AK early on. Comments please.

[Rage2100]

This is the 3rd hand of a Stars $3.40 SnG. No reads on anyone, apart from the 2 who had already busted.

I think I played this badly with regard to my bet sizes. These are my questions.
1) Is my flop raise ok?
2) Should I have just shoved the turn or is my bet ok?
3) Is it ok to check behind on the river? I thought I would only be called by a hand that beat me if I put him in for his remaining 380 chips.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t20 (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 (t1500)
CO (t1490)
Button (t1470)
SB (t1480)
BB (t1480)
UTG (t3010)
Hero (t3070)
MP1 (t1500)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K, A.
UTG calls t20, Hero raises to t100, 4 folds, SB calls t90, BB calls t80, UTG folds.

Flop: (t320) J, 3, A (3 players)
SB bets t100, BB calls t100, Hero raises to t400, SB folds, BB calls t300.

Turn: (t1220) 4 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets t600, BB calls t600.

River: (t2420) 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

[taipan168]

1. I would raise more on the flop with one better and a caller. There are 520 chips in the pot when it gets to you, I would raise to about the size of the pot or to 500 chips.

2. On the turn, since opp has 980 chips behind and the pot is 1220, I would bet the exact amount of opp's remaining stack. The reason I would do this is if opp is on a draw, he will not call a bet on the river if he misses his draw (which is most of the time remember) but may very well call a bigger bet on the turn when there is one more card to come.

3. As played, I would definitely put opp AI on the river. He almost never checks anything that has you beat here. If he is on a draw he will almost always fold but if he has A-crappy kicker he may check the river to try to see a cheap showdown but may call a bet given how little he has left.

[drmcboy]

are you really worried he's folding any (non draw) hand he's come this far with getting 8/1? Don't.

Also, he'll almost never check a hand that beats you on the end - you will have a huge price, and it's silly to think you'll try and bluff.

[Rage2100]

Thanks both of you. I knew I'd played it badly as soon as the hand was over. I thought he was probably on a spade draw and then I go and check behind on the river. I knew as soon as I clicked the button it was a mistake. I don't know why I do these things sometimes.

Also, he'll almost never check a hand that beats you on the end - you will have a huge price, and it's silly to think you'll try and bluff.

I know this sounds mad but I have seen this happen at the $3.40s.