by Bosox1 » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:36 pm
The range of hands that he might bet $10 and call $20 on the flop is pretty wide. He might have A with a 234, maybe the A of spades, maybe one pair, maybe two pair, maybe he has 98 and made a straight. With no read I think any of these hands are reasonable.
It's also not too easy for him to put you on a hand, since you limped preflop and raised post, I'd say he puts you on two pair or a draw. If he puts you on a draw you just made it with the turn and he's not putting in any more $. If he puts you on 2 pair he might move in over the top of your bet on the turn hoping to push you off because the 5 was a scare card, especially if he has A3 or something where he'll have a few outs to make a better 2 pair.
Conslusion, since you can't put him on a hand that is likely to become a monster on the river, you must bet. If he has nothing he isn't going to improve and you aren't getting anything out of him. You raised on the flop, what is the likelyhood that he bluffs at the river? Small. What is the likelyhood of him calling your raise of his bluff on the river? smaller. If he has a hand, he'll call or hopefully raise your bet on the turn. And if he has a draw he may call anyway. The only chance you have for his stack is by betting.
"No, 'The stripper's bouncer beat the shit out of me' is not an acceptable answer"