Flop Analysis
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Top pair on coordinated boards needs a small sizing to extract value without isolating against straights and sets.
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
Easy check-call with top pair and the nut backdoor flush draw facing a half-pot c-bet.
Checking the turn is standard after defending the flop, letting the preflop aggressor decide whether to barrel the blank.
While top pair is ahead of BTN's checking range, our sizing is far too large. A block bet of roughly 35% pot (11.6BB) is optimal here to get called by worse holdings. **Sizing:** Sizing up to 75% pot over-polarizes a one-pair holding that only wants thin value. A small 35% bet allows weak Ax, pocket pairs like KK-JJ, and Tx to comfortably call, whereas three-quarters pot forces those worse hands to fold. **Ranges:** BTN checked back the turn, capping much of their range, but the 9 on the river completes gutshots like QJ. Firing 75% pot isolates our hand against straights, sets, and two-pair combos while folding out the bluff-catchers we beat. --- > **Takeaway:** When targeting thin value with one pair on coordinated runouts, size small to keep villain's dominated underpairs and weak pairs in the pot.
Note: Sizing up to 75% pot turns a thin value hand into an overplay, folding out dominated pocket pairs and isolating against better.
Facing a river raise after we chose a large sizing, top pair becomes a pure fold. **Ranges:** BTN's turn check followed by a river raise heavily represents nutty hands like QJ straights and sets that trapped or improved on the river. Because we bet large, BTN has virtually zero incentive to turn missed broadways or middle pairs into bluffs. **Math:** Getting 4:1 pot odds, we need 20.1% equity to continue. However, top pair with a queen kicker blocks none of BTN's value raises while losing to every hand that raises for value. --- > **Takeaway:** When facing a river raise after sizing large, fold one-pair bluff-catchers unless villain has an obvious abundance of natural bluffs.
Note: Calling a river raise with top pair on a four-to-a-straight runout loses EV against a range heavily weighted toward straights and sets.