A♥8♥ CO vs BB, river on A♣ 8♦ 5♣ 5♥ 2♠, 55 bb
The spot
- You: CO
- Opponent: BB
- Your hand: A♥8♥
- Board: A♣ 8♦ 5♣ 5♥ 2♠
- Effective stack: 55 bb
- Pot: 14 bb
Hero faces a polar river action after capped turn line.
What line avoids overbluffing while preserving value?
See the answer
Best play: Overbet 120% pot
Why
Final board A♣8♦5♣5♥2♠ pairs the fives; the only nut hands are 55 (quads) and A5/85 type full houses plus the rare flush that did not complete by the river. Hero holds A♥8♥ for two pair, aces and eights, which with the board pair plays as aces and eights over fives, a strong value hand that beats every single ace and most fives. In position with the river checked through, this hand is near the top of hero's range against a capped BB, so an overbet maximizes value from A-x and stubborn pairs that call a polar sizing.
Key idea
Aces-up on a paired river is a polar value hand; overbet to charge every weaker ace.
Common mistake
Slowplaying aces-up for fear of the case full house, leaving value on the table against a capped caller.