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This hand was at the Bellagio last week in a $1/$2NL game. My stack was around $185. Villain had me covered.

Folds to me with AK in MP. I open to $10. Only caller was a woman in her 50s or 60s. No real read as I just sat down at the table a few orbits ago and she was gone for most of that time.

Flop ($23) QT3. I bet $15. She calls.

Turn ($49 after rake) QT3 K. I bet $25. Villain raises to $65.

I tanked and eventually ended up folding because I just assumed that an older woman in a live game always has it when I get raised.

But then I started thinking, "I just turned TPTK into a bluff," and that just didn't seem right either. I was betting for value, since I think that I can still get called by hands like AQ, QJ, KJ. But if I am going to end up folding to a raise, should I have just tried getting to showdown?

I think in the end, I just need to get better at hand reading, but how do we decide when to bet/fold and when to just try to get to showdown? What line should i have taken?

I think the line you took was fine. On the turn you're definitely betting for value; and when she raises you're definitely finding out you're behind. (Again, based on the assumptions that a live player as you describe isn't bluffing this spot). So folding is right.

How would you go about "getting to showdown"? This would mean check-calling, which is extremely passive and exactly what the other live showdown monkeys would do.

With no info on the player, I also think C-betting the flop is fine, though when you know her better you might find this is the kind of flop you DON'T want to C-bet very often. (ie. you bet and she calls, you're way behind; you check and she bets, you also find out you're way behind, and haven't used any chips; or you check and she checks, and then you can C-bet the turn if a blank comes). But as I say, this is player specific. What I would say is, C-bet less. You can probably get away with a $10 C-bet here, and vs some opponents even something like $5.

Bet folding is key in beating live and 1/2 and 2/5 and should be done very frequently. You both protect your hand vs hands that have 5-8 outs and get value from worse hands when they do call. When you get raised(especially on this board), They usually have it.

Its tough to explain when to get to showdown, but for me its generally when the board is pretty dry and I really can't get called by any worse hands. That's not the case here because you did mention a lot of hands that she has that you either want to protect against or that can call you and that you have beat.

The line you took was fine. Villain has a turn calling range, and a turn raising range.

Baluga Theorem 100%.

Baluga Theorem 100%.

+1

What does SDV stand for?

Showdown Value

thx