TPTK on a scary flop (Live)

[iceman5]

$2/$5 NL Live.

I raise to $20 with [Jc] UTG. An asian guy 2 to my left calls and we're heads up. I cant cant really decide if hes good or not. When hes in control of ahand (he was preflop raiser, hes aggressive and good), but he limps WAY to often and chases everything from bottom pair to gutshots.

Pot $45. Flop [9h][3h]. Whats your default play here? I normally try to get to the turn with no bet so I only have 2 streets to play instead of 3, and if a hits the turn I can get away very cheaply, but I dont know if this is a good strategy or not.

[piersmajestyk]

[iceman5]

Thats true Piers, but hes not going to fold a on the flop, so if I bet and he calls, the same turn card is coming anyway. Now if a comes what do I do? I have to check fold obviously but I lost $40 more. If a doesnt hit the turn, he can raise my turn bet and I have to fold. So Im in a bad spot with a pot bigger than it needed to be. You dont think trying to get to showdown cheaper is better in this spot?

[Triple B]

This is a tough spot. I would normally c-bet this (online) as this board is just as scary to your villain. If villain was tricky or aggro I would check (intending to call obv).

If it checks thru, I would lead a safe turn obviously.

I think your reasoning that getting to showdown cheaply is sound. You have tons of showdown value but can't stand a lot of heat. You don't want a big pot OOP with this hand. However, keep in mind that a small heart that didn't connect with the flop is going to fold on the flop if you C-bet. People will fear that you have a Jx type hand a lot.

[piersmajestyk]

[T-Rod]

If you bet the flop, he calls with a for sure and now you have to play a bigger pot OOP. You even run the risk of him bluffing you off the best hand as he can represent in position.

I like checking the flop and betting the turn and river. I also think that when you check the flop (esp. live), he now calls you down with A9 or some weak 2nd pair hand.

[iceman5]

[piersmajestyk]

Checking a pot from the BB with K10 in a multiway limped pot is a different story then playing a pot HU when you have been the aggressor preflop. I totally agree with the way you played the K10 hand for the reasons you stated.

I don't care if the guy calls the flop holding a dry heart or not (actually i do care and hope he does call if that is the hand he is holding because he is drawing to a 4-1 hand if he doesn't also hold some other overcard out and is having to pay 2-1 to get there) because he is making a mistake if he hits the heart and I don't pay him off. Again he may make a play at me with a hand that I beat but I'll cross that bridge when it happens. If I have the best hand, and in this case I believe I likely do then I want to make the guy pay and inappropriate amount to outdraw me. Sometimes he will, sometimes he won't but EV wise longterm I think a near pot size bet here on the flop is warranted.

[dropthe72]