Mid Stakes Shorthanded NL Poker Forums

Full Tilt Poker $1.00/$2.00 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $1123.55
UTG: $200.00
MP: $245.45
CO: $211.95
BTN: $199.00
Hero (SB): $641.65

Pre Flop: Hero is SB with 8 7
1 fold, MP raises to $7, CO calls $7, 1 fold, Hero calls $6, BB calls $5

Flop: ($28.00) T 5 9 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $22, MP calls $22, CO folds, Hero calls $22

Turn: ($94.00) 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $36, BB raises to $144, MP folds, Hero calls $108

River: ($382.00) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $245, BB calls $245

Final Pot: $872.00
BB mucks 5h 9d
Hero shows 8d 7d (a straight, Ten high)
Hero wins $869.00
(Rake: $3.00)

Villain is a stone cold idiot. He was playing any 2 cards, with sporadic and nonsensical aggression. I decide to make a small bet on the turn, my thinking is that he calls my small bet more often than he raises my small bet, or bets pot when I check to him. Is this a good spot to apply a defensive bet? On the river, should I shove? The pot was so big, I really didn't want him to fold out a bad 2 pair, which is what I felt like he had, so I bet an amount I thought would definitely get called. I can't exactly be sure that he'd be there for me if I shoved.

I probably wouldn't lead into him here on the turn, would just c/c again probably. Your draw is pretty big, but that doesn't mean you want the pot to be huge before you get there. Once you do lead and he raises, obv just call it and valuetown the river like you did.