hey all, say it's one of the first hands of the match, no reads etc, and you raise a pair eg JJ on the button. opp call and flop comes K96r (or something like that with one overcard). how many barrels do you fire? just the one? 2? or would anyone check it?

I'd cbet, but would hesitate to on the turn (say in this example the turn is a 2). Just seems to me if we dont bet the turn its too easy for the opp to steal the pot, but we dont want to spew off chips to his K.

so would you cbet the turn? how would u play it?

Thanks.

I used to have the same kind of "fear" (and still have it sometimes), but, trust me, it doesn't happen as often as you think. In a board this dry on the flop, only a few opponents would float or turn their worse hands into a bluff on the river.

Therefore, I believe the best line (without reads) would be to cbh on turn and evaluate on river: value bet if he checks and probably fold if he leads (and obviously adapt this line according to the reads you have).

Early in the match, I would probably try to play a small pot and not barrel him too much without knowing his tendencies. Try to get a showdown and see how he played the hand.

On a board like this, I will usually double barrel for thin value readless, and check back the river. It's usually easier for a 9 or 6 to call the turn then call the river when an extra scare card falls. Can also save you some money occasionally when villain rivers a better hand and checks to you, you check back and get off free.

I can change my line once I get reads, but default is to value bet as often as possible from the go.

i like this. and yeah it rocks when they expect action from you on the river and you f up their slowplay by checking.

FYP, I was really confused at that

Yes, readless (this is important) I'd go for 2 streets of value if the turn is a brick. If they c/c'ed on flop and turn, they will most likely check the river to you and you can check it back unless you hit a J on the river, etc. On the other hand, if you bet the flop and check back the turn, some opponent might interpret this as weakness and stab on the river, "putting you in a test" when you're readless. The pot will be about the same size in both cases, but in the latter you are the one who is facing a tough decision.

But if I manage to gain any reads on him, I will adjust accordingly. One obvious example would be to check back turn and bluff catch on the river if I know this player likes to go for a thin value with 9x or even 6x. Or, if I know that he's a station that falls in love w/ any pair on the board, I would sometimes go for 3 streets of value, although this might sound a bit weird.

yeah definitly cbet. on most turns, i guess that betting and checking back to induce is really not gonna make that much of a difference long term. kinda boils down to buyinlvl and timing i guess.

I cbet flop and turn then check river most often but also like cbet flop check turn to induce a bet on river but this play is more board/player dependent so the first is prob better readless.

yeah def cbet and fire most turns, bet folding scary turn cards is also okay. think you're missing out on too much value by checking flop and turn vs lower pairs and draws.

Against an unknown I'd bet bet/fold bet/fold

I tripple barrel for thin value.