Checking wins the minimum and hands out a free card. All those worse hands would have paid a bet.

ATs on T♥ 7♦ 3♣, checked to you — bet or check?

Q: ATs on T♥ 7♦ 3♣, checked to you — bet or check?

Bet. You almost certainly hold the best hand, and a stack of worse ones will still pay: weaker tens, small pairs, ace-high, gutshots. Money only goes in the pot if you put it there. Bet and let them call; checking wins the minimum and gives a free card that could beat you.

The answer

Bet

bet for value

The math: Top pair, top kicker: worse tens, small pairs and ace-highs all still call.

Why

You almost certainly hold the best hand, and a stack of worse ones will still pay: weaker tens, small pairs, ace-high, gutshots. Money only goes in the pot if you put it there. Bet and let them call; checking wins the minimum and gives a free card that could beat you.

The spot

Villain · BB

checks

POT · $12

T♥

7♦

3♣

A♠

T♠

$1 / $2 · 100bb

Your seat: CO
Stakes and stacks: $1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand: A♠ T♠
Board: T♥ 7♦ 3♣
Pot: POT · $12
Action on you: BB checks

Every option

Checkkeep it small
Why not: Checking wins the minimum and hands out a free card. All those worse hands would have paid a bet.
Betbet for valueCorrect
⅓ pot · $4 · ½ pot · $6 · ⅔ pot · $8

The idea behind it

A value bet wants to be called, by worse hands. When plenty of worse hands will still pay, betting beats checking; a free card wins you nothing extra.

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.