Game is $2-$100 spread-limit; max you can bet at any point is $100. Blinds $1-$2. Hero starts hand with $400 which Villain covers.

Hero dealt KcJs in the Cutoff. MP player limps, I raise to $10. Button calls, both blinds call, limper calls. Okey dokey.

Flop: Kd9h5h ($50)

3 checks, I bet $40, only the SB (“Villain”) calls it.

Turn: Kh9h5s 7d. ($130 pot)
Villain checks, we check back.

River: Kh9h5s7d 2c ($130 pot)

Villain leads out for $100, the maximum bet allowable.

My initial thought is that I should call this when I don’t have a Heart in my hand. My second thought is that I should fold this whenever I *do* have a Queen, Jack, or Ten in my hand. (I would call instantly with As9s, for instance.) But with this, I’m like Natalie Imbruglia: torn.

What do we think?

Given your line (which is fine BTW; I might make certain variations based on villain tendencies but there is nothing wrong with your line in a vacuum) there is nothing you can do on the river but call.

I could fold against certain villains, e.g. someone who "never bets the river without the nuts or close to it" but absent reads it's fine to call.

I don't know why you would instantly call with As9s but be on the fence with KxJx.

Sucks but I'm calling without reads.

It has a decent chance of being a bluff given the way the hand has been played. You only beat a bluff really but I'm calling here.

UPDATE: we called on the River—the lack of diamonds in our hand winning out—and he flipped over 6c8s for the nut straight. Oh well!

This is not a mandatory call imo, mainly because of spread limit format and how that changes best strategies - especially for x-raises.

If it were NL its more of a standard showdown.

As played think tight fold is ok, but spot is close enough that I wouldn't worry about it too much - there will be so many better spots to study.

Calling is fine here but your logic is pretty messed up.

In general, blockers do not matter at LLSNL. There are exceptions but this is the general rule.

Blockers on the river only matter when you think your opponent is betting a range that is nearly balanced, and your blockers make a slight difference that tilts the call to being a close but clear +EV or -EV decision.

This fails at LLSNL where you should not assume your opponents are betting anywhere near a balanced range. If your opponent is value-heavy, and you block value, he’ll still be value-heavy. If your opponent is bluffing too much, and you block some bluffs, he’ll probably still be bluffing too much.

Blockers usually don’t matter.

EDIT: also aren’t you the guy who said you play with a bunch of super nits? That means this should probably be a fold unless you have evidence this guy can bluff. He shouldn’t ever be max betting worse for value.