ZOOM: bluffing the river when flush arrives and high equity draw busts

Hi, briccius,
Bluffing when a flush makes is risky, because of course, villain can have that very flush.

I'll do it if I know that villain can fold -- but this guy is unknown.
Also, you're deep stacked -- over 200 BB, so this increases your risk.

But in this particular hand, your problems started preflop, IMO
Disclaimer: I am NOT a coach!;
With a hand this strong, you want to build a pot, but it is way too weak to trap with, so you must 3-Bet pre. Now you have both position and initiative. As played you only have position. When you 3-Bet pre, now you get checked to OTF, and you can decide to wait for a card, or CBet to take the pot then and there.

OTF, as played you can also raise/fold. This often ends up being cheaper than calling down.
NL 2 players don't give up easily, and will often hang on with top pair.

I've bluffed rivers in similar situations and lost to calling stations holding on to weak (2nd- or 3rd-pair) hands.

so -- short version:
3Bet pre and CBet a decent amount -- between 1/2 and 3/4 pot and you would likely have taken this pot then with less risk.

Best of luck,
VS

3 betting pre BU vs UTG with AKs is not standard. On NL2 it is a solid call pre and play in position.

I agree with calling this preflop. Actually, we can mix some calls and some 3bets, nothing wrong with either of those. As played, I think raising the flop would be cool. We have a backdoor nut flushdraw and two overs and the board is kind of drawy. We could then barrel any spade, J, Q, K or A. As played, I don't think that raise on the river would be profitable.

The problem is that there are not that many low cards in UTG open range. So board is dry.

Originally posted by nitrol
The problem is that there are not that many low cards in UTG open range. So board is dry.

That's why I wrote "kind of". He still could have stuff like 76s. With raising we are putting pressure even on overpairs and top pairs, which is probably folding to 2nd barrel. Not to mention that he is most likelly folding 99-66 right away.

I'd 3bet preflop, because I am OOP and I want to give him the chance to fold.

Flop is fine. He bet too small and he gives you reasons to stick around.

Turn is marginal, in my opinion. You have monster draw, but only one card to come and you have 30% equity there, assuming the villain spiked a pair. If he spiked a set, then your odds are a little worse.

On the river, I think you got lucky. Look at his bet sizings: 1/2 on the flop, because he thought you'll flop air and fold anyway. But he sees that you stick around. The turn brings some more possible draws, so he puts a healthy bet, bet which you call. River is a bad card for him, reason why he bet, again, half pot. He was getting ready to fold his hand even to a min-raise.

Nice bluff, but I wouldn't do it too often.

Originally posted by Zanardi1
I'd 3bet preflop, because I am OOP and I want to give him the chance to fold.

You are sooooo in position, that there is no other position to be IP. You are on the BU, man.

Ouch! Sorry! Bad comment. I, somehow, thought he was OOP. My mistake