This is a hand taken from an article by Thomas Keller. He was playing in the Poker Exchange Invitational. 6 starters, each with 5K, NL Hold'Em. He writes about the way he played a particular hand, and makes a move on the river that he justifies afterwards and that I disagree with. Interested to hear other's thoughts.

Blinds still at 25 and 50.

Early position raises to 200. Keller (TK) calls w KJ spades. SB and BB call.

Flop is K 9 4, w one spade.

SB raises half the pot, 400. BB and raiser fold. TK calls.
Turn is a blank.

SB checks, TK checks.

River is another blank (sic)

SB checks again. TK raises to 750. SB reraises another 1050. TK calls 1050 bet into a 4150 pot, and loses with his TP against a flopped set of 9s.

I don't like, but don't hate the call preflop w KJ. Not something I would usually do, even 6 handed, but maybe this is too tight. TK also says he reads this player as solid, which will make him easier to manipulate post flop.

I also don't mind the call on the flop with top pair, although might be a touch suspicious of the size of the raise. From a solid player, this could be a trap, which is exactly what it turned out to be.

I hate, however, the raise on the river. Why would you do this? He will make no more money out of any weaker hand, with the possible exception of QQ. He will get called or raised by AA, KK, AK, KQ, two pair etc, and probably be forced to call by the pot odds. Even if I think my K is the best hand here, I check, in case I am beat. I don't want to give any better hand a chance to re-raise here. And, if this is a bluff, or even a semi-bluff, surely this bet must be bigger?

Thoughts? Would anyone else make this raise on the river here? Perhaps I don't have the insight and wisdon that higher level NL players. like Keller, do...

Not only do I not like the raise, I hate his call of the reraise even more.

My only thoughts are that I'm speechless! Not a clue what Kellers was trying to do beside bust out early.

Molina