PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t30 (9 handed)

BB (t2545)
UTG (t1740)
UTG+1 (t1070)
MP1 (t2965)
MP2 (t1640)
MP3 (t590)
CO (t2055)
Rog (t3830)
SB (t1025)

Preflop: Rog is Button with , .
2 folds, MP1 calls t30, 1 fold, MP3 calls t30, CO calls t30, Rog raises to t120, 1 fold, BB calls t90, MP1 folds, MP3 folds, CO folds.

Flop: (t345) , , (2 players)
BB bets t150, Rog calls t150.

Turn: (t645) (2 players)
BB bets t150, Rog raises to t750, BB calls t600.

River: (t2145) (2 players)
BB checks, Rog checks.

Final Pot: t2145

My main concern is with my river check... and the smooth call on the flop.

No real read on villan, too early.

I would raise more preflop if you are going to raise. Usually I like 3xBB + 1BB for every limper in the early stages of a tourny. Also make a note of all the people who limped in in Early and Middle position and then folded to the raise...these are WT people that you will want to attack later on.

I probably raise the flop, b/c usually when I see someone lead into a raiser like that for a small % of the pot they are on a draw and want to pay their price for it. The call is not that bad though. When he bets small again on the turn I would be almost certain he was on a draw and your raise on the turn is absoultely correct. A good size too. I don't mind the check behind on the river as I don't see him calling with much that you would beat anyways....maybe if he is a big donk.

What did he have?

I bet bigger preflop, at least 150.

The smooth call on the flop is not good here. Raise to 450 or more. Generally, I think you need to try to take down the pot on the flop with top pair. It's way too vulnerable to let opponent see the turn cheaply. He could have had a flush draw here, he could have had a straight draw ... heck, he could have had middle or third pair and nail two pairs or trips on the turn.

Don't let it get that far. It's a nice enough pot on the flop for you to be happy to take it down right then.

I check behind on the river, as you did. It's not going to do you any good to bet. He'll either check-raise or fold, and neither is going to help you. There's a small chance he'd make a crying call with a smaller pair, but I don't think at this point it's worth the risk with this vulnerable of a hand. Just let the cards talk.

I'd rather fold it than limp with it. The last thing you want to do is get involved in limping wars with these people. That's a great way to bleed off chips unnecessarily. Either fold it or take charge with it to let the weenies know that they're not going to get away with limping for cheap flops.

And then you make a nice raise and you're playing a big pot 3 handed with KQ.


I advocate a small raise here because the BB will probably fold and limpers may fold (you'd be surprised how often). This way you get control of the hand, you're in position, and the pot is still somewhat manageable.