Poker Know-How: Value-Check Town

01.06.2008, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Poker Know-How: Value-Check Town».

by Bryan Devonshire I wrote recently about how to deal with the scare card in Texas Hold'em, with the general point being to fire away unless you have some really good reason not to. This article will cover when not to fire on the river with hands that you want to show down, both for the greatest value as well as checking for value on other streets.

When considering a bet on the river, you need to decide whether you are betting for value or betting for a bluff. If it is highly likely that you are not going to get called by a worse hand and/or you are not going to get a better hand to fold, then it is simple poker theory that you need to be checking that river.

Oftentimes you will find yourself in a situation, however, where betting is the theoretically correct play, but checking is the most profitable play. Here's an example:

During this year's $25k World Poker Tour World Championship event I found myself with Mark Seif directly to my left on day one. Mark is notorious for smelling weakness and firing bluffs whenever possible. I flopped top pair, bet, and got called only by Mark. The turn hit my kicker and I had aces up, top and bottom pair. I bet and again was called. I strongly felt like Mark was on some sort of draw. The river bricked out and this was the perfect time to go to Value Town, hoping that Mark would pay me off with one pair or a weaker two pair.

But, considering the situation, this was NOT the right time to go to Value Town.

Mark is known to be a very aggressive player. Checking the river has a strong possibility of inducing a bluff. My read on the hand was that Mark was on a draw. I did not believe that he had a hand that was worthy of calling me, and thus would fold if I bet the river. Against creative opponents who are capable of big bluffs, it is better for your bottom line to protect yourself against huge bluffs by not giving them the opportunity to happen. If I bet the river once again, and Mark makes a big raise, it is going to take some serious soul searching to call with top and bottom pair. Mark is capable of this play. Thus, the safest play that gives the most value is checking in this spot. I checked, Mark bet, I insta-called, and his cards went insta-into the muck.

The turn is a fun spot to go to Value-Check Town also. Often you will see this pattern in hold'em: Pre-flop raiser, one caller, flop heads up, bet, call, turn, check, bet, fold. Because so many people give up on the turn so easily, I will often see a turn card simply to see how interested in the hand my opponent is. In no-limit this is called a "float," and is a very powerful and deceptive play.

If your opponent is one of the types that is capable of this type of move, or is very aggressive, going for a turn check-raise in this spot is a great addition to your arsenal. Not only will you get more value on your hand, but you will be mixing your game up sufficiently to avoid having this play used against you.

Sometimes, however, you may want to decline the turn check-raise in this situation if you strongly feel that your opponent has absolutely nothing and a cheap river card will not hurt you. Often if you just flat call this turn bet your opponent will fire another barrel at the river, smelling "weakness" on your part. This play should be rarely used as the circumstances must be just right, but it is another nice one to have in your toolbox.

Make sure that when you attempt any of these advanced plays that it is for the right reasons, not just to make an advanced play. Remember your goal is to win the most chips at the end of a session or tournament, not be the player that pulled off the most creative plays. Sometimes these creative plays do the job of liberating your opponents of the maximum number of chips available, but when used improperly they do nothing but cost you chips.

In conclusion, when considering a bet, you must first decide whether somebody is going to call with a worse hand or fold a better hand. If neither of these conditions will be met then you must check, and sometimes this will be with a hand that you figure to be best. You are trying to induce a bluff or get an opponent to bet a hand that they otherwise would have folded to your bet. On the turn, you are trying to do the same, but you have the option of check-raising to get one more bet out of the opponent. Just be careful that you know why you are checking rather than trying to be sophisticated!

Peace and good luck,

Devo

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