Flop Analysis
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
With bottom pair and showdown value on a coordinated runout, check back the river and avoid calling check-raises.
Auto-played to reach this drill spot — you didn't act here, so it isn't scored.
When the turn brings the queen and a flush draw completes, checking back again is mandatory to realize our showdown value safely.
Checking back is the correct play — bottom pair has decent showdown value against missed draws, but cannot bet for value. **Ranges:** Big Blind's range contains missed draws, weak pairs, and occasional slowplays. A bet isolates us against hands that beat us (any seven, eight, queen, straight, or flush) while folding out hands we already beat like unpaired floats. **Plan:** When the action goes check-check on flop and turn, take the free showdown with marginal holdings rather than reopening the action. --- > **Takeaway:** Never turn marginal showdown value into a thin value bet when worse hands will simply fold.
Note: Betting bottom pair turns showdown value into a bet that only gets called or raised by better hands; check back instead.
Folding is clear here despite the tempting price. River check-raises are overwhelmingly value-heavy, and bottom pair cannot realistically beat any intended value range. **Math:** Getting 4.2:1 pot odds requires only 19.2% equity to break even. However, our pair of sixes is purely a bluff-catcher that beats only total air bluffs. **Ranges:** Big Blind's check-raise represents completed straights like 9T or 59, flushes, or slowplayed trips. Even with a min-raise sizing, population under-bluffs check-raises on draw-heavy river runouts. --- > **Takeaway:** Do not pay off river check-raises with bottom pair just because the immediate price looks cheap.
Note: Calling a river check-raise with bottom pair is -EV; opponents are rarely bluffing when raising this completed runout.