8♠7♠ SB vs BTN, turn on T♠ 7♣ 2♣ 9♦, 70 bb
The spot
- You: SB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: 8♠7♠
- Board: T♠ 7♣ 2♣ 9♦
- Effective stack: 70 bb
- Pot: 14.5 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 9♦ turn on T♠7♣2♣ adds a straight draw to the board and connects with the SB's range as much as the BTN's. With 8♠7♠ you now hold a pair of sevens plus an open-ended straight draw (a J or 6 makes T‑9‑8‑7) — pair-plus-OESD, a hand with both showdown value and big upside. Out of position you check‑raise the BTN's turn bet as a semi-bluff: you deny the BTN's overcards/draws their equity, you can stack off when you improve, and the check‑raise applies maximum pressure with a hand that wants to build the pot rather than just call.
Key idea
Pair-plus-open-ender OOP is a prime check‑raise semi-bluff: deny equity now, get paid when you fill.
Common mistake
Just calling with pair-plus-OESD OOP forfeits fold equity and lets the BTN realize overcards cheaply instead of charging their range.