The Poker Quiz

You are second in chips with 12 players remaining in a NL tournament. Several short stacks are hanging around and, the final table will consolidate when 9 players are left. The chip leader limps into the pot from under the gun at your six-handed table. You know this player to be a very skilled and tricky opponent. Action folds around to you in the small blind. With 6 7 , you check your option.

The flop comes 2 6 7. You check, your opponent bets the size of the pot and you make the call.

The turn is the 10. You both check.

The river is the J.

The Solution

Check.

This board is so coordinated that even top two pair on the flop is not a strong hand. Your check-call on the flop and check on the turn were good plays, keeping the pot small on a scary board. Check the river and see how your opponent handles the river. Since you have kept the pot small you can either hope for a check or call a reasonable bet down.

With several short stacks still in the tournament you are almost guaranteed a final table appearance. You want to retain your chip position going into the final table, and battling the only guy that can bust you on this coordinated board is not a good idea.