NL Holdem $20(BB)
($1,500)
Hero ($1,500)

Dealt to Hero 5 A

Hero raises to $40, Villain raises to $100, Hero calls $60

FLOP ($200) K T A

Villain checks, Hero bets $100, Villain calls $100

TURN ($400) K T A J

Villain bets $1,300 (AI)

So there's a chance that I just look ******ed posting this hand, but I have this dumb habit of always thinking villain is bluffing (especially with massive overbets). I folded here (because I didn't want to embarrass myself), but I felt weak doing so. What is a sensible way to think about spots like this? Either he wants me to fold, or he's levelling me. The trick is trying to determine what the probabilities are for each.

Preflop play could be criticized also, I guess. A5 gets dominated a lot, but since this is HU and we have position I'm not folding to a 2.5x 3bet.

Fold pre. As played fold ott.

Don't attribute to levelling that which can be attributed to spazzing out of control.

I'm going to guess that villain had KK+,AQ+, 3bet and hit 2pair plus, checked to trap, then got scared on the turn card and shat the bed.

I mean, it might be a level or a bluff. But I think there's a much higher chance that it's just villain playing horrendously badly.


Also, folding isn't weak here. I think folding is overwhelmingly the correct play. Pre might also be a fold, but I don't know 75bb play that well. but on a broadway board in a 3bet pot, top pair weak kicker is a very mediocre strength hand. I think that checking behind the flop might even be the correct play here.

isnt that waay to nitty 75bb deep?

I would call preflop as you did at the stack depth.
His flop check, is surprising, I prefer checking on the flop for pot control.
On turn, folding looks by far the most + EV play, you wouldn't be pleased to call and see a Queen in his hand, he could have had A-Q, Queens. I suspect his massive over bet was designed to look weak in the hope of getting a hero call.

To answer the question, rarely call in that spot, only against someone you know can and does do this sort of over betting frequently and with air often.