I think the flop is a pretty clear check call.
However, since you posed the question:
Quote:
Does checking after you check raise ever make sense or is it an all around bad play?
Yes it makes sense theoretically and sometimes it can even be a good exploitive strike.
Theoretically speaking, you shouldn't bet 100% of your check raise range on the next street for a few reasons:
* bad cards can fall that hurt the bottom of your value range. If you should check some of your value range, then it would follow that you can't bluff as much on the next street.
* flop bluffing frequency should be higher than turn bluffing frequency because of the extra street, which allows you to threaten more of your opponent's stack on the flop compared to the turn.
exploitively speaking, you can get extra expected value by checking in a few ways:
* with a weak draw you might semibluff the flop with a check raise, but choose to check and hope that your opponent is scared of your flop check raise.
* with a monster vs an opponent that has the awful habit of betting when checked to, check raising twice in a row can get big value.
* with a strong draw vs an opponent that will value bet too thin and fold a lot to your check raises, you might check raise twice in a row.
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However, note that a check raise typically represents big strength. Anytime you do it without a monster or a very strong draw, your opponents might notice. Think about how this might affect future hands vs thinking opponents.