A♠5♠ BB vs SB, river on Q♣ 9♦ 6♣ 2♠ A♦, 95 bb
The spot
- You: BB
- Opponent: SB
- Your hand: A♠5♠
- 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: Bet 40% pot
Why
River Q 9 6 2 A, no flush (you hold only A and 5 of spades). Your A5s makes top pair of aces with a weak five kicker. As the IP BB checked to by the SB, a small bet gets thin value from Qx, 9x and worse Ax while keeping the pot small against the rare better aces and two pair, which is the textbook line for a strong-but-kicker-vulnerable top pair in position.
Key idea
Top pair with a weak kicker in position bets small for thin value while controlling the pot.
Common mistake
Overbetting a weak-kicker top pair, which folds out worse and only gets called by better.