I rarely donkbet but thought this would be the right spot for it:

888 Poker - 75/150 Ante 20 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: 41.57 BB (VPIP: -, PFR: -, 3Bet Preflop: -, Hands: 1)
Hero (BB): 38.48 BB
UTG: 30.48 BB (VPIP: 23.53, PFR: 17.65, 3Bet Preflop: 11.11, Hands: 17)
UTG+1: 37.89 BB (VPIP: 31.58, PFR: 10.53, 3Bet Preflop: 10.00, Hands: 19)
MP: 18.73 BB (VPIP: 0.00, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 3)
MP+1: 2.11 BB (VPIP: 26.67, PFR: 0.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 15)
MP+2: 23.13 BB (VPIP: 5.26, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 12.50, Hands: 19)
CO: 12.85 BB (VPIP: 5.26, PFR: 5.26, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)
BTN: 46.83 BB (VPIP: 36.84, PFR: 26.32, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 19)

9 players post ante of 0.13 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, Hero posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.7 BB) Hero has T 9

fold, fold, MP raises to 3.77 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, SB calls 3.27 BB, Hero calls 2.77 BB

Flop: (12.52 BB, 3 players) 2 9 5
SB checks, Hero bets 6.26 BB, fold, SB calls 6.26 BB

Why donkbet? It's a multiway pot and I have a hand that is likely best right now, but on this board it isn't likely to be best by showdown. And I don't want to risk it getting checked through and allowing both villains to see a free turn with overcard type hands.

Follow up question: After SB x/calls, what turn cards do you barrel?

that illustrates the problem with donkbetting such a merged range or donkbetting in general. its tough to balance and its tough to play future streets. if you start leading a more polarized range like 2p+ for value and then add some bluffs of your choice to that mix you simply know what to do on which turn card.

as played, no idea.

I don't think we barrel any turn's now, lets try and get to a cheap showdown and possibly play it as a bluff catcher otr on non heart run outs

I agree with this 100%. The donk bet actually helped you...Your situation is not so bad because you now have position on the turn.

However, I do probably do more than my fair share of donk betting myself. So, take my opinion w/ a grain of salt.

Interesting, I hadn't thought of that angle before - if I get the raiser to fold I have position on SB. But I don't expect the raiser to fold very often here.

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The problem/opportunity with this particular situation is that:

It got you heads up and in position...

It kinda capped your range to less than TPTK....

This flop favored you in general, and you would rather make that known now, than possibly see all three players get an extended flop+turn.

The next streets, post-donk, are going to be tricky, as others have noted.

My only concern is that you say "I am probably best right now but probably not by showdown."
I agree you are probably best right now, but statistically you will probably still be best on the turn also. If you check here and MP checks also, then all sorts of profitable things can happen on the turn. MP is basically saying "i missed" meanwhile turn could be a 9 or a T, or a Th even. At that point any card is bettable, and the pot is up for grabs, while you have a good pair and can call or make a bet for value that will look like a bluff and be called by lesser pairs.

The biggest downside I see is that SB could have anything and his range is as good as yours. If SB checkraises you on the turn, you are in a tough spot, after donking flop.
If the flop is not donked, and MP bets, and everyone calls, then your decisions on the turn get a lot easier, imo, even though there are three potential players.

I don't agree that any card is bettable on the turn. In fact there are lots of turn cards that I don't want to see and will make future streets difficult to play: any J-A, any heart. Even a low card is scary for hitting SB's range.

I'm still not convinced donking in this spot is the best play but if I don't donkbet, I foresee either having to fold to bets later or losing at showdown.



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