Would you fold this flush on this board?

[Pants_101]

This was annoying, don't know if I did the right thing or not

PokerStars (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K, 3. SB posts a blind of 15.
2 folds, MP1 calls, Hero calls, MP3 calls, 3 folds, BB checks.

Flop: 4, A, A (4 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets 100, MP3 calls, BB folds, MP1 folds.

Turn: J (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks.

River: J (2 players)
Hero bets 300, MP3 raises 1285 to 1585 and is all-in
, Hero folds.

Final Pot:

[jackvance]

good fold

[apunisher]

yes

[TLR]

tough spot.

Villian did not bet preflop and flat called the flop, if he played Ax he played it really bad, and Jx is possible, however I tend to believe he has a made flush now or a lower PP trying to buy the pot.
I think I call here

[Alibi]

I think he has Ax

[TLR]

Then he played it reather poorly

[vqc]

hero shouldnt have bet the river.

[TLR]

hero shouldnt have bet the river.

True

[Pants_101]

Could you explain that a bit more please? I guess I bet the river because I didn't know what I was facing and hoped he didn't have much. If I had checked might he have bet a lot less allowing me to make a reasonable call maybe? Or is it just about conserving my chips?

[TLR]

Its a case of 'hands that will call you probably beat you'. The only hand that may call a bet that you beat is a lower flush.

However checking opens you up for more bluffing options, since the villian is more inclined to try to buy the pot if you show weakness.

[Rondavu]

I guess I bet the river because I didn't know what I was facing and hoped he didn't have much.

Yuck. That's a terrible way to think about poker. If you can't figure out what you're facing in this hand, then you're in trouble. This is one of the easiest read boards ever. In this hand, based on the way you played the flop and turn, you're facing one of two things on the river....

1. A very strong hand that will call or raise any bet and beat you (Ax, Jx)
2. A hand you have beat, but will not call any more bets (4x, Lower Flush)

As you can see, in either case it's incorrect to bet the river. It may be correct to check and call a bluff against certain aggressive opponents, but this is not an easy decision either.

[Rondavu]

DP

[Xanadu]

You can make a very small bet on the river if you think you are ahead over half the time here and opponent will call it. Say 50 or 100. But even that play has only marginal profit potential, as you will lay down to even a modest raise. In this case, just check-folding is almost surely best because there probably aren't enough hands you beat that will call even 50.

[Pants_101]

I have much to learn... thanks guys

[Hartlin]

Side note: fold preflop