Raising/check-raising top pair

Hi,

Could someone please give me some examples of spots, where it makes sense to either raise or check-raise top pair? Also, does this mostly happen on the flop or is it something you can use on other streets also?

A very broad question I know, just trying to understand the logic behind it. Thank you!

Satiivas said:

Hi,

Could someone please give me some examples of spots, where it makes sense to either raise or check-raise top pair? Also, does this mostly happen on the flop or is it something you can use on other streets also?

A very broad question I know, just trying to understand the logic behind it. Thank you!

Click to expand...

Thank you for posting.

In position we have AhKh flop is AcKc5s Villain leads into us we want to raise to build the pot as they can have so many hand combos that call.

When we raise top pair it is to build pots versus hands that will call us often. Check raising same idea build pots.

If we have top pair plus draw we want to raise as well and check raise if we can.

So we call with Jc10c flop comes Jh9s8d we raise this flop or we check raise it if we can.

Hope this helps

You can raise top pair in any situation if you are in the pot with only one opponent. I usually raise top piar OOP (aka check-rasie) to confuse opponent and balance my raising range. It really depends on the composition of table. If there is a potential flush draw on the flop, I usually do not raise this becasue if opponent goes for flush draw, raising on the flop is not a good idea becasue he could jam right on the flop. I rather wait for turn (if flush does not complete). With top pair top kicker I sometimes min-rasie on the river (luring opponet with top pair and worse kicker).
Do not forget, in poker it is hard to make a pair. So, if you have top pair top kicker, you should get the maximum value of it on every street.

Here's one example.

Pre-Flop: The button min-raises. We have 15bb and call with Jh6h in the big blind.

Flop: Js Ts 3d

Action: We check, the button bets 2bb, and we check-raise all-in.

This spot is great for check-raising because the flop is very coordinated so we don't want to give a free card, and there's a very good risk-reward ratio on shoving so that we're not continuing to play the hand out of position. Lastly, it's likely our opponent will bet if we check to him since he's the pre-flop raiser.

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Satiivas said:

Hi,

Could someone please give me some examples of spots, where it makes sense to either raise or check-raise top pair? Also, does this mostly happen on the flop or is it something you can use on other streets also?

A very broad question I know, just trying to understand the logic behind it. Thank you!

Click to expand...

Colin posted a great example above for shorstack play.
Here's one for deeper stack play

Opponent raises CO, we defend BB with ATo

Flop T62r

We check, opponent cbets 1/3 pot

This is a reasonable spot to checkraise for a couple of reasons

#1 you get more value from KT QT JT T9 which your opponent has
#2 you get protection against overcards which can play well vs a check call
#3 you fold out semi bluffs which dont intend to put more money in the pot but have equity

The downside of course is that you are putting in more money against overpairs as well as those top pairs, but combo wise you're coming out ahead plus you get that added benefit of protection

Now this is one of those interesting spots where you might X/R but then check the turn, because yo aren't trying to play for stacks, but you are ok with getting another bet it on the turn or river

Hope that makes sense!