A♥8♥ SB vs BTN, river on Q♣ T♣ 7♥ 2♦ 2♣, 55 bb
The spot
- You: SB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: A♥8♥
- Board: Q♣ T♣ 7♥ 2♦ 2♣
- Effective stack: 55 bb
- Pot: 17 bb
River checks to hero after two-street sequence.
Best river decision in baseline?
See the answer
Best play: Check
Why
The board is Q T 7 2 2 with three clubs (Q♣T♣2♣), so the flush has come in, and your A♥8♥ holds no club — you have only ace-high, which beats no value and only the occasional missed straight draw. As the SB acting first you have no thin value to bet and no good bluff (you don't block the clubs), so checking to give up and realize the small showdown equity of ace-high is correct.
Key idea
Ace-high on a completed-flush board is a pure check from out of position: it has no value to bet and makes a poor bluff because it doesn't block the strongest part of villain's range.
Common mistake
Turning ace-high into a bluff overbet: a club flush will never fold, and you also fold out the missed draws that ace-high already beats at showdown.