Two pair on a river three-flush

[Schlepper333]

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.20 Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1 posts a big blind (1 SB)

Pre Flop: (2.5 SB) Hero is CO with J : K :
3 folds, MP1 checks, MP2 calls, Hero calls, BTN calls, SB calls, BB checks

Flop: (6 SB) 7 : 5 : K : (6 players)
SB checks, BB bets, MP1 calls, MP2 raises, Hero calls, BTN folds, SB folds, BB calls, MP1 calls

Turn: (7 BB) J : (4 players)
BB bets, MP1 folds, MP2 calls, Hero raises, BB folds, MP2 calls

River: (12 BB) 4 : (2 players)
MP2 bets, Hero ??

[Damien]

You have to call this with the pot this big. You don't have to win this one very often for it to be profitable.

[the_hawk]

Easy call. You may well see a flush very very often, but not 11 times out of 12.

[Schlepper333]

As in the 'straight' post, folding was never an option. I was just wondering whether to raise. Maybe someone should give a general tip on when you raise or re-raise the river. That would be helpful; that is, if a general tip can be given.

[Damien]

Well, as a general rule, raise when you have close to the nuts. In this hand, you'll can be beat by a flush and a set (and a straight, but thats not very likely).

[Misunderstud]

Generally speaking, I think a good time NOT to raise is when the river brings in a draw and the villain donks. If he's telling the truth he'll reraise; if he's bluffing, he'll fold.

Preflop, I like to raise KJ with position against a limper (and the poster here makes it more worthwhile). When you flop TP you're usually only behind KQ, and some will raise that pf anyway, particularly behind a poster. I would probably 3-bet the flop, too. (Is that spewy, I wonder. )

[teknique]

When the flush and straight draws come in on the river here, you are only going to get called by hands that beat you if you raise.

I am not that great at the river, but in general I don't do much raising without the nuts, because of the only getting called by hands that beat you principal.. the only exception to this would be against someone you are sure is a calling station, because then they are actually likely to call your raise with a worse hand, or atleast much more likely to.

As for general tips for river play, I can only suggest having a re-read of SSH, I believe the river material to be very good.

[teknique]

I also like the flop 3 bet, if the only thing you achieve is making it three handed rather than four on the turn, then I think I have got my money's worth on the bet, plus when you see a cold call of 3 bets then you can usually narrow down a range for that player to either a monster or a draw.

[Schlepper333]

[westwick]

Pre-flop I agree with the other posters who recommend a raise. Playing this way may (a) buy the button (b) knock out the blinds and (c) give you better control of the hand. I don't hate the limp but raising is preferable.

Flop It is a bet and a raise to you and you have TPGK. As played I think you might find a fold here. My reasoning is that you are not closing the action and would hate to make a further decision after a 3-bet and cap. You could easily be behind a set or AK/KQ (yes, at this level I have seen players limp with AK!) KJ is a tricky hand to play and I don't think you are losing much by letting this hand go early. My second choice would be to 3-bet for the reasons already given by others. Calling two bets cold just looks and feels wrong.

Turn You hit one of your two solid outs so your raise is correct and, without a 3-bet, it seems pretty safe that you are ahead here.

River The flush and straight draw just hit and villain bets out. His betting pattern so far suggests he has made his hand but as others have said, you must call. Again, I would expect you to lose most of the time but not so often to make the call unprofitable.

[Schlepper333]

I called and villain showed us KdQh.