Should I always call a min raise on the river?

Question

When someones been checking/calling all the way to the river and then min raises on it, is it worth always calling to see their hand even if I know I definitely have the worst hand possible? (essentially I'm paying a blind so they can't muck their hand)

Answer 1

I would say it's player dependent. I sometimes min-raise the river as a bluff against a good player, because most thinking players interpret the play as me having a strong hand. But don't do it very often. If it is some old guy at the card room that's min-raising you, he almost always has a good hand. If you know you're beat, just fold. Curiosity can cost money.

Answer 2

No if you have the worst hand and you don't want to bluff then fold

Answer 3

How do you know you have the worst hand if you don't call him? Some times (or more) we have to call our marginal holdings down, otherwise villains will take notice and bluff us relentlessly, especially on River. An example:

Hole cards 8♥ 7♥

Board cards K⋄7♠3⋄T♠5⋄

Background: Villain is known to be checking/calling i.e. a station and bluff many rivers if met passivity.

You bet the flop, he calls. Turn is check/check. River you check, he min-bets.

No matter what, i'm calling here for information for later hands. In addition, i have a bottom-pair which certainly is something and not always worst. You don't know the Villain yet. He may be betting to represent diamonds flush. Because otherwise he does not represent ANYTHING. Or perhaps he bets a T which thinks it's best now. Or a K if he's that passive. The 5⋄ is as brick as possible. Regardless, you win too much information about your Villain and how he plays by just calling that down as cheap as that.

I casually call here min-bets with bottom-pair. You always win something, if not the hand, your opponent tendencies on the River.

Finally, don't bet against Calling stations (as he seems to be). They'll call anyway and you built an extensive history with him cheaper :)