Quote Originally Posted by pantherhound
Anyway, I checked, he checked behind with T9, and I frowned.
This is way too results oriented. J8 and spade flush are directly in the villains range. Check call, and sometimes even check fold are appropriate. Take a note on this opponent that he didn't bet two pair when checked to on the river. This means when he does bet on a similar completion board next time it becomes closer to a fold.

You have to thrive in likelihoods. Likelihoods are your odds and your value. Have faith in them even when a queer range with missed value pops up occassionally. It wasn't part of the master range. I mean not only do you have to assume the villain played T9, but you also have to tolerate him taking a draw line with two pair he should be raising.

This is why reads are important. If you know the villain to be tight passive, then this becomes an easy river value bet. Not only because you're likely ahead, but because when you're not he often just calls you with a better hand.