A number of time recently I have played hands where I felt it was right to control the size of the pot by checking the turn. However as this is seen as a sign of weakness I am often left facing what looks like a value bet on the river. I would like to know how many people would call these river bets based on the action. I don't usually post 2 hands at once, but felt that they both are good examples.

I'm sorry that they haven't been converted, but they are from Games Grid.

Both 0.25 / 0.50 NLHE 9 Handed
No reads on either villain.

Hand 1

Hero ~$75 (CO)
Villain ~ $75 (MP)

Hero Dealt


Folded to Villain, he raises to $2
Hero reraises to $6
Folded back round to Villain who calls.

Pot : $12.75

Flop:

Villain checks, Hero bets $8.50, Villain Calls

Pot $29.75

Turn -

Villain Checks, Hero Checks

Pot : $29.75

River :

Villain bets $6 , Hero _______?




Hand 2

Hero ~$75 (MP)
Villain ~ $50 (SB)

Hero Dealt

Folded to hero, who raises to $2
Folded to villain who calls, BB folds

Pot : $4.50

Flop : - I didn't like this flop, a lot of 2 pair possibilites and straight, flushdraws etc.

Villain checks, Hero bets $3.50, Villain Calls

Pot : $11.50

Turn : - Good card, but I didn't like his call on the flop.

Villain checks, Hero checks

Pot : $11.50

River :

Villain bets $4, Hero _______?

Posting Hand 2 - made me think about the hand a bit more and maybe checking the turn wasn't the greatest play. He could easily have been drawing and I would have known more by betting the turn.

It felt like the right spot to control the pot size at the time, but in the cold light of day maybe not. Still see what you guys think.

both hands are good if you call the river bet. checking and betting the flop are both okay in hand 2, do whatever works best with your style of play.

Thanks guys, I did call both rivers.

Hand 1 :

Villain shows


Hand 2 :

Villain shows



I added notes against both players and because it's only a small site, I'll run into them again.


Out of interest how would you have reacted to a bigger bet (say 2/3 pot size) in both situations? I think the question I'm really after answering is - If we check the turn to control the pot size are we accepting that we are calling most bets on the River? Our turn check is a sign of weakness to most players so a lot of players are going to try and take us off our hand?