Flop Analysis
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
While top pair is usually a call, we must defend against small river stabs when our range is uncapped and the price is excellent.
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
Facing a small 36% pot bet, we have a mandatory call. Our top pair is well ahead of CO's wide c-betting range, which includes many spade draws and gutshots.
Checking is correct. The turn is a total brick, and since we aren't the aggressor, we should continue to let CO decide if they want to barrel their bluffs or check back marginal hands.
After the turn goes check-check, we should actually lead out for a small value bet. CO has many marginal hands like 8x or pocket pairs that will check back but might call a small sizing. **Ranges:** Our range is uncapped here because we would check-call the flop with all our strongest hands. CO's turn check caps them, making it unlikely they hold many flushes or slow-played monsters. **Sizing:** A small 33% pot bet targets hands like 99-JJ or A8s. If we check, we risk CO checking back their marginal showdown value, losing out on a street of thin value. --- > **Takeaway:** When the preflop aggressor checks back a brick turn, look to lead the river for thin value with your top pairs.
Folding here is a significant mistake. We are getting over 4:1 on a call with top pair against a range that is heavily weighted toward missed draws and capped marginal hands. **Math:** We only need ~20% equity to break even. Given the turn went check-check, CO's range is filled with hands like AJ, KJ, or missed gutshots like JT that might try to steal the pot with a small stab. **Blockers:** We don't hold any spades, which is actually good for calling as it leaves all of CO's missed spade draws (like As9s or KsJs) available for them to bluff with. **Board:** While the 6s completes some straights and the flush, the line taken by CO (checking the turn) makes those hands much less likely. Most players would continue barreling their draws on the turn to maximize fold equity. --- > **Takeaway:** Don't let a scary river card force a fold when you have a top-tier bluff-catcher and the pot odds are excellent.
Note: Folding top pair for a small bet after the turn went check-check is too tight; you are beating many bluffs and thin value stabs.