A5s SB on 865r: Check-Call to River Block

Hero
A♣5♣
Position
SB vs BTN
Pot
Single-Raised Pot
Flop
5♠ 6♥ 8♠

We should check-call our bottom pair on the flop and look to check-fold or small-block the river once the board becomes extremely coordinated.

Flop Analysis

Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.

Flop Analysis

Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.

Turn Analysis

Checking is correct here. While the 7s gives us an open-ended straight draw, it also completes flushes and many straights that BTN will have.

River Analysis

Leading the river is a mistake. Our two pair is now very low in our range given the straight and flush possibilities, and checking is the higher EV play. **Ranges:** Our range is capped here since we didn't bet the turn; Villain has all the flushes and straights like 9x or 4x. By betting, we only get called by hands that beat us and fold out their bluffs. **Board:** The board is incredibly connected with a flush and straight possible, plus the 8d pairs the top card. This makes our two pair (5s and 8s) essentially a bluff-catcher. **Math:** We are betting 50% pot into a range that has a massive nut advantage. We lose to any 9, any 4, any flush, and any 8, leaving us with only 24% equity against a calling range. --- > **Takeaway:** On highly coordinated boards where the nuts have changed multiple times, marginal made hands should check to bluff-catch rather than bet for value.

Note: Leading the river into an uncapped range on a board with flushes and straights is too thin; checking allows us to realize our showdown value or fold to large bets.

Key Concepts

  • 6.3
  • Neutral Range
  • OOP
  • Wet Board
  • LEAN TOWARD CHECK