This was kind of a "button steal turned decent hand".

I seem to always be confused about river decisions. So I usually just check behind by default, which may be costing me value.


Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.20 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball - 5 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

UTG posts a big blind (1 SB)

Pre Draw: (2.5 SB) Hero is CO with K T 7 4 3
UTG checks, Hero raises, BTN folds, SB folds, BB calls, UTG folds

First Draw: (5.5 SB) (2 players)
BB draws 2, Hero draws 2
Hand: 9 8 7 4 3
BB checks, Hero checks

Second Draw: (2.75 BB) (2 players)
BB draws 1, Hero draws 1
Hand: 8 7 4 3 2
BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls

Third Draw: (6.75 BB) (2 players)
BB draws 1, Hero stands pat
Hand: 8 7 4 3 2
BB checks, Hero checks

bet on the flop and bet on the river. you can probably pat on the flop too, but i usually draw.

IMO, im definitely betting the river being that villain just flatted your raise on the turn, drew 1 then checked. if villain was competent enough for a c/r river then a check behind might be OK.

pre is too loose IMO but 743 is ok on the button

yeah you improved your hand on the flop so you should bet instead of giving free cards the times he still is drawing 2 going into the 2nd draw

you should bet (what i afaik is) #10 on the river when checked to HU!

Definitely bet flop. You improved and you have position.

I would actually pat the flop (after betting), rather than discarding the 9. Your hand is rough already as it is, the best you can improve to is 87432 which isn't THAT much better than a 987. Patting also adds fold equity to your inevitable turn bet.

Turn raise is definitely good.

The river is close. It's good that you find this a confusing river, because I think this decision is on the edge. Most of the time I would bet 87432 on the river for value, since any weaker 87 is calling and sometimes even worse (there are many more of these hands than 86's and better). But here checking back is reasonable, because villain bet the turn and broke to your raise. That usually means he was pat but broke to some kind of smooth draw, so he's probably drawing smoother than your 87.

Always think about what your villain is drawing to. Here's a sample hand: after 1-1 on the turn, you're OOP and pick up an 86432. You bet, villain raises, you 3bet, he calls, thinks, and breaks after you pat. You should CHECK the river. Even though your 86 perfect is a very strong hand, he's drawing to 7xx2 a huge percentage of the time, so betting would just be hurting yourself.

there is a HUGE difference between 87432 and any 987. i mean, its chalk and cheese

Not betting #10 at the end here sucks. Especially when its a 1/pat situation

Bet and always pat the flop if he draws 2; player dependent if he draws 1.

Realistically you aren't really snowing much but opponents won't care and crying call with worse 87s and 9s enough on the river here.

Villain obviously broke something here and is likely drawing to beat #10. Against a good player it's not an automatic bet.

I really don't get this mentality. If the guy has a 7 draw you only lose when he makes a 7. If he makes the 87 you get paid.

The guy is gonna make his 87 or even 97, look at the pot size and call and pray.

IMO few players are good enough to only put money in when they make the 7 in that spot and C/F when they make anything worse.

With this pot size, the kind of player that is good enough to do that may not even call the turn raise. They may think they are drawing to 3 or 4 outs because they strongly read their opponent has a 7 and fold because of poor pot odds.

I'm trying to think of a hand Villain can have to bet/call break where bet/fold wouldn't be the better option given the relatively small potsize.

I have a hard time believing anyone at 10c/20c is going for some fancy river c/R play here.

If Hero bets his entire range on the river (I would guess #10 is one of the weaker hands he raises the turn with) an observant opponent should checkraise. I am not sure how many of them you find at .10/.20