Hero (1050): Active, aggressive image.
Villain (1200): Strong, disciplined reg. Plays balanced but capable of pressure in multiway spots.
Blinds: 5-10
Preflop (Hero in BB):
UTG opens to 30, three callers, Hero calls with J5s in the BB.
Defending J5s here is borderline, but in a multiway pot with decent implied odds and a suited hand, it feels justifiable. Hitting two pair or a flush draw could set up a big pot.
Flop (150):
AhJd5h
Hero checks, UTG checks, all check.
Flopping two pair multiway on an A-high board is always amazing
With so many players in the hand, I opted to check, expecting someone to bet their Ax or flush draws. Surprisingly, the flop checks through.
This makes UTG's range look like either marginal Ax or hands like QQ/KK that didn’t want to bet into the field. The other players could have a mix of draws, weak Ax, or whiffed hands.
Turn (150):
Kc
Hero leads 65, UTG folds, Villain raises to 300, action folds back to Hero.
The King changes the board texture significantly:
It connects well with many hands in the field, especially Q10 for a straight or Kx that improves.
It also puts two broadways out, making Ax hands weaker.
Leading here felt natural. I’m targeting weaker Ax, flush draws, and potentially some sticky Kx. When the strong reg raises, though, alarm bells start ringing:
Would he raise here with just a flush draw or marginal Ax? Unlikely, given his profile.
His raise polarizes him to straights (Q10), sets, or a creatively slow-played AK/AJ.
Bluff raises in multiway pots are rare for strong players.
Folding two pair against such a range-heavy line seems painful but correct.
Thoughts?
Should I have bet the turn at all, or was this spot a better candidate for pot control? Is folding too nitty against a good player, or is it standard given the strength of their range here?