AJs on J♣ 6♠ 3♥ facing a check-raise — fold, call or raise?
The answer
Call
call $30, see a turn
The math: call $30 · top pair top kicker beats the worse jacks, pairs and draws that raise here; only two pair and sets are ahead.
Why
A check-raise is strong, but it isn't only monsters. It's built from worse jacks, other pairs, straight and flush draws, plus the odd two pair or set. Against that whole range, ace-jack with top pair and the best kicker is well ahead. It's too good to fold and not good enough to raise: raising folds out everything you beat and grows the pot against the hands that beat you. So you call, keep the weaker hands in, and see a turn.
The spot
- Your seat
- BTN
- Stakes and stacks
- $1 / $2 · 100bb
- Your hand
- A♦ J♦
- Board
- J♣ 6♠ 3♥
- Pot
- POT · $30
- Action on you
- BB check-raises to $40
Every option
Foldgive it up
Why not: A check-raise looks scary, but top pair with the best possible kicker is far too strong to fold here. You beat every worse jack, every pair, and every draw in the raising range — throwing that away hands the pot to hands that mostly don't have it.
Callcall $30, see a turnCorrect
Raisere-raise for value
2.5x · $100 · all-in
Why not: Re-raising for value turns your hand face-up and builds a big pot against only the two pair and sets that beat you. The worse jacks and draws you're ahead of just fold, so you win little and lose big.
The idea behind it
Not every check-raise is a monster. These ranges are full of worse pairs, weaker top pairs and draws, with only a few two pairs and sets. A strong top pair is usually too good to fold but too thin to re-raise — so you call, stay ahead, and keep the pot controlled.
Concept: Facing a raise
Terms in this spot
Play it instead of reading it
The trainer deals this hand with hints, grading and spaced repetition — and randomized variations of it once you have seen it.