Beginner Limit Hold'em Poker Forums

Villain is 38/9 over 133 hands. In blind battles with me he’s limped in the sb w/ A7o, then slow played checked the flop and x/r the turn on TAA flop and 2 turn. Also villain limped/called the small blind with JTo, then x/c x/c donk on AQT9T.

I realize b/f is not an option on the turn, but do you b/c or x/c the turn here?

Merge - $1/$2 (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: $64.58
UTG: $52.98
MP: $51.00
CO: $51.30
BTN: $249.22
Hero (SB): $70.50

Hero posts SB $0.50, BB posts BB $1.00

Pre Flop: (pot: $1.50) Hero has Q K

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $2.00, Hero raises to $3.00, fold, BTN calls $1.00

Flop: ($7.00, 2 players) 2 J 9
Hero bets $1.00, BTN calls $1.00

Turn: ($9.00, 2 players) 4
Hero?

Some things I would consider in this spot.

If villain appears SD-bound (something like 40%+ WTSD,) I would Ch/C this turn and Ch/F the river unimproved. We aren't folding out any better hands with a bet at that point. (Yes, I know its a small sample but it has some significance at this point.) We also foil all his slow plays.

If villain is the type to just call down with TP postflop, I would just go ahead and bet the turn. In this case he won't punish us enough (he'll still have monsters on the turn, but that will be rare) and we're happy to fold (or charge) a hand like T8.

I prefer check-call because I don't think we gain much folding equity on this turn card vs hands like A6o, A7o, A8o, and he's shown that he's the type to wait until the turn. He can have T8, QT, etc., but there's a reasonable chance he bets some of those on the turn and gives up once you call again. If he were more aggressive I'd even consider just check-calling twice.

Rob