bottom two in a raised pot

sorry for no HH, not at home computer

effective stacks are $200, UTG is bad, no read on button except for he hasn't played too many hands and in the two orbits ive been there. i havent seen him raise yet, so hes kinda passive.

UTG limps for $2, i make it $9 on the CO with 97s (suit unimportant). Button calls, blinds fold, UTG calls.

Flop comes A97 rainbow, pot is $30.

UTG checks, I bet 26, button calls, UTG folds.
I am pretty sure I'm ahead here. I dont think he would have T8, and him having 99 or 77 is very unlikely because of my holdings.

Turn is a 6, board is A976 (complete rainbow) and the pot is $82.

I bet $65, he calls.
I'm now behind A6 but I think he would have raised me if he had this. I am pretty sure I'm still ahead of his range.

River is an 8, board is A9768, pot is now $212.
gar! I'm behind AT-A5 now. The hands I beat are AK AQ AJ and baby aces. I think I would have heard from him earlier if he had AK or AQ or had two pair, so I think his range is something like AJ AT A2-A5.

We both have about $100 behind. What do i do? Check fold? Try to block the river? Like I said, he hasn't been too aggressive so I don't think he would bluff me out with a bad made hand, but I'm not sure.

AA? Puts you on AX/PP for raising PF?

I check the river here... maybe he will check behind with trips/two pair. I don't think he can fold anything that beats you to an A/I at this point, since it's only 1/2 pot. (I mean... he could if he was a moron... but I would rather have evidence of that)

Tough one, the button can probably guess you haven't got the straight, especially if you check the river and you may be open to a bluff. A $20 blocking bet may stop this and confuse some hands that are beating you just to call. If he pushes back then I think you can feel safer about laying it down.

Originally Posted by finky

Tough one, the button can probably guess you haven't got the straight, especially if you check the river and you may be open to a bluff. A $20 blocking bet may stop this and confuse some hands that are beating you just to call. If he pushes back then I think you can feel safer about laying it down.

I like this.

Only hands here' you're really beating that would call you down this far are AK/AQ/AJ.

AT, A9, A6, 99, 77, and any T smokes you here...Throw the blocking bet out there and he will let you know if you are beat or not.

The button would only have called with AJ-AA or 77-TT. His smooth calling implies he's ahead; he is unlikely to have a set, certainly, but it's not impossible by any means. I think you need to bet here because he WILL raise if you don't. This doesn't necessarily mean I think you'll win, but on the plus side I think AK is his single most likely holding.

hmmm
i think you check and call any bet he makes, including a push. Risky, but you're hand is well disguised here.
Any hand that beats you (set AT) would have made a play by now you would expect, or will check behind anyway. Only really a set of any type that beats you, i cant see AT calling down all that way unless he really sucks and got lucky. T9/T8 are the only other hands i might put opp on here.
T9 looks more possible, but i could be a mile away