K♠5♠ BB vs SB, river on J♦ 8♠ 5♣ 9♠ 2♦, 70 bb
The spot
- You: BB
- Opponent: SB
- Your hand: K♠5♠
- Board: J♦ 8♠ 5♣ 9♠ 2♦
- Effective stack: 70 bb
- Pot: 14.5 bb
Population tendencies shape exploit windows in this high-EV branch.
Choose the strongest exploit-aware baseline.
See the answer
Best play: Bet 40% pot
Why
River J 8 5 9 2, no flush (you hold only K and 5 of spades). Your K5s makes bottom pair of fives with a king kicker. As the IP BB checked to by the SB, a small stab can take thin value or fold equity from busted draws and ace-high in a capped SB range, but it is the smallest sizing only; against a connected board you are at the bottom of the value class and must not bloat the pot.
Key idea
Bottom pair in position only ever takes the smallest stab, never a big bet.
Common mistake
Sizing up with bottom pair, turning a marginal showdown hand into a spot called only by better.