$Freeroll NLHE MTT: Flop top two pair: How would you play the flop?

[nabmom]

From our CC FR last night. I'm curious as to how our tourney gurus would optimally play this flop to extract maximum value. I tend to bet a pot-sized bet on a draw-ish board. Is that playing too cautiously? Is it likely that any bet would have closed off the action?

Full Tilt - 500/1000 NL - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3

BTN: 8,110.00
Hero (SB): 14,745.00
BB: 12,723.00
UTG: 5,030.00
MP: 16,962.00
CO: 60,516.00

BTN posts ante 125.00, Hero posts ante 125.00, BB posts ante 125.00, UTG posts ante 125.00, MP posts ante 125.00, CO posts ante 125.00, Hero posts SB 500.00, BB posts BB 1,000.00

Pre Flop: (2250.00) Hero has T♠ K♠

fold, fold, CO raises to 3,000.00, fold, Hero calls 2,500.00, fold

Flop: (7750.00, 2 players) 4♦ T♦ K♥
Hero ??

 

[Lofwyr]

Umm...check/shove? Seems like the standard line to take here.

Maybe if you've executed/shown a stop and go already you just open shove...but as is I'd check to the raiser and expect a standard c-bet over which you shove.

 

[cjatud2012]

yup, check/raise all-in looks good to me.

Pretty sure I muck it pre though.

 

[nabmom]

Umm...check/shove? Seems like the standard line to take here.

Maybe if you've executed/shown a stop and go already you just open shove...but as is I'd check to the raiser and expect a standard c-bet over which you shove.

I know it seems obvious looking at it now, but at the time I find that I still get worried about the flush draw. That makes me donk and I lose money.

 

[nabmom]

yup, check/raise all-in looks good to me.

Pretty sure I muck it pre though.

I'm not sure why I didn't muck. Villain was a 30/16 and I felt he was pushing the table.

I overall know I played this poorly. Just trying to figure out how to have played it better.

 

[cjatud2012]

I know it seems obvious looking at it now, but at the time I find that I still get worried about the flush draw. That makes me donk and I lose money.

You shouldn't worry too much, the flush only has like a 4:1 chance of completing on the turn or something like that. You can be pretty certain that he'll c-bet here, and then you won't have to worry anyway

 

[nabmom]

You shouldn't worry too much, the flush only has like a 4:1 chance of completing on the turn or something like that. You can be pretty certain that he'll c-bet here, and then you won't have to worry anyway

Thanks, CJ. I'm always amazed at how much there still is to learn!

 

[WiZZiM]

Check/shove is fine. Against a good player or an aggro one, i might lead out occasionally in spots like this a small amount hoping to get shoved on.

 

[WiZZiM]

Thanks, CJ. I'm always amazed at how much there still is to learn!

No matter how long you play this game, there will always be something to learn.

 

[Lofwyr]

I know it seems obvious looking at it now, but at the time I find that I still get worried about the flush draw. That makes me donk and I lose money.

To combat the 'donk bet' urge in the future just remember that in spots like these villain is unlikely to check behind any hand that has a decent chance of out-drawing you on the turn. KJ/KQ/AK will probably fire, a decent straight draw at broadway will fire and a FD will fire...so the only things you need to really fear getting checked behind are pocket pairs < 10 which only have 2 outs.