The big 2.20 on pokerstars, ~300 left nearing a pay jump. Villain is TAG. I am wondering if I can ever just call the river bet? My thinking was that on such a board there are so many worse hands to get value from it doesn't make sense to ever call.

Any advice on how to play the hand better would be appreciated, perhaps I should raise the turn? Let me know what you think. Thank you.


PokerStars - 500/1000 Ante 75 NL - Holdem - 9 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 3.45 BB
UTG+1: 9.9 BB
MP: 18.44 BB
Hero (MP+1): 37.17 BB
MP+2: 17.54 BB
CO: 10.36 BB
BTN: 18.38 BB
SB: 16.22 BB
BB: 38.59 BB

9 players post ante of 0.08 BB, SB posts SB 0.5 BB, BB posts BB 1 BB

Pre Flop: (pot: 2.17 BB) Hero has 8 K

fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to 2 BB, fold, fold, fold, fold, BB calls 1 BB

Flop: (5.17 BB, 2 players) Q 9 J
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (5.17 BB, 2 players) 5
BB bets 2.59 BB, Hero calls 2.59 BB

River: (10.35 BB, 2 players) K
BB bets 5.18 BB, Hero raises to 16.77 BB, BB raises to 33.93 BB and is all-in, Hero calls 15.74 BB and is all-in

I think you played it just fine. Hard to fold to the river 3bet cos theoretically he could have the lone ace of hearts.

Your hand is a bit loose open pre, however if you know the players behind are tight then it is ok to open. Otherwise, you maybe better to fold.

Flop, I do not like your flop check back. You have a combo draw with a lot of equity. I will start betting the flop big e.g. 66%+ c bet. With the idea to barrel almost any turn.

Your slowplaying on the turn, I do not really mind. We can do with with A and K high flushes but with the lower ones I would argue for a raise. Maybe you can argue for a raise anyway to build up the pot. I think raise is maybe better.

I would be raise calling this river for value. If villain got me then he got me. We are relatively short stack so we should be willing to go broke. If you were deep then maybe fold vs the 3bet.
Your flush is disguised due to your flop check back so there is a chance that villain do not think you have and is playing aggressively a straight. Of course villain can have two pairs or a set that turned into a boat on the river. But as played from you, I would be calling the river 3 bet.

Yeah dude you should call with the 2nd nuts in case they have the nuts.