K♦Q♦ BB vs BTN, turn on J♣ 8♦ 5♠ Q♠, 75 bb
The spot
- You: BB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: K♦Q♦
- Board: J♣ 8♦ 5♠ Q♠
- Effective stack: 75 bb
- Pot: 7 bb
Turn card shifts nut advantage and action returns to hero.
Best turn pressure line?
See the answer
Best play: Check
Why
The Q♠ turn on J♣8♦5♠ pairs you up: K♦Q♦ is now top pair with the best kicker, but it is also a card that improves the BTN's broadway holdings and your hand has no draw to protect against. With only 7bb in the pot and deep stacks behind, checking to the in-position player keeps the pot small and your range protected, letting you check-call a bet or check behind weaker turns on the river. From out of position this turned top pair plays best as a check-call hand, not a lead, so check to induce barrels from worse and control the pot size.
Key idea
A small pot and a turned top pair with no draw to protect favors checking to the in-position player rather than leading out of position.
Common mistake
Donk-leading a turned top pair into the in-position raiser bloats the pot face-up and gets value only from hands that beat you.