J♠T♠ BB vs BTN, turn on K♦ 6♠ 2♥ T♣, 105 bb
The spot
- You: BB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: J♠T♠
- Board: K♦ 6♠ 2♥ T♣
- Effective stack: 105 bb
- Pot: 7 bb
Hero arrives on turn with equity and blocker leverage.
What action realizes the most EV in solver baseline?
See the answer
Best play: Raise
Why
The T♣ turn on K♦6♠2♥ pairs you to second pair (a pair of tens, under the king) and gives J♠T♠ a gutshot to the J-side straight plus a backdoor spade. Out of position in the big blind facing the button's turn bet, raising is a check‑raise that applies maximum pressure: you have showdown equity from the pair, fold equity against his many missed broadway and ace-high barrels, and live straight outs if called. Check-raising here pressures his uncapped-looking but actually bluff-heavy turn-betting range, denying the free river his weak hands want and building the pot for the times your pair or straight gets there.
Key idea
OOP, second pair with a gutshot and backdoor is a fine check‑raise semi-bluff that pressures a bluff-heavy turn-betting range.
Common mistake
Passively calling with this hand surrenders fold equity and lets all his air realize equity for free on the river.