To vB or not, that is the question.

No reads on opp.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $2.00 BB (5 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) ($204)
SB ($325.50)
BB ($128.45)
UTG ($245.15)
MP ($204.45)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, 4
2 folds, Hero bets $7, 1 fold, BB calls $5

Flop: ($15) 8, 3, K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $11, BB calls $11

Turn: ($37) A (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $26, BB calls $26

River: ($89) J (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $89 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero didn't show A, 4 (nothing).
BB didn't show


Bet river as well? I can't really see what calls that we beat, then again he checks three streets so I doubt he has much, given the board texture etc.

I'd vb

I usually check it back, since merging is useless against an unknown in this spot...but If I do bet here it's usually something gay like $20 to make it irresistable to hands like KhQs

My instinct says vb, but my pokerstove says let's not

Originally Posted by OP

...but If I do bet here it's usually something gay like $20 to make it irresistable to hands like KhQs

I like b/fing this unless villain is capable of a river CR bluff.

Originally Posted by Silly String

Originally Posted by OP

...but If I do bet here it's usually something gay like $20 to make it irresistable to hands like KhQs

I like b/fing this unless villain is capable of a river CR bluff.

I don't know, villain has a PSB left

I prefer checking behind the turn. There are no longer any cards you are concerned about falling now that you have top pair. You can actually be value towning yourself when you bet here, and you are quite unlikely to get paid off on the river if you do hit your spade even if you are lucky enough to get a call on turn from villain when he's behind.

You almost guarantee getting a bluff from him on river or a c/c for value from him when you c/b turn and bet all rivers.

You also run the risk of getting c/r on the turn which means you are like always drawing to just a flush and never getting paid off when you do hit.

All that said, yeah, check behind turn.

If I'm not going to bet the river, I'm checking the turn and bet the river instead. Same result, no gay spots facing a shove and you can draw out should you be behind.
If I play it this way I'd bet ~25 on the river. You're never getting bluff raised, and you can put villain on serious tilt if you have him beat... which seems pretty likely.

bet river, given his passive line on such a draw heavy board I'd be surprised if he had you beat. His most likely hands are pair+FD, and you're ahead of all of those unless he peeled Aw/Js/Qs and thats such a small part of his range.

Given his range is fairly weak, I'd bet ~$15 so he makes some crying call with 2nd/3rd pair. Also gives him a chance to randomly bluff raise with a missed draw.