Preflop:
Player A raises UTG+1 in 9 handed live game with 99.
Player B 3 bets in HJ with AA.
Bad player cold calls from SB.
Big Blind folds.
Player A calls.

Flop: KK3 rainbow
Checks to player B who bets, SB calls, player A calls.

Turn: Queen that puts up a flush draw.
All 3 players check

River: 3x
SB checks, Player A bets, Player B calls, SB folds.

I am interested in hearing thoughts on the play of both player A and player B. Both players play fairly well generally and probably make good money in the game. I thought both were interesting lines. If you dislike the lines, please let me know what line(s) you would prefer.

Thanks.

A tight PF range for B is 99+ AQ+. On the river, possible A is trying to finesse his 99 (get B to fold TT/JJ since SB is behind, then get SB to call worse).

B's turn check is defendable. If he leads, A could fold JJ-. Checking keeps A's payoff range wider. The only worse hand that would payoff 2 bets is AQ; but if it checks around, A may bet out AQ. B's turn check also defends against QQ or slowplayed Kx.

The presence of the bad player in the small blind makes me wanna bet the turn with AA. Player A could also call the turn with AJ or ATs.

99 can prob check fold river, somewhat Villian dependent

Player A: I agree with the above. I bet the turn with AA.

Player B: The river bet is for value? I don't like that either. He may be targeting ace highs from A, but again, with the third player in, I would check and hope for a check through.

A and B seem to have played this hand as though they were headsup.

It is not defensible.

I might actually bet it.

Betting is a lot better than calling. B or c/f is pretty vilain dependent imo

I think you can sometimes get away with check/raising river here if you think Player B is capable of folding TT-JJ once he bets and you have a normal ABC image. Seems like most good players should bet this turn with AA unless you have a read on opponents.

If you bet river, you are either already good and they fold or you get called and you lose.

As Player A, I think it's close between betting the river and usually check/folding. Maybe check/call if sb folds and Player B would turn AJs, ATs, or A9s into bluffs, since these probably make up close enough to 11% of his range and Player A is getting 7.5 to 1.

As Player B, I don't mind creating a polarized situation on the river. It all depends on what kind of bad the sb is. If it's an easy bet/fold to a sb check/raise, then I'd bet turn as Player B. If he's the type you have to pay off, or even if I'm unsure, I'd probably check back too. There are two players who called a very dry flop and Player B is laying 3 bets to win either 0, 1, 2, and almost never 3 more. Free cards are not that big of a deal unless someone peeled the flop with JT or AXss, and other than exactly AQ or maybe QJs, I'm having a hard time coming up with hands that Player A could call the flop with and also calls both turn and river. I suppose sb could call twice with anything, but like I said it depends on what type of bad he is imo.

Even if Player B has TT-JJ, the whole point of the turn check is to avoid risking 3 bets. Having done that, why would he ever fold after value betting river?

Although I don't see Player B ever folding a better hand after having checked the turn, he could call with worse pocket pairs or even AJs. sb could call with worse also.

This sure seems defensible to me. I think Phunk and Lestat present some pretty good arguments.

If you are UTG+1 what hands do you check/call flop with? How lightly are you peeling? How many of those are you calling a river bet with?

Without specific reads that these guys are peeling light and calling down light, I think checking turn is defensible.

fyp

i thought we established with DD's last thread that the whole "player A" "player B" thing is confusing and unnecessary. using the player's position is much easier to follow imo.

Fair enough, but this thread was published before that thread.

whoa! i didn't even notice that. thought it was brand new. sorry.

I think bb played it fine if of course he would fold river to a raise .

First off, imo a lot more chances a K is out there 3way compared to HU, so imo hj play has some merits .
Btw , yeah there is a bad players in the hand and bad playrs love to wait the turn to c/r trips...

For hj i think it comes down to this:
AA is worth probably 2 BB of value but not 3 imo.
If hj can fold to a raise i think it is the best play but if hj cannot find the will to fold ( and he can be right because it is a big pot and he is scared to fold to a bluff) and than his stuck to bet/cal down then i like his play for couple of reason.

I think hj hand is really close to a be a wa/wb spot .
when wer are in such a situation , If we bet and get raised we are probably behind and with hands with only 2 outs i much rather check the turn and call river ( or bet/call river ) not going in the 3BB value.

Moreover having a strong bet/call range on river is good for protecting our range when we thin value which would certainly be weak and almost non existant if we bet AA on the turn Imo.

True tho i did not do the math so it is all about the feel, once the number are crunch it might be different .

Ps: hu i would definately bet/call diwn from turn.