8 handed table in the early middle stages of a single day tournament.

villain seems like a decent/casual reg, I have a feeling he bluffs too often

the previous week I got bluffed out of several pots, making me feel like I might be folding too much (but villain has no knowledge of this)

I was the big stack at the table, average was around 30k, I had 40k, villain should know that I'm a decent tight player, since we've played together several times.


blinds: 400/800 + BTN ante 800

villain: 30.000
hero: 40.000


folds to villain in HJ, villain raises to 1600
folds to hero in BB, hero calls 800 with J9

Flop (4400) : A94
hero bets 2500
villain calls

Turn (9400) : 8
hero checks
villain checks

River (8400) : 4
hero checks
villain bets 4000
hero ?

What's your donkbet range ? Do you lead air ? Ax ? I mean OK he might raise/fold some airs sometimes, maybe, not that likely because he knows if you lead a FD you're 3-betting that, and I have no idea what kind of donking range would be reasonable and balanced and if he just folds his airs on the flop it's pretty bad. And you're weakening your checking range, etc...

Fold river imo because you block missed FD and he should take K high to showdown.

I dont like the donk bet. I would be checking most hands with this much equity. Are you trying to realize your equity or get him to fold? There are a ridiculous amount of Ax combos and pairs (KK-TT,88-55) that arent folding often on the flop. Now you have built a 9400 pot with his effective stack around 25k. If you are going with the donk bet, I think you should be leading most turns that dont improve your hand for about 5500-6000.

As played, this is pretty much 100% a river fold and i consider your turn check as just giving up. You beat essentially nothing but a pure bluff.

+1 re donk river bet. Well your only option otr is to raise or fold. If you're raising you can easily rep a four but your range is polarized. The question is will villain fold if you raise? I think vs a reg our chances are good ...

What do you guys think of this game plan:

Check call flop
Lead turn if it’s 9, 4, or diamond, otherwise check call planning to lead-bomb river if 9, 4, or diamond comes.

The reasoning here is that these cards favor hero range. Hell you could even bomb it on a J, T, 8, or 7. Thoughts?