re: Poker & $2 NLHE 6-max: Should I bet on the river? What size do you prefer?
I dont think the villain ever has pocket Queens plus here since most 2nl players would raise that and not just flat from the BB with it ( I would say they wouldnt have JJ either but as this hand shows, I dont know it all). Calling your pot sized bet would also make me think they did not smash this flop as they should see your bet size as strength and if they have a 2 pair plus hand they most likely would be raising it on the flop. The turn brings 4 to a straight and villain calls pot sized again. Unless they are a call station this would signal to me (depending on how long they took to make that call) that they are not afraid of the straight. If they arent afraid of the straight along with the fact that calling pre means they have a heavy broadway range I would be putting them on a hand like KJ, QJ, J10. With that being said I dont think we can check on the river since most good players (who knows if they are or arent at 2NL) will probably not get too frisky on the river and would check the hands I mentioned. That leaves a lot of value on the table. It also brings up the question of what are you doing then if you check and they bet into you large? I think betting is the way to go on the river and I think I would go somewhat small normally but you potted twice. Not sure how that will look to go pot, pot, 1/3rd. Would look scared to me if I was the villain in this hand. I think given that, I would go somewhere just over a half pot. Tough decision if they raise because they could raise with a Jx which you beat and they could also raise with a boat.
This is really not as fun of spot as we would like with the top straight. I dont hate any action taken here because I think you could back them all up. Jamming would get any Jx to call and would get max value. Betting small protects yourself while betting half is kind of a medium play. Checking gets you to avoid a tough decision if you are raised but does give up value when you are good. I still think checking is probably the least best option followed by jamming, then betting small and then betting in the half pot range.
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