Fire Again On Turn Or Take The Free Card

Merge - $0.04 NL - Holdem - 8 players

UTG: $5.01
UTG+1: $3.99
MP: $2.60
MP+1: $2.84
CO: $1.59
Hero (BTN): $4.09
SB: $2.01
BB: $5.28

SB posts SB $0.02, BB posts BB $0.04

Pre Flop: ($0.06) Hero has J A

fold, fold, MP calls $0.04, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.18, fold, fold, MP calls $0.14

Flop: ($0.42, 2 players) 5 Q 2
MP checks, Hero bets $0.28, MP calls $0.28

Turn: ($0.98, 2 players) J
MP checks, Hero bets $0.49, MP calls $0.49

River: ($1.96, 2 players) 3
MP checks, Hero checks


OTT should I take the free card and call a reasonable bet OTR or is firing a second shot, as I dids, the correct move?

What is your reads? Where do you think you are on the turn? Your insite would be a big help.

Only had 28 hands on Villain but in those he was a 50/14. AFq of nearly 41% so it was tough. Could have been a flush draw could have been 2nd pair, but my first gut reaction said flush draw.

So then I ask you, do you fire or give a free card

Try putting him on a range of hands rather than trying to soul read his exact hand. Reasons to bet, can you do it for value, what hands are calling/folding vs a bet etc

Originally Posted by jyms

So then I ask you, do you fire or give a free card

I fire. Make him pay if he's trying to score trips, 2 pair, or a flush.

Ok so now that you think that, you need to go back and do what carroters said.

any reads at all help here a lot
sans reads
pre good
flop too big
turn too small
check back river fine

Originally Posted by FlushDraww

gut reaction said flush draw.

is your gut very good at poker?

50/14 looks like a loose passive even with the small sample size, but all loose passives aren't the same. Some are calling stations. You value bet them when you have something because they'll call with draws, second pair or worse. Others are only likely to continue if they've hit TP or better. Those are the ones you can often win pots from by cbetting after you miss.

Given the small sample size, you don't have a solid read. Assuming not even a tentative indication or two (e.g. if he folded to a second barrel before) I'd lean toward checking the turn since I have no real reason to think he'll fold if I fire again.

Originally Posted by Arjonius

I'd lean toward checking the turn since I have no real reason to think he'll fold if I fire again.

...If you don't think he's folding you should be betting the turn not checking it. This should be pretty obvious...

Here it is definitely a bet, I wouldn't be giving away free cards.

There are other situations though where I have regretted not taking a free card as I've been re-raised and have to pay more for the next card or consider giving up the hand.

Originally Posted by Icanhastreebet

...If you don't think he's folding you should be betting the turn not checking it. This should be pretty obvious...

Why is it obvious? If you're going to be called, then you're betting for value, which assumes you're ahead of his range. But is that a good assumption here?

Originally Posted by chemist

Here it is definitely a bet, I wouldn't be giving away free cards.

There are other situations though where I have regretted not taking a free card as I've been re-raised and have to pay more for the next card or consider giving up the hand.

You're only giving the opponent a free card if you're ahead, which isn't clear here. It's also quite possible that by checking, you're giving yourself one.

Originally Posted by Arjonius

Why is it obvious? If you're going to be called, then you're betting for value, which assumes you're ahead of his range. But is that a good assumption here?

What hands are you trying to bluff villain off of with a bet on the turn?