Beginner Limit Hold'em Poker Forums

SB is a 34/26/47AqF and a plays generally pretty poorly. BTN is running at 41/13/27AqF and so far has seemed to be pretty straightforward loose passive.

I'd expect the SB to donk a J pretty often, but he can basically only have JJ here or QJs (9 combos). So if he c/raises even 20% of the time then there are still a few combos in his range.

So what's the best line here? I don't think the BTN bluffs that often, but I can't be sure in this big pot. I don't know how SD bound he is so I'm not sure if he can show up with 66 on a river call here or not. I also fear that the SB can no longer pay me off with AQ (which seems to be 100% of his non Jx range honestly).

Also folding to a raise is always a bit dicey against a relative unknown but I don't think I can b/c here.

Poker Stars $5/$10 Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 823188
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Pre Flop: (1.4 SB) Hero is UTG with A K
Hero raises, 1 fold, BTN calls, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero caps!, BTN calls, SB calls

Flop: (13 SB) K Q T (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, BTN calls, SB calls

Turn: (8 BB) T (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, BTN calls, SB calls

River: (11 BB) 9 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero ?
(Rake: $2.00)

If you cannot b/f then a bet still seems right. Few would be able to raise this river without better than TPTK on such a scary board vs a Pre flop capper. You have a hand, he has done nothing postflop to say you are not best. If he waited until the river to raise his flush he took a major chance a 4th heart would fall killing his action. If he has a Jack he would have to be very sure of no flush 3betting him. Or being 3bet by another Jack looking to push him off a chop?

Its such a scary board in other words I would expect few folds. But the pot is big enough that I WOULD expect him to call with hands as weak as ..?

well not sure about that one. There is little he could have right? AQ maybe or a smaller PP with a heart? But I still bet, thinking that the size of the pot makes the curiosity factor higher.

which

I'd bet the river personally just because the loose passive BTN can still make light calls even if few others would. If he calls and the SB raises I'd fold. If he folds and the SB raises there are arguments for all 3 but I'd probably not bluff 3bet if you say he's bad since he wont fold JX. I'd be slightly tempted to call because I don't believe anyone and he should only have Jx or a bust heart on the river, I don't think many generally bad players would turn Qx into a bluff on the river though it's better for us if he would.
I don't think a river check is bad though, it might be best.

I disagree with betting this river. We beat AQ and Chop w AK, maybe Button can also have like K9/Q9 that he pays us off with, but that is about it. I don't see getting paid off by 88-22. I just don't see the value in a bet 3-ways here.

I would check and probably Cry Call (maybe over call) because I think its possible the Btn will turn a small PP with a heart into a bluff. He may also value bet another AK.