When it is better to check than raise with the best hand

[piersmajestyk]

In my opinion against your typical moderately aggressive to agressive player the best way to play a strong hand from the Big Blind is to check it if it is heads up and it is not even a close decision in most cases. The following is a hand from last night but it could be any hand of similar circumstances.

I hadn't played a wealth of hands with this opponent but enough to know that he certainly had no qualms about betting the flop if checked to. His flop limp also is a very good indication that he doesn't have much of a hand so he will be even more enticed to bet the flop because he will figure that is the best way to win the hand given that he has shit and missed.

If you raise here preflop and tip off the strength of your hand you are only going to get TWO small bets in the majority of situations, his preflop call of your raise and that is it as he is going to fold the majority of times that he misses the flop after you lead which most of the times you are obliged to do because of your preflop raise. The times that you do get action is when he hits and you miss and you are out of position to deal properly with it.

If you check your option preflop you can almost be assured of THREE small bets total when he misses which will be the majority of the time because you are going to CR him regardless of what flops with probably the best hand even if it is only A high and most of the time they relunctantly call that CR with anything on a prayer.

You also have the added bonuses of deception when you both hit your hand but you have him dominated with your kicker if you check preflop. So what looks like a clear preflop raise to alot of folks is in my opinion the wrong way to play this hand the majority of the time.

When I would vary from my check here is when my opponent knows my play alot better so you have to continue to mix your plays up to deter them from getting an accurate read on you or when my opponent is very passive post flop which usually isn't the case in a short handed game.

Although the outcome of the hand sucked it was played in such a way to maximize its long term value and getting maximum value from your winning propositions is where the money is made in poker.

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (6 max, 4 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
UTG calls (J8o), 2 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: (2.50 SB) , , (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

[hackerrus]

Would you apply these same principles to 10 handed games? What if you check with AK or AQ and 2 rags + J or Q (when you have AK) flop. If you C-R and he 3 bets would you fold, kowing that people often limp Qx Jx hands?