Part: Part Eleven - Short Tables

Short-handed post-flop value

Flop
4-handedPot 3,000 (3.8 BB)J♦8♠3♣BTNA♦J♣● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUtop pair, short-handedBB● 20,000 (25 BB)Big blindchecksD

Four-handed. You opened A♦J♣ from the button and the big blind called. Flop J♦ 8♠ 3♣ - top pair, good kicker. He checks.

Four-handed with top pair, good kicker, and he checks. Best?

WhyBet for value. Short-handed, ranges are wide and top pair is a strong hand - far stronger than it would be in a full-ring multiway pot. Bet to get value from the many worse pairs, draws, and floats in his range, and plan to keep barreling.
What happensYou bet 1,800; he calls.  Pot: 6,600.
Turn
4-handedPot 6,600 (8.2 BB)J♦8♠3♣5♥BTNA♦J♣● 20,000 (25 BB)YOUtop pair, good kickerBB● 20,000 (25 BB)Big blindchecksD

Turn 5♥ - a blank. He checks again.

Blank turn, he checks. With top pair short-handed, best?

WhyBet again. Short-handed your top pair stays well ahead of his wide range, so keep value-betting and charging draws - you don't slow down with a strong one-pair hand the way you might full-ring.
What happensYou bet 3,400; he folds.  Short-handed top pair pays.
Short-handed, top pair good kicker is a strong, bettable hand across streets - against wide ranges you value-bet and barrel where, full-ring, you might pot-control. Made-hand values rise along with starting-hand values.

Short-handed, made hands like top pair gain value - bet and barrel them confidently against the wide ranges, rather than slowing down as you would full-ring.