Checking wins the minimum with a monster and lets an overcard peel for free. Every worse pair and float you'd have stacked just checks back behind you.

55 on 5♥ 9♣ 2♦, checked to you — bet or check?

Q: 55 on 5♥ 9♣ 2♦, checked to you — bet or check?

Bet. You flopped a set, the near-nuts on this dry, rainbow board, and worse hands are lining up to pay: any nine, a smaller pair, and floats hoping you give up. There's no flush draw to fear, so you're not protecting much beyond the odd overcard. Just get value. Bet and let them call; checking wins nothing extra and hands out a free card.

The answer

Bet

bet for value

The math: Set of fives: nines, deuces, pocket pairs and stubborn ace-highs all still call.

Why

You flopped a set, the near-nuts on this dry, rainbow board, and worse hands are lining up to pay: any nine, a smaller pair, and floats hoping you give up. There's no flush draw to fear, so you're not protecting much beyond the odd overcard. Just get value. Bet and let them call; checking wins nothing extra and hands out a free card.

The spot

Villain · BB

checks

POT · $12

5♥

9♣

2♦

5♠

5♦

BTN

$1 / $2 · 100bb

Your seat: BTN
Stakes and stacks: $1 / $2 · 100bb
Your hand: 5♠ 5♦
Board: 5♥ 9♣ 2♦
Pot: POT · $12
Action on you: BB checks

Every option

Checkkeep it small
Why not: Checking wins the minimum with a monster and lets an overcard peel for free. Every worse pair and float you'd have stacked just checks back behind you.
Betbet for valueCorrect
⅓ pot · $4 · ½ pot · $6 · ⅔ pot · $8

The idea behind it

A set on a dry, rainbow board is a monster with little to fear. Value betting wins the most because worse pairs and floats will call; checking only wins the minimum and risks giving a free card to hands that could improve.

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.