King high on the river facing a bet, final table of the Stars Sunday Millon

Game type: Poker Stars Sunday Million NLHE tournament
Your image: Inactive
Stage of tourney: Final Table, 8/5916 remain
Avg stack: 7 million
Misc notes: Opponent has been very aggressive
Your hand: K♠Q♠
This hand is taken from actual game play in the Stars Sunday Million on 5-13-07. This hand took place between ocrowe and mcc3991. You will be standing in for mcc.
The Setup: You’re on the final table of the Stars Sunday Million, and you’ve been quiet since you broke from two tables a few orbits ago. The SB has been very aggressive - in the last 6 hands, he raised 5 times PF and called a PF raise the other hand.
This hand, the table folds to you and you make a 3x raise with your suited KQ. The table folds to the SB, who calls, and the BB folds. The flop misses you completely:
4♥A♥4♣
The SB checks and you bet 999,999. The SB calls and the turn isn’t much better: T♦. SB checks and you check behind.
The river brings the 6♠ and now the SB leads out for 1.75m. There’s roughly 6m in the middle. What’s your play with K high?
Discuss your thoughts on this quiz in our forums - King high on the river facing a bet, final table of the Stars Sunday Millon, or in the comments below.
5.14.07 / 9am
I think this is a pretty straight forward fold. And, I think the answer to fold has more to do with our range of hands (in our opponent’s eyes) as it is with our view of his range.
Let me explain.
We’ve been pretty quiet at the table. We’re not going to raise into the loosest and most aggressive player on the table without some kind of a hand. And, that flop is going to hit our hand quite a bit here. If we raised with AT/AJ/AQ/AK, that is a great flop for us and we’re going to CB with these hands 100% of the time. We’re also going to CB most of our other holdings as well to represent that ace. So, our opponent here has to realize that there’s really not much of a chance of bluffing us out of this pot. With so much in the middle and such a safe flop for us, it’s unlikely we’re going to fold from this point forward holding a strong Ace.
However, I can’t see checking behind on the turn with any of the hands that we’ve represented on that flop. Ok, so maybe we’re concerned that our loose opponent may hold a 4 and we may want to control the pot here and just call a small value bet on the river. So, it’s possible to check behind. But, do we really want to see a heart hit the river if we’ve got AK/AQ? By checking behind on the turn, it really does look like we’re on a draw ourselves. Either that, or we’re on a small ace, we’ve got a pp such as JJ/QQ/KK, or we’re on some sort of draw. In any event, our range really doesn’t look like a good spot to bluff. Based on our perceived range to Ocrowe, I don’t think we can call since I really don’t think he’s going to bluff a lot here.
Also, look at the size of the bet. Sure, it will take a dent out of our stack, but it really isn’t screaming that he wants us to fold here. It’s a very callable sized bet. Again, makes me think fold.
In fact, the bet amount is just about perfect to trap us into making a move here. After we check the turn, I’m guessing that he’s figured out that he’s ahead and if he makes a small little bet, he may entice us to bluff the river all in.
I think that if we wanted to contribute another 1.75M chips to this hand, that we really should have bet them on the turn.
Again, even though we show weakness on the turn (looks like we’re drawing), I don’t think it’s a great spot to bluff since we’re still going to call with a wide range of hands here.
KK? Maybe I call, but I won’t be happy about it. However, with KK, I do like a check behind on the turn for pot control and if we do call the river, at least we don’t go broke. But, I still don’t see him making a total stab with air here and KK isn’t really beating much.
5.14.07 / 10am
clear fold. His wide range and we missing the flop completes the picture. He can have anything. We can only beat a stone cold bluff. Nothing else.
KK? Hmm, probably call.
5.14.07 / 10am
I think a strong case can be made for calling, but because of the surrounding stacks I really dont want to lose that money. Although far from the average stack look around you, your still in a decent position to move up in the tourny.
Especially with a very agressive large stack. Sure your getting alot of value from the hand, but I think its to much to risk, and this late in a big payout tourny Im definately looking to stick around rather then risk on a K high.
I also dont think an Ace is that unlikely, I see this kind of thig alot. An agressive player actually hits a good flop and decides to slow play it somewhat. Especially vs shorter stacks, an Ace IMO would play this way.
Certainly a case for calling can be made, but given your stack postion at a big final table like this im folding.
With KK im making a reluctant call.
5.14.07 / 11am
Clear Fold. What could small blind have called 3x with pre-flop. Likely to be a middle (bad) Ace. Could be A4 or A6. In any case I have nothing and when I made a decent bet on the turn, it was called. I’m done here.
P.S. I can release KK anytime (almost everytime) when there’s an ace on the flop. I’m likely to surrender it face up to a bet. It could let players know I’m only in the hand when I am way the winner.
5.14.07 / 6pm
Fold………I wouldn’t have even raised after the flop to be honest with you.
hugs, valerie
5.25.07 / 12am
I would fold in a heartbeat.Even if he has some b.s. pocket two’s we’re in badshape. If I had kings I would be happy to call with the almost 4-1 pot odds.

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5.14.07 / 12am
I voted fold. Off course the possability of a busted flushdraw is there, but it migth also be, as was the case, A-rag og a low pair.
Hence for the sidequestion: I would call with KK, as that wouls at least beat a low pair.