Flop Analysis
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
We should check-call our overpair to protect our range and catch bluffs, rather than raising into a range that only continues with better.
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
Calling is the most profitable line. We have a strong overpair that beats HJ's bluffs like AK/AQ and value-bets like JJ/TT.
Checking is correct. The 5h is a dynamic card that completes some straights (64s), so we must remain cautious.
We must continue calling. HJ is polarized and our overpair is too high in our range to fold to a 75% pot bet.
Checking is mandatory. We are playing a bluff-catching strategy and want to give HJ the opportunity to fire their missed draws.
Facing a pot-sized shove, our hand is a pure bluff-catcher. Raising is a significant error as we only get called by hands that beat us. **Ranges:** HJ is polarized between nutted hands like sets (88, 77) or straights (9Ts) and total air like missed spade draws (AsQs, KsQs). By raising, we fold out all the bluffs we were beating and isolate ourselves against the top of their range. **Math:** We need roughly 24% equity to call profitably. While our hand is a mix between calling and folding, raising is never the play because it turns a hand with showdown value into a bluff that doesn't target anything better to fold. **Blockers:** We hold the Qc and Qd, which are neutral. We don't block the missed spade draws, which is good for calling, but we also don't block any of the value range HJ is shoving for protection. --- > **Takeaway:** When your hand functions as a bluff-catcher on the river, do not raise; you either call to realize your equity against bluffs or fold if the price is too high.
Note: Raising the river shove is a major mistake; we turn a bluff-catcher into a bluff, folding out everything we beat and only getting called by better.