[arcfinn]

This situation comes up all the time...raise preflop with A-J...one caller...

Flop comes Q-5-2...you bet, get called...turn comes a 7, he checks, you take free card...river comes 10, opponent bets...do you sometimes call?

People often call the flop with the intention of possiblty stealing later...I think if you ALWAYS fold no pair in Shorthanded holdem you become an easy target for this play, but if you never bet, your opponent can always bet any pair for value...tough situation...what are your thoughts?

[lork]

Raise or fold, no call.

Raise to try and bluff at the pot, fold if you think he won't bite on your bluff. You never, ever, ever just call with no pair unless you have huge pot odds. That's a fish move.

[ballen]

I've found in this case, at least at the lower limits, opponents have a piece of the board. Possibly a draw of some sort, but a lot of the times with middle or even bottom pair, or t/p weak kicker. I also think in s/h limit that if you raise preflop and bet the flop, you can pick up some pots by continuing to bet on the turn. For some reason, people don't mind calling a small bet, but when they are faced with a Big Bet with a draw or a small piece of the board, they may wish to save the bet. I think it's a psychological thing. "Twice as much" mentality. This will also most likely get you a free card on the river, and you can check down to showdown for the same price. If you have position, and he in fact DOES have a piece of the board, you can muck without showing (Not that anyone with half a brain can't check the HH, but I'd be surprised if a great number of players actually do that in real time).

[razor]

here is counter thinking to betting on the turn...if he calls, then you go ch eck check the river it costs you the same as picking off a bluff, but you give youself an opportunity to pick off a bluff, or catch something, or fold the river...

However, you do give up some pots...but opening yourself to a check raise on the turn, you have to throw the bet away..checking the turn, then calling the river is not a horrible "Induce a bluff play"...the only time it sucks is when they bluff with bottom pair and you lose...

I don't like raising the river after checking the turn, because they are most likely to call you with any piece and if they have nothing, you win the same by calling...

I think a bluff with ace high is a mistake on the river, IF you think calling or checking could win

[chris]

If you are considering calling the river bet anyway, then you are correct - it's the same amount. However in this case, he checked behind you (weakness) and you in essence gave HIM a free card when you may have been able to take the pot down on the turn. IF he was holding A,T or K,10 or J,T you allowed him to make his hand.
If I raise preflop I want to represent a strong hand on the flop AND on the turn. His bet on the flop was a decent move regardless of what HE was holding - he may have assumed you had a middle pair, A,K or a weak suited ace (both worthy of raising in s/h limit) and he was trying to represent a queen. If you bet the turn and check the river you also may set him up for later when you DO have a strong hand.

I don't think there's any absolutes here. It's possible that either strategy could have worked or missed. I have personally had more success playing more aggressive in s/h limit.