KK on the button - to the river

I have just finished a long (for me) session. Mostly I played to my very basic ABC game. I made a couple of howlers and lost more than I won. I've already gone over those with myself... dumb... really dumb...

But there was this hand which I would like comment on. I felt like I was playing by instinct and certainly not playing my previously mentioned very basic ABC game.

So, did I do good or did I just get lucky?


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($2.97)
BB ($1.22)
UTG ($3.89)
UTG+1 ($2)
MP1 ($2)
MP2 ($0.74)
CO ($0.85)
Hero (Button) ($2)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, K
UTG calls $0.02, 4 folds, Hero bets $0.10, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.08

Flop: ($0.23) 9, 10, 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.16, UTG calls $0.16

Turn: ($0.55) 3 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.40, UTG calls $0.40

River: ($1.35) 5 (2 players)
UTG bets $0.28, Hero raises to $1, 1 fold

Total pot: $1.91 | Rake: $0.07


After the villain asked me if I had KK or QQ.

Not tellin'! - that was the correct answer, right?

bet flop a bit more, bet turn a bit more.
fuck was villains line strange on the river....

As mentioned, bet the flop bigger, turn is ok. This river bet is either a big hand or a missed-draw bluff. Either way raising is bad, he's likely not folding hands that beat you and he's certainly not calling with hands you beat. The bet is so small, just call.

What big hand do you think he could possibly have on this board (and considering his bet sizing)? Dude has like pocket 8s or Tx and wants to see a showdown.

Originally Posted by Chusko

This river bet is either a big hand or a missed-draw bluff. Either way raising is bad, he's likely not folding hands that beat you and he's certainly not calling with hands you beat. The bet is so small, just call.

If you respond the same way to a blocking bet as you would a regular size bet, then you're allowing for blocking bets to take away value on the river.

If he's going to have a lot of weak hands with showdown value here, then we should be value raising with impunity.

Originally Posted by Fnord

If you respond the same way to a blocking bet as you would a regular size bet, then you're allowing for blocking bets to take away value on the river.

If he's going to have a lot of weak hands with showdown value here, then we should be value raising with impunity.

I see what you're saying (and seriously respect your opinions), but I think blocking bets are way too deep of thinking for $2NL. I'd bet more often than not, the villain is slow-playing a set or bluffing a missed draw.

Originally Posted by Chusko

blocking bets are way too deep of thinking for $2NL.

Neg. People with very little experience do them instinctively. Also the games are bad enough now, that my guess is a lot of players in that game are trying to play well on some level...

It looks like a blocking bet, a value raise on the thin (?) side is a very reasonable play.

This is awesome and scary at the same time - there is no right answer?! But the discussion is so helpful to read. Thanks guys!

Some folks say I should have bet more pre-flop. Would anyone care to take me through the reasoning on that?

Your preflop sizing is standard

Also, you can pot the flop since villain will call 12bb just as often as he will 8bb. He's continuing with a ton of his range on this board. Any J, 8, 6 or spade on the turn (odds are roughly 40%) is going to be an awful card so you want maximum value now while protecting your hand. I hope I'm explaining this right.

Originally Posted by StarGrinder

Also, you can pot the flop since villain will call 12bb just as often as he will 8bb. He's continuing with a ton of his range on this board. Any J, 8, 6 or spade on the turn (odds are roughly 40%) is going to be an awful card so you want maximum value now while protecting your hand. I hope I'm explaining this right.

I suspect that you are explaining things just right and that I am merely ill-equipped to understand.

Bet sizing is next on my list for reading up on. When I have read it, I'll come back and see how brilliant your explanation is!

Originally Posted by binky bee

I suspect that you are explaining things just right and that I am merely ill-equipped to understand.

Bet sizing is next on my list for reading up on. When I have read it, I'll come back and see how brilliant your explanation is!

I am drowning!!

Every article read leads me to reading a different article to understand it! Someone put them into a nice neat row for me!!