This morning I lost a tournament by slow playing trips I'd hit as BB that then got flushed. The lesson was I should be more aggressive. Tonight again as BB a similar hand happened and I hit the straight on the Turn. Since UTG was betting my intention was to Check to UTG and re-raise by Pushing thus drawing him in, at least with his bet even if he folded to my Push.

Instead it worked out better than I could have hoped for as UTG bet, SB pushed then I pushed. SB was chasing and missed.

Although it worked on this time, would you slow play it with a Check/Re-Raise with a Push on the Turn in this situation? Or is it too risky that there could instead be Checked down and a Flush drawn on the River?


$80 + $8 - Hold'em No Limit - 60/120 (15 ante) - 9 players
Replay this hand on CardsChat

UTG: 5,923 (49 bb)
UTG+1: 6,565 (55 bb)
MP: 4,955 (41 bb)
MP+1: 3,538 (29 bb)
LP: 4,985 (42 bb)
CO: 9,480 (79 bb)
BU: 3,161 (26 bb)
SB: 8,334 (69 bb)
BB (Hero): 4,196 (35 bb)

Pre-Flop: (315) Hero is BB with 8♥ 9♣
UTG raises to 264, 6 players fold, SB calls 204, Hero calls 144

Flop: (927) 7♣ 3♥ J♠ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets 463, SB calls 463, Hero calls 463

Turn: (2,316) T♣ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets 858, SB raises to 7,592 (all-in), Hero calls 3,454 (all-in), UTG folds

River: (10,082) 4♥ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: 10,082

Showdown:
SB shows 8♣ K♣ (high card, King)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 70%, Flop: 72%, Turn: 22%, River: 0%)

BB (Hero) shows 8♥ 9♣ (a straight, Seven to Jack)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 30%, Flop: 28%, Turn: 78%, River: 100%)

BB (Hero) wins 10,082

Preflop
Standard defend.

Flop
Overcalling with just a gutshot seem like a negative EV play to me. You are not getting enough implied odds to try to bink it on the turn, and if you miss, you cant call another bet. If SB had folded, your hand would be a candidate for check-raising as a bluff, since there are no really good draws on this board. But with a SB call, I would just fold this and move on with my life.

Turn
Given the effective stack size I do think, going for the dreaded donk bet would have been a great play here. When UTG got called by both players on the flop, he is unlikely to continue bluffing, and if you lead out now, you are not really representing much. Which is a great spot to be in, when you actually have the nuts. And if someone just call, you have an easy shove on the river.