A♥J♥ SB vs BTN, turn on J♣ 8♦ 5♠ Q♠, 65 bb
The spot
- You: SB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: A♥J♥
- Board: J♣ 8♦ 5♠ Q♠
- Effective stack: 65 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: Check
Why
The Q♠ turn on J♣8♦5♠ is an overcard that favors the in-position BTN, whose range holds more queens and broadways while your range is capped. You hold A♥J♥, now only second pair after the queen, with a backdoor gutshot (a ten makes 8‑9‑T‑J‑Q). From the SB out of position, leading into a card that helps him is a mistake; checking controls the pot, lets you bluff‑catch a sized bet, and keeps your weaker made hands in a manageable spot.
Key idea
When a turn overcard favors the in-position player and caps your range, check your second pair for pot control rather than leading.
Common mistake
Leading second pair into the queen turns your hand face-up and bloats a pot out of position against the range the card just helped.