River Bluff: Good line or overplaying?

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brazil

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  • #1
On a board with three hearts and a king, I decided to check-call flop and turn with the Ace of hearts in my hand. On the river, the fourth heart didn't hit, but I fired a big bet representing the Flush. Does this line make sense in the current Micro Stakes field?
 
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Semprini

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  • #2
What was the pre-flop action?
How big was the check-call?
What positions were you and the opener in?
Was there anyone else in the hand post-flop?
What were the exact cards on the board?
What was the action on the turn?
How well do you know Villain's tendencies?

If you know that Villain is overfoldy to scare cards it's probably fine, but we'll need to know more info before giving a definitive answer.
 
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Botuna

Botuna

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  • #3
brazil said:
On a board with three hearts and a king, I decided to check-call flop and turn with the Ace of hearts in my hand. On the river, the fourth heart didn't hit, but I fired a big bet representing the Flush. Does this line make sense in the current Micro Stakes field?
I think the line can make sense, but it really depends on your opponent. Holding the Ace of hearts is a good blocker because it removes many of the strongest flush combinations from your opponent's range, making your story more believable.

That said, at the micro stakes I don't bluff this spot very often. Many players call too wide and are more interested in "seeing what you have" than folding strong one-pair hands or even weak kings. Against those opponents, a big river bluff usually isn't very profitable.

I prefer using this type of play against tighter, more disciplined opponents who are capable of making big folds. Against calling stations, I'd rather save the chips and wait for a better value spot.

So yes, the line is theoretically sound because of the blocker effect, but exploitatively I'd be cautious at the micro stakes. Knowing your opponent's tendencies is much more important than trying to execute a balanced bluff in a player pool that often doesn't fold enough.
 
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