Tournament Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
A good player in the previous example would check the river
A good player in the previous example would check the river when he hit his draw because checking is the only way to get another bet out of a good player. You should basically check whenever you hit a draw on the river without position. An opponent with a strong made hand that you now beat will probably bet when you check to him and call if you lead. He may bet a weak made hand, but will usually fold to your lead. If he has bluffed, he may continue bluffing but will fold to your lead. When you check, you get value from some medium-strength hands as well as your opponent’s bluffs while getting the same value from his strong made hands.
Consider leading into a terrible calling station
Consider leading into a terrible calling station when you hit a draw, especially if you know he tends to check behind on the river when draws hit. It takes a really special opponent to make leading an optimal play. You can lead as a bluff into strong players when all the draws hit and your hand is fairly weak, such as when your draw missed but another hit. Leading will confuse them and may occasionally make them fold the best hand. If you do lead against a specific opponent in this spot, try to balance in the future by leading when you hit a draw. The standard line all good players take when they hit their hand is to check simply because they realize it is tough to get value by leading into the aggressor. Unless you are sure your opponent is a passive calling station, check to the aggressor every time you hit your draw.