In Level 14 (1,500/3,000/3,000) of MSPT Canterbury Park, Paul Eidem (128,000) raised to 8,000 holding the A♣A♥ in the hijack and David Pederson (228,000) called from the big blind with the K♣9♣.

Pederson flopped a flush draw on the 4♣2♣4♥ flop and check-called a bet of 8,000. When the 7♣ peeled off on the turn, Pederson checked his flush and just called when Eidem bet 16,000.

The K♦ river saw Pederson check for the third time and Eidem checked behind before watching his pocket rockets go down in flames at showdown.

“Oh no,” Pederson exclaimed realizing he missed value on the river.

MSPT: What are your thoughts on Pederson defending with king-nine suited?

Little: I think the preflop call is perfectly standard. If you fold hands like K9s, you are folding way too often. Three-betting does not make sense because if your three-bet is called, or four-bet, you are in terrible shape. Three-betting essentially forces the opponent to play perfectly, which is usually not a good result because you make money when your opponent makes mistakes.

MSPT: How do you feel about Pederson’s play on the turn after making the flush? Are you ok with the check-call or would you like to see a check-raise?

Little: I actually think the flush draw should have at least considered check-min-raising the flop because the big blind has way more 4x than the initial raiser, giving him a sizable nut advantage. Check-min-raising with a large chunk of your continuing range including trips and draws, turns much of your opponent’s range into bluff catchers. On the turn, I would have certainly check-raised in order to build a big pot with my strong hands, but calling could be fine if the opponent will either value bet or bluff much too often on the river.

MSPT: Are you surprised by Eidem’s check back on the river holding aces down? What would you be thinking in that spot?

Little: I think the check behind with aces is a bit tight, especially since the opponent did not check-raise the flop or turn (either of which would be a common way to play a flush). Many players will have mostly marginal made hands in this situation, making aces the effective nuts. That said, if you know your opponent plays passively and simply does not raise with anything on the flop and turn, checking behind on the river has much more merit because the opponent’s check-calling range contains many premium hands.

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