Betting the River for Value

Are you ever in a quandary at the river when you think you may have the best hand but are unsure about betting? We have all heard the dictum, "Bet only if a worse hand will call or a better hand will fold." As is the case with many poker decisions, deciding whether or not to bet is a function of your hand holding, the texture of the board, and the betting action, among other things. The next few hold'em hands taken from live play illustrate some important considerations in deciding whether or not to bet the river.

Hand No. 1 ($10-$20 game): I posted this hand on an Internet forum and it generated a big thread and lengthy debate. You are in middle position with the Q 10. Two early-position players limp in. You limp in. The player behind you limps, and the next player raises. Everyone folds to the first limper, who calls, as does everyone afterward. There is $115 in the pot and five players.

The flop is 9 7 3. Everyone checks.

The turn is the 2. Everyone checks.

The river is the 10. Both early limpers check. Should you bet or check?

Answer: This situation comes up often, and is highly instructive. This is a classic case of a worse hand not calling but a better hand always calling. After the turn, nobody had anything, not even top or middle pair. But you do have four opponents taking the flop and getting free boardcards. If a 10 helped anyone, it probably helped someone else more than you. It could easily give someone a straight, two pair, or even a pair with a better kicker than yours. If it did not help anyone, no one will call if you bet. Adding to your woes is the possibility of getting raised by one of the two opponents yet to act. On the Internet, some posters argued that you will get calls from ace-high type hands. But if you are one of the players yet to act, would you call a bet with no pair and players behind you? Probably not. Furthermore, your check might induce a bluff bet from one of the two players behind you, which you can call. In my opinion, checking here is the best play, even though you may well have the best hand.

Hand No. 2 ($20-$40 game): You are in the cutoff position with the J J. An early-position player and a middle-position player limp. You raise. The big blind and both limpers call. There is $170 in the pot and four players.

The flop is 8 2 2. The big blind checks. The early-position limper bets. The middle-position limper folds. You raise with your overpair. Only the bettor calls. There is $250 in the pot and two players.

The turn is the 5. Your opponent checks. You bet, and he calls. There is $330 in the pot.

The river is the 3. Your opponent checks. Should you bet or check?

Answer: I think you should bet. You have a solid hand for betting, your opponent has done nothing but respond to your play, and there is little likelihood that the river card helped him, especially given his river check. There are many worse hands that will call, like top-pair type hands or even smaller overpairs. Keep milking the cow.

Hand No. 3 ($10-$20 game): You are in the big blind with the A 8. Two early-position players and two middle-position players limp. Everyone else folds, so you take a free play. There is $55 in the pot and five players.

The flop is A Q 8. You check your two pair, confident that one of your four opponents will bet, allowing you to check-raise. Both early-position players and the first middle-position player check. The second middle-position player bets. You raise. An early-position player calls and the other players fold, including the original bettor. There is $105 in the pot and two players.

The turn is the 9. You bet and your opponent calls. There is $145 in the pot.

The river is the 9. Should you bet or check?

Answer: The running pair of nines has overcoated your second pair. If your opponent has an ace, the best you can do is tie. You also can lose to trip nines or a straight. I think you should check and call if he bets.

Hand No. 4 ($10-$20 game): You are in early position with the Q Q. Two players limp in ahead of you. You raise. Two middle-position players and the two early-position players call. There is $115 in the pot and five players.

The flop is Q 9 5. Both early-position limpers check. You bet your top set with a two-flush on the table, and only the two middle-position players call. There is $145 in the pot and three players.

The turn is the 7.

You bet despite the flush possibility. No one may have a flush and you have 10 outs to beat a flush. The next player raises and the third player folds. You call. There is $225 in the pot and two players.

The river is the Q. Should you bet or check?

Answer: I think you should check, planning to check-raise. At this point, you have represented an overpair, like A-A or K-K, or maybe A-Q. Your opponent probably has a flush and will most likely bet if you check. But if you bet, he may get cold feet with the board pairing and just call.

Hand No. 5 ($20-$40 game): You are in the big blind with the A K . An early-position player and a middle-position player limp. A second middle-position player raises and the third middle-position player calls. The player in the cutoff position calls. The button and small blind fold. You call, as do the other players. There is $250 in the pot and six players.

The flop is 7 4 4. It is checked to the preflop raiser, who bets. The other two players fold. For $20, you call with your two big overcards, backdoor nut-flush draw, and $270 in the pot. The other two players fold. There is $290 in the pot and two players.

The turn is the 8. You check your flush draw. Your opponent checks.

The river is the 4. Should you bet or check?

Answer: I think you should check. He will call you if he has you beat or tied, and most likely fold if he doesn't. The only hand that might pay you off is A-Q. Of course, you will call if your opponent bets.