R&A 3.30 stars, call river?

[jdubs]

opp was loose, aggressive, had been called down twice on bluffs. I could call and still have a decent M if wrong on the read, though it would hurt alot. I though there was a significant chance I was ahead here. Do you make this call?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t150 (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button (t4299)
SB (t14510)
BB (t12645)
UTG (t6740)
UTG+1 (t6305)
MP1 (t5776)
MP2 (t2285)
MP3 (t5725)
Hero (t7775)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8, 8.
5 folds, Hero raises to t450, Button calls t450, 2 folds.

Flop: (t1125) 9, Q, T (2 players)
Hero bets t450, Button calls t450.

Turn: (t2025) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets t750, Button calls t750.

River: (t3525) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t2649 (All-In), Hero calls t2649.

Final Pot: t8823

Results in white below:
Hero has 8h 8c (one pair, eights).
Button has Ah 7h (high card, ace).
Outcome: Hero wins t8823.

[chardrian]

I don't really like how either of you played it.

Why are you betting so little on both the flop and turn?

And if he raises he should do it on either the flop or turn (I prefer the flop given your weak bet).

[jdubs]

1/2 pot? this is a standard bet for me. Is it really that weak ?

[chardrian]

When did 450 become half of 1125? You bet the same on the flop as you did preflop. I don't mind that bet if you have a reason for it - but as a standard continuation bet, I think it is weak, yes.

You gave any draw odds to call. Then when the most obvious draw actually hit on the river, you did call.

Your bet also gives you no information - what did his call on your flop bet tell you? To me it says, I have a pair (which beats you), a flush draw (which is either 50/50 or better against you), or I still have nothing. Same thing on the turn.

I'm glad you picked off a bluff, but would you really have been surprised to see 78, a flush, or even a hand like A9 0r AT?

[jdubs]

guess my c bet was sorta weak huh? as for the call on the river, I honestly thought he was making a move, trying to rep a big hand with smooth calls, and then taking it down with a river bet. He had been trying this tactic for a few hands I noticed. Luckily I was right, although looking back, I dont like it as much. A stronger bet on the flop would be better, I would have a better idea where I stood, and not have given a draw the right odds. In this case a stronger bet may have taken it down, as he may have been calling because I appeared weak.

[topsoyale]

A larger bet on the flop might not win in but you get a lot more information. If he has hit some part of the flop, he's likely to call the larger bet, depending on how strong his hand is.

If he has completely missed, I doubt he's sophisticated enough to re-raise and steal the pot from you.

If he is on the draw he is a poor player for calling the larger bet, and with a similar bet on the turn (2/3 pot), he can't call again.

It worked out well for you but with him only needing a nine in his hand to beat you, that was risky.