Checking top pair top kicker on a brick turn gives up value: worse kings, pairs and draws all called the flop and still pay a second barrel, while a check risks a river scare card killing your action.

AKo on K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦, checked to you — bet or check?

Q: AKo on K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦, checked to you — bet or check?

Bet. You have top pair top kicker and the turn brick didn't help the caller's range at all. They called your flop c-bet with worse kings, second pairs and draws — all of which still pay a second barrel. A dry board means you're rarely behind and there's little to fear, so keep building the pot for value: check now and you let a river scare card kill your action or hand out a free card. Fire again ⅔ pot and get maximum value from the hands drawing thin against you. The solver keeps barreling about three-quarters of the time.

The answer

Bet

barrel · ⅔ pot

The math: Top pair, top kicker on a dry board that missed the caller — the 2♦ changes nothing, so keep charging the worse kings, pairs and draws that called the flop.

Why

You have top pair top kicker and the turn brick didn't help the caller's range at all. They called your flop c-bet with worse kings, second pairs and draws — all of which still pay a second barrel. A dry board means you're rarely behind and there's little to fear, so keep building the pot for value: check now and you let a river scare card kill your action or hand out a free card. Fire again ⅔ pot and get maximum value from the hands drawing thin against you. The solver keeps barreling about three-quarters of the time.

The spot

Villain · BB

checks

POT · $20

K♠

8♥

3♣

2♦

A♦

K♣

BTN

$1 / $2 · 100bb

Your seat: BTN
Stakes and stacks: $1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand: A♦ K♣
Board: K♠ 8♥ 3♣ 2♦
Pot: POT · $20
Action on you: BB checks

Every option

Checktake a free card
Why not: Checking top pair top kicker on a brick turn gives up value: worse kings, pairs and draws all called the flop and still pay a second barrel, while a check risks a river scare card killing your action.
Betbarrel · ⅔ potCorrect

The idea behind it

When you hold a strong top pair and the turn is a blank that missed the caller's range, keep barreling for value — checking only invites a bad river or a free card for the hands you beat.

Concept: Value bet

See the glossary: value & bluffs Read the methodology

Terms in this spot

Value bet

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.