Should I have bet three streets with KQ after making top pair?
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 10
Hello, this is my first post on 2+2. I have a question about a live hand I played recently. The stakes were $1/$2. Here is the hand. I was pretty deep-stacked at this point, playing with at least 200BBs.
Hero is UTG (6-handed) with KQo. Hero raises to $10. HJ folds. Cutoff calls. Button folds. Small Blind calls. Big Blind folds.
Flop ($27 after rake)
Q-9-5 rainbow
Small Blind checks. Hero bets $12. Two calls.
Turn ($61 after rake)
6s, putting a flush draw on the board
Small Blind checks. Hero bets $20. Cutoff calls. Small Blind folds.
River ($101)
3
Hero bet $20. Cutoff raises to $60. Hero calls. Cutoff shows JT, and Hero wins.
I think that calling the raise was correct, but if anyone disagrees, please let me know. My main question is whether I should have checked the river. I am relatively new to poker, and I am trying to learn about which hands are worth betting for three streets. Should I have slowed down at all here with top pair and second kicker, or did I play it correctly?
Thanks in advance!
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 98
I like your line. I think the turn not changing much and bringing a flush draw you could bet more, around 1/2 pot and get called by the same.
I can see why you would check this river. All the draws bricked out (except for 87 that already got there) and it gives them a chance to turned their missed draws into bluffs. However since your 1/5 pot bet has baited them to bluff anyway I'd make a note and you could maybe get a cheap bluff through against this player later.
Also just so you know in this No Limit Hold'em Strategy section there is one for Live Low-stakes NL. You should also post there. They have a more active thread.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 598
Welcome to 2+2. I think betting all 3 streets is fine in this case. There are plenty of worse hands he can be calling with. There is not going to be any for sure answer to this question because there are so many variables. With "just" top pair, you generally want to exercise some kind of pot control. This can be done by checking one of the street or by betting a little less. Pot control is easier to achieve when you are in position. I think you played it fine. tp/2d kicker is pretty strong on that board.
Magnum