jb

Remember the admonition; "If you can’t bet it, muck it." Well, we haven't mucked our starting hand. So, we should probably consider a bet or a raise. Again this topic requires a long discussion. So much of the decision is based on the particular situation, that a general discussion is almost impossible. There are two rules we can implement to increase our expectation. Some hands Play real well against few opponents, but play real poorly against many opponents. Other hands need several callers to provide the pot odds for a positive expectaion.

At The River?

On the river we are probably faced with the easiest decisions. Only the last round of betting remains and then we will find out just how good our decisions have been.  If we were on a draw, because it was warranted by pot odds, and missed we can easily fold now.  Otherwise if the rest of our decisions have been good, we should have the best hand because we folded everything else.

The river helped.  If we drew out on the river or improved our other  hand, we expect to have the best hand.  Our first priority is to get the most money into the pot.  Usually it is correct to simply bet or raise with no deception.  As on the turn if you are quite sure another player will bet, a check raise is in order.  If you have multiple opponents don’t fail to consider a smooth call if a player in front of you bets.  The smooth almost always has a better expected value than a raise, if there are players yet to act after you.

The river didn’t help.  In most cases simply fold.  I don’t recommend it, but if you are up against a tight player capable of laying down a hand, you might bluff at this point.  Don’t do it too often, and remember, “Never try to bluff a stump.  It won’t move.”