flop, i would consider check-raising the turn.

Djk is a certified shark.

He is playing mind games to Otb.

It is difficult to discuss about this hand, because we do not know the history of hands.
I think for highrollers its fine game, because djk can think what otb miss flop and can bluff vs him, what otb try him 4 bet,,,

Daniel kelly one of the best online players on the planet.

wow

Finally somebody that play like myself, Not saying this is why he plays like this but i will tell you why i do. Firstly, i would of most likely checked/gone all in where he checked/raised, otb has a much larger stack so that is good. i do this because him having JJ i think he is most likely going to call due to the river left and they hopefully thinking i have hit the 3 for 2 pair ( when actually have a full house) i find that so many people will call and you have the winning hand ( unless a J falls, but it is a smaller chance due to only the flop card left) in a nutshell i think it is a way to have the other player thinking he is still in front and you have hit the 3 when you have not

He wants to build a big enough pot on the turn.
Typical style of play with elite players of this caliber.
He most likely doesn't want a higher card hitting the river like a q or a k to kill his action.
These players are so advanced that they know what the other person knows and it's a virtual mind game that even Albert Einstein would have trouble figuring out.


You want to build the pot. I too seen this video
ALso the fold with the str was sick.

I think that should not have to play the hand ten and nine danomu flop jacks already could do nothing