Use check-raise cautiously at low stakes, but effectively on draw-heavy boards to get money in before the river and as a nut hand against bluffs and value bets facing weak ranges.
At low bet games, getting sneaky with turn and river check-raises can sometimes fail. This is because most players at low stakes tend to play very tightly. They often just wait until the river to show their hand instead of betting. But there are still good times to check-raise. We'll look at two examples of when you should check-raise versus betting for value yourself.
7 players just add chips to play their hand, called "limping". You check your 2♣ 2♠ cards in the Big Blind position.
The flop shows A♥ 2♥ 6♦ cards. You have a pair of 2s.
You bet $10. Only the player to your left, in the Hijack seat, calls your bet.
The turn card is the 4♠. This makes the board A♥ 2♥ 6♦ 4♠.
You bet $15. The Hijack player raises you to $40. You call.
Here, trying to check on the turn then raise the river would be bad. Your opponent could make two pair or Ace-x hands but not bet, just check the river. At low stakes, players often just check strong hands on the river instead of betting for value.
When you get raised on the turn after not much betting, the Hijack likely has a very strong hand. With only $150 starting stacks, your opponent's turn raise looks extremely strong. Jamming all-in on the turn makes sense - you probably won't get folds but will get value. Better to get the money in now before the river card hurts your hand.
At low stakes, when someone raises after the flop they usually continue no matter how much you raise. So with your strong trips, ship it all-in on the turn. Don't let your opponent check back the river with a hand they should bet.
Now let's look at another example.
4 players limp in. You check your Q♦ 5♦ cards in the Big Blind.
The flop is 8♦ 6♣ 5♣. Everyone checks.
The turn card is Q♠, making the board 8♦ 6♣ 5♣ Q♠.
You bet $15. The player to your left, in the Cutoff seat, raises you to $40. You call.
The river card is Q♥. The board now shows 8♦ 6♣ 5♣ Q♠ Q♥.
Should you bet out with your full house or check-raise the river for value?
Your opponent likely doesn't have many sets since those would probably have bet the flop. They could have Queen-x hands that raised the turn for value. Or they might be bluffing with flush draws and straight draws.
Given your opponent probably has either trips or air, checking and raising the river makes sense. Bluffs will want to steal the pot. Sets will bet again for value if checked to.
When you call the turn with a vulnerable hand planning to check the river, it's called "5th street chicken." If you improve to the nuts, you usually want to check-raise. Your opponent will continue with value hands and bluffs will bet.
So in this spot, check-raise the river. If your opponent had a lot of two pair type hands, betting yourself would be better to avoid free checks. But against trips or better, use check-raise as they will likely value bet.
