PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha High, $0.50 BB (9 handed)

MP1 ($50)
MP2 ($150)
MP3 ($8.90)
CO ($47.50)
Button ($44.65)
SB ($47.05)
Hero ($49.25)
UTG ($36.40)
UTG+1 ($14)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , , , . MP1 posts a blind of $0.50.
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: ($3.50) , , (7 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $2.4, UTG folds, CO folds, Button calls $2.40, SB folds.

Turn: ($8.30) (4 players)
Hero bets $6.95, Button calls $6.95.

River: ($22.20) (4 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $20.2, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $42.40

Results in white below:

Outcome: Button wins $28.93. MP1 wins $6.73. MP3 wins $6.73.

Do you call this river? I later found out this guy would call $6 raises pf with K234ss and such but didn't know it at the time.

On occasions like this I've been experimenting lately with the blocking bet strategy on the river, to try to prevent raises, and then folding if he comes over the top. Pretty useless against good and/or tricky players, but against poor players and passive ones. Whether this guy would raise anyway though, I dunno. Something to consider.

When you check it's all too easy for him to bet, and I think you can't really call unless you know he's the sort to bluff a scare card in this manner, in which case it's perhaps worth it.

Interestingly, I think it's an easier call if the board pairs - as most people will be disinclined to chase witb bottom set, two pair etc... I think it's more usual that someone chasing here has a flush draw than a set (though not by much), and also, if he missed a set and bluffs the flush, there's nothing to say that he doesn't have two small raggy spades as well, whereas if he missed a flush draw and the board pairs on the river it won't ever help. Bit of a digression there, but I call when a pair hits more often than a spade in this case, is what I'm saying...

Monk
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