PokerStars, $0.45 + $0.05 - Hold'em No Limit - 15/30 (4 ante) - 8 players
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UTG (Hero): 1,449 (48 bb)
UTG+1: 1,463 (49 bb)
MP: 1,606 (54 bb)
MP+1: 3,386 (113 bb)
CO: 1,252 (42 bb)
BU: 1,449 (48 bb)
SB: 1,470 (49 bb)
BB: 1,425 (48 bb)

Pre-Flop: (77) Hero is UTG with A♦ J♠
Hero raises to 90, 1 fold, MP calls 90, MP+1 calls 90, 3 players fold, BB calls 60

Flop: (407) 8♠ 2♥ A♠ (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets 204, MP folds, MP+1 calls 204, BB folds

Turn: (815) A♣ (2 players)
Hero bets 408, MP+1 calls 408

River: (1,631) Q♠ (2 players)

This hand was played as part of my recent PokerStars "challenge". The main opponent was playing 57/14 over 7 hands. The river card brings in the flush, and I have less than half a pot sized bet left. What is your choise here:

1) Jam for value
2) Check-fold (assuming he jam)
3) Check-call (assuming he jam)

Any other comments about for instance flop and turn sizing are also welcome.

Seeing as you have 50% of your stack in already while they wouldn't be greatly affected. I would have popped the Turn for about 600-700 to make it cost to hit the flush, but in any case they hit it based on this or they are floating an A rag which is possible.

Would love to know the final outcome of what you did and what they had if you have this but I guess you check folded here and do not have the final details.

I am holding back results for unbiased discussion. I did one of the 3 options above, and unless it was check-fold, I will reveal his hand later

My first choice would be to jam the river although I can see making a case for check calling as maybe your check would make villain think you are scared and could bluff here but I dont like being dependent on villain to make a bet. I like jamming here as we are beating almost all the Axs in their range (possible AQ with overcall as I would expect a 3 bet from AK) outside of those that spiked 2 pair (I will get into later why I think they dont have two pair). If they have the flush you are losing any way you do it so betting is best. I could also see a scenario where villain has A5 suited but of hearts or diamonds and would actually check back the river since they might be scared of the flush. Maybe they dont check behind but again, why leave it to chance and possibly lose value to another Ax? Also what if this is a sticky player with 99s who wanted to set mine on the flop. Call cause they think you always c bet and then see another ace and discount that you have one? That hand would be checking back on the river but might all a jam. Maybe far fetched but another case that feeds into the just jam it. I also am discounting villain flopped a set or two pair as I would think they would raise you on the flop with the flush draw being out there. That is one less thing for you to worry about in my opinion when you go to jam the river.

As far as how the hand played I would have gone bigger on the flop because you are going against multiple people and even though the first caller might not have the right odds to draw a second caller would. I think I would go more like 300 here for sizing. That also might set you up to jam on the turn at about pot sized which draws might call (which we want them to call at that point).

Originally Posted by theheeb1984

Would love to know the final outcome of what you did and what they had if you have this but I guess you check folded here and do not have the final details.

Thanks for the input to both of you. I jammed, and he had a small flush. Maybe a moderator could move this to the hands review forum? I accidentally posted it the wrong place

I would ask my self , with what villain call my bet on the flop? For me, the answer would definitely be flush draw. It’s micro level, and people there play almost always straight forward. On the monoton board if he doesn’t have spade, probably would not call a bet, and your bet has to be bigger, and if he calls, all in on any non spade turn. That’s what I would do. If he have better hand on the turn, gg, but I don’t think that he will call with small flush there.

The problem with such small stakes is some players just don't care about the money. They are willing to gamble their whole stack on a draw. If they bust they can just sign up for another sng. I would have jammed the turn. But I am willing to bet your opponent would have simply called the shove. Sometimes strategy can become quite limited in scope when you're facing a calling station. Shoving on the turn was the only real chance to move him off his draw.

Hope it’s okay if I chime in here even though this was posted over a week ago. I prefer check/calling versus that particular opponent’s stats on the river in order to leave his range more open and make it more likely that we’re good when we do wind up getting it in. I don’t like check/fold because of pot odds. Def fine with jamming just believe check/calling to be slightly better versus a loose passive opponent because he will bluff some small percent of the time but he also may check back a super weak flush potentially.

I play the hand the same up to the river.

I think villain is LAG and got two pair with Q8, I jam for value here. This line looks like 8x or Ax, I think occasionally 22.

Originally Posted by Katie Dozier

Hope it’s okay if I chime in here even though this was posted over a week ago. I prefer check/calling versus that particular opponent’s stats on the river in order to leave his range more open and make it more likely that we’re good when we do wind up getting it in. I don’t like check/fold because of pot odds. Def fine with jamming just believe check/calling to be slightly better versus a loose passive opponent because he will bluff some small percent of the time but he also may check back a super weak flush potentially.

I play the hand the same up to the river.

Thanks for your input! Good point that a check not only allow Villian to bluff but also to miss a valuebet and save us chips