The villain is a reg at 5nl zoom, if I remember correctly he is playing two tables. I have 75 hands on him but no notes, he's playing pretty tight and hasn't 3 bet yet.

18/12/0 AF 3.0

[converted_hand][hand_history]Poker Stars, $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite. View Hand #15228341

BTN: $8.97 (179.4 bb)
SB: $7.39 (147.8 bb)
BB: $4.38 (87.6 bb)
UTG: $5.42 (108.4 bb)
MP: $6.36 (127.2 bb)
Hero (CO): $12.60 (252 bb)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K K
UTG raises to $0.10, MP folds, Hero raises to $0.35, 3 folds, UTG calls $0.25

Flop: ($0.77) 9 A T (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.77) K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.55, UTG calls $0.55

River: ($1.87) Q (2 players)
UTG checks Hero???


Preflop I think is pretty standard, I actually made my 3bet slightly bigger than normal as I didn't think the 1BB would make a difference to his calling frequency.

He calls and the the dreaded A high flop appears, when he checks to me I think I could have bet but I don't feel it accomplishes much. I'll get called 100% of the time by and A as well as allow lots of weaker hands in his range to fold. Although checking behind allows heart draws a free card I'm not too worried, if a heart peels and he starts getting aggro I feel I can get away from it without investing too much. Is this line of thought okay or should I be betting this flop?

When I turn second set and he checks to me for a second time it's time to go for value. The thing that is troubling me on this street is I'm really unsure on his calling range. I think KQs/KJs/QQ/JJ all call a bet, but does he have hands like AJ/AQ/KTs in his calling range? Would these hands not have led the turn?

Either way I think there are enough worse hands to call a bet so I bet around 2/3 pot for value. He calls and the river comes a Q. He checks for a third time and I'm unsure whether a bet on the river is too thin? I think AQ/KT will call but as I said before I'm not even sure if these are in his range? :S

Also will KQ/QQ call? Any hand with a J is obviously raising but I am comfortable folding if he does raise as I don't think he'll be bluffing on the river.

Pre: I would make it $0.40

Flop: Definitely bet, 0.35-0.40 is fine. You want to charge for his draws. Most of the time you will take it down there as he has many non Ax hands in his range.

Turn: As played raise big, you have a set and it's $5nl

River: I think he calls here with enough two pair hands so go ahead a bet for value.

But why are we betting, value or a bluff? We're not likely to get called by worse, QQ might call once and heart+straight draws call, but they are very few of these in his range, KQhh maybe KJhh. So I don't really see the point in betting just to take it down, is this a good reason to bet? I thought we should always be betting for value or as a bluff. :S

^Your hand is kinda face up if you check back flop. As a general rule you should be betting Axx boards in 3bet pots near 100% of the time.

Pre: No problemo

Flop: Genuinely think checking back is a good option here because we can extract more value on later streets.

If you bet/fold the flop you take down a small pot or fold to a raise. If the turn is a brick and it gets checked to you again you'll extract value from JJ, QQ, other draws etc. Or if villain donks into you as long as it's not a scare card I would call the turn there and reevaluate on the river.

Turn: As the K drops betting is a no brainer, ton of value from a lot of worse hands.

River: Not the best card in the world! Really don't think a hand without a J is calling a bet here, especially as this villain seems on the tight side. Maybe QQ is the only hand you'll get a call with. Check it back and take it down.

I'd bet flop for value. And, as others have said already, your hand is face up when you check.

Bet turn bigger. I'd bet at least $0.65

Bet river. Tons of value to be had here. He'll call with 2 pair, worse sets etc. Besides, he doesn't have that many Jx in his range. He'd probably lead river with a J at least some of the time.

Yeah I suppose checking back the flop does scream KK/QQ, but I still think that I can get more value through checking back. Also I don't think the villain is likely to exploit the fact I'm making my hand easy to read.

If the river is a must bet surely it is a bet/fold right? Also how big would you be making a river bet?

I'd bet around $1.10 and fold to a raise.
Don't think he's turning 2 pair into a bluff. And it's pretty hard to not have at least 2 pair on this board.

raise bigger pre, flop im kind of indifferent about ck vs. b/f, but i think betting is slightly better. you get value, get more info, etc. turn is wp although you could even bet bigger, but i expect you to have the best hand here like always. river seems like a no-brainer value bet of 1.25 (and fold to shove). agree with TheWise that hes gonna be leading with a J pretty frequently and that you can get value from worse sets (which i dont think he has a lot here) and 2pairs. hes never bluff shoving in this spot either so its a pretty easy b/f