DECISION POINT: In a live $1-2 game you raise from Under the Gun with 9♠9♥ and get called by the MP2 player and the Small Blind. The Small Blind checks the 9♦5♦K♣ flop, you bet, MP2 calls. Turn comes K♦. You check-raise and Villain calls. The river is Q♠ and action is on you. What do you do?

PRO ANSWER: There are two potential lines to take with this hand after we check the turn:

1) Check-calling the turn and checking the river with the intention of check-raising all-in.

2) Check-raising the turn and shoving the river.

Once we check-raise the turn, most opponents will shut down on the river and check behind with flushes and trips if we check to them, so we lose value by checking.

A more optimal opponent might bet with a reasonable frequency when we check to them on the river after check-raising turn, but many real world opponents shut down after our turn check-raise. For that reason, moving all-in on the river will be more profitable than checking.

Checking might be best against an opponent with a high bluff frequency, but as a default we should attempt to maximize value against flushes and trips and simply shove after check-raising turn.

Moving all-in is the best play.