Confusing hand 3/6, is this often a bluff?

[Alexos]

Villain has been quite active, calling a lot of hands in position. No other reads..Comments on all streets appreciated, ty.


Full Tilt Poker
$3/$6 No Limit Hold'em Ring Game
5 Players
LegoPoker Hand Converter

[color:black]Stack Sizes[/color]
SB: $87.1
BB: $980
UTG: $630.75
Hero (MP): $1030.35
BTN: $1585.40

[color:black]Preflop:[/color] J A ($9, 5 players)
UTG folds, [color:red]Hero raises to $21[/color], BTN calls $21, SB folds, BB folds

[color:black]Flop:[/color] 8 A 6 ($51, 2 players)
[color:red]Hero bets $38[/color], BTN calls $38

[color:black]Turn:[/color] 8 A 6 [Q] ($127, 2 players)
[color:red]Hero bets $88[/color], BTN calls $88

[color:black]River:[/color] 8 A 6 Q [7] ($303, 2 players)
Hero checks, [color:red]BTN bets $303[/color], Hero folds
Uncalled bet of $303 returned to BTN

[Renton]

betting the turn seems not good

im interested in other's opinions on it, im not quite sure what line i take here.

[Genitruc]

yup it's a tough spot.

Guess it all depends what "level" you're on.

He kind of has to have busted diamonds or a monster. Nothing in between type-thing... So if he's straight-forwardish I'd call. If he's tricky I'd fold (since those ppl like slowplaying sets/2 pair on boards like this and then repping busted draws with big bets).

Also, your hand is underrepped after you check the river. If you're gonna bet the turn I'd rather you bet river as well to rep the flush yourself and make it less likely for him to bluff you off the hand.

If you lead river and he raises, just fold and tip your hat to him if he's bluffing.

Otherwise, there's no point in betting the turn if you're just gonna allow yourself to be bet off TPGK vs a laggy villain whenever they make a big bet in position on the river.


edit : FWIW my line here would be check flop, bet non-diamond turn and check-call non-diamond river.

[Alexos]

What's the reasoning for checking the flop then betting the turn, as opposed to betting the flop and checking the turn??

Btw doesnt two pair raise on this type of board? Tricky or not, he has to raise the turn after I double barrel him, I think I rep a strong ace at least.

I dont know about betting the river, I think c/c gives him the opportunity to bluff with a hand like KdQ, Kdx...but then he bet the pot (instead of 2/3 where I would have called prolly) and im a whossie and folded....

I think this is either a flopped nut flush or a bluff, but still confused:P

[Genitruc]

I check the flop for pot control and to underrep my hand, esp vs a good who's capable of putting me in a spot similar to the one you faced.

If he has a big diamond, he's calling raising the flop anyways so unless you're willing to make hero calls when the flush misses (like this exact spot) then you're just setting yourself up to losing the pot the 1/3 of the times the flush completes (unless you're willing to rep it yourself) and, apparently, some of the time when it doesn't complete...

If I knew the villain very well I wouldn't shy away from building this spot since I'd figure I'd be able to outguess him on later streets in a situation like this.

Vs unknowns I tend to avoid these situations by checking lots of flops. Like I said, if he's got a draw he'll call anyways and good players don't tend to chase draws only to check behind/fold 100% of the time when they miss.

[Halv]

I love you Genitruc. Teach me to think like a good player.

[Genitruc]

Oh stop it...