This hand is played at Party Poker $100NL 6-max. The opponent is playing 35/12/2.8. He beat me in one hand where he check-raised me with a set of 6's after I raised pre-flop with JJ. He only had a short stack and I paid him off with my overpair although, after looking back, I think I should have got away from it.

How would you play this hand? I wasn't sure what to make of his UTG min-raise pre-flop. When he called me on the flop it worried me but I was also worried about giving free cards as there are so many scare cards to appear on the river. Would you bet this turn or play cautiously and check to the river?

I think his range is something like AA-66, A9s, T9s-76s, AhQh-AhTh, QhJh, JhTh. Would people agree with me here? Any hands you think I missed / he can't have?


Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $0.50/$1
6 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: $75.43
UTG+1: $34.87
DODGYKEN: $117.75
Button: $98.50
SB: $168.05
BB: $14.25

Pre-flop: (6 players) DODGYKEN is CO with
UTG raises to $2, UTG+1 calls, DODGYKEN raises to $8, 3 folds, UTG calls, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: ($25.5, 3 players)
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, DODGYKEN bets $19, UTG calls, UTG+1 folds.

Turn: ($63.5, 2 players)
UTG checks, [color=#cc0000]DODGYKEN

The problem with betting is that he will only ever call you with a hand that has you beat unless he loves to gamble.| He could be chasing a flush draw, and if you check it, that leaves it open for him to bluff on the river to which you would probably have to fold, or for him to catch another card he needs. That being said, I would probably bet $20, fold to a re-raise and check the river or fold to a bet.

Amatuer analysis, what does everyone else think?

On top of your range, he could also have 55-22 putting you on overcards and wanting to see if you'll bet again.

Check turn behind. Bet a blank river if he checks it to you again and fold to a checkraise.

I definitely thought that checking the turn was a good idea. The problem I saw with this is that what safe card am I looking for on the river? With the board being 6h 7d 9h 9s, any heart, 5, 8, 10, and, with the range I put him on, other cards could give him a set. I didn't want to be in the situation where he bet big into me on the end and I would have to make an educated guess to whether he is beating me or not.

I actually pushed in here and he called with Qh Th for the gutshot and flush draw. The river was the 6s and it ended nicely for me. I'm definitely not convinced that my play was necessarily the best one. However, one of the things I have trouble with is when someone bets into me on the river after I've checked the turn and I didn't want to be outplayed / out-think myself.

His range does NOT include AA here...

I check the turn and call a host of river bets...you can't really bet this turn. You can, but he can CR you here a LOT since he's not going to put you on a 9.