J♠9♠ BTN vs BB, river on Q♣ 9♦ 6♣ 2♠ A♦, 95 bb
The spot
- You: BTN
- Opponent: BB
- Your hand: J♠9♠
- Board: Q♣ 9♦ 6♣ 2♠ A♦
- Effective stack: 95 bb
- Pot: 22 bb
Advanced node: capped range attack opportunity.
Best advanced line?
See the answer
Best play: Check
Why
River board Q‑9‑6‑2‑A, your 9-s pairs the nine so you hold only second pair (nines) with a jack kicker; there is no flush (three spades). Second pair on an ace-high five-card board is a bluff‑catcher: an overbet for value is dominated because worse hands fold and only better pairs, aces, and two pair call or raise. With a marginal made hand you check back to realize showdown or bet small at most, so blasting an overbet is questionable.
Key idea
Overbets are reserved for the nuts and air; a middling made pair belongs in your checking or small-bet range.
Common mistake
Overbetting second pair only gets called by better and folds out every worse hand, burning chips for no value.