Hand 1) I'm in LP with
![The Eight of Spades [8s]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/8s.gif)
![The Four of Clubs [4c]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/4c.gif)
Button is straightforward, not too imaginative, and has $70 in his stack. I have him covered.
We check to the button, who bets pot. Limper folds, I call. Even though I have a huge draw, I don't want to raise: first, my opponent will fold a wide range of hands to a raise here, and I want to get his stack when the non-obvious draws hit. Second, if he does have a good hand he'll reraise and I won't be able to get away cheaply if the turn pairs the board.
Turn:
![The Six of Spades [6s]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/6s.gif)
This didn't help anyone. I think about betting out here, but decide to check. Opponent bets $30 into the $40 pot. He doesn't have a set, and is probably betting a two-pair type of hand. I call.
River:
![The Five of Hearts [5h]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/5h.gif)
I have no chance of winning a showdown, and put him in for $20. The pot is $105. Opponent thinks for a while and folds showing KKxx.
My play on each street is debatable, but on the river there is only one move, especially against an opponent who does not think in terms of being ahead a certain percentage of times. I played like I had a draw all along, and he should have figured that I'd try to shoot my way out.
Hand 2) I have AJT3 on the button, and limp after 3 other limpers.
Flop comes
![The Queen of Spades [Qs]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/Qs.gif)
First limper bets $2, I am the only caller. I didn't raise here since I knew he was a calling station who wouldn't fold any draw, so I better wait for a safe turn card.
Turn:
![The Four of Clubs [4c]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/4c.gif)
River:
![The Six of Clubs [6c]](https://www.pofex.com/images/smilies/6c.gif)
Conclusion from 1): don't give up on the river if you get good odds to try a steal. Try to have some money left on the river in case you miss your draw instead of raising allin on the turn. This is the corollary to the "save the last bet"-doctrine: not only can you save your bet in case the river pairs the board, but you can also use it to steal the pot when a scare card hits. Conversely, if your opponent has been drawing and all of a sudden bets the river, call if you get good odds and if you have anything at all.
Conclusion from 2): if your opponent makes an incomprehensible move on the river and is normally straightforward, call liberally. It will also prevent opponents from bluffing you on future rivers, since they see you make a dubious call with a weak hand.
Pieter