When you hit top pair in a Texas hold em poker game, your hand has some degree of value. Obviously if it’s Aces or faces, it could be the best pair, and if the board shows no potential for a straight, flush, or full house, then your top pair could be good.
Top pair can often be over-valued too. A player who remains for the river with no possibility of a flush or straight materializing could be holding a set, two pair or may have been on a draw that missed.
When you are holding top pair, your poker online hand most likely has showdown value. It is also acts as a “bluff catcher.” This situation happens when a player has been betting all along – perhaps on the draw that didn’t come. Or if this player is known to be loose and to bluff, then there is a lot of uncertainty too.
When you’re holding top pair and a “bluff catcher” against an online poker hand who is dependably loose and aggressive, then you are in a tough decision about calling or raising a river bet. If you bet and get raised on the river, it is likely you are beat.
In a limit game, calling one bet with your top pair is probably worthwhile as a bluff catcher. In a no-limit game, calling a substantial raise is risky, especially if it is a large portion of your stack.
You can only call a big bet based on what you know about the other player’s tendencies and by reviewing the action on every street to gain insight into what type of hand, or lack of one, your opponent is holding.