9♠9♦ SB vs BTN, river on K♦ 8♠ 4♥ 3♦ A♣, 70 bb
The spot
- You: SB
- Opponent: BTN
- Your hand: 9♠9♦
- Board: K♦ 8♠ 4♥ 3♦ A♣
- Effective stack: 70 bb
- Pot: 21.5 bb
River checks to hero after two-street sequence.
Best river decision in baseline?
See the answer
Best play: Check
Why
On K 8 4 3 A your 9♠9♦ is just an underpair to both the King and the river Ace; it beats only busted bluffs and never gets called by worse. Out of position as the SB the correct line is to check and let it go to showdown as a bluff‑catcher: betting would only be called by Kx, Ax and better, and you have no value to lead. Check, then call only if the price and your read justify it against the BTN's bluffs.
Key idea
An underpair on a two-overcard board is a pure bluff‑catcher. It has showdown value against air but cannot bet for value, so checking OOP is the only sound line.
Common mistake
Turning a showdown-value underpair into a bet. Leading folds out the bluffs you beat and only gets called by Kx and Ax that crush you, converting a check-and-showdown winner into a loser.