3 replies to this topic

[princeof56k]

The following refers to a typical limit holdem game.Quite often a game where I'm in late position and the game usually has 4 people seeing the flop, if the pot hasn't been raised once its get to me and only 2 people called in front of me I'll raise with something like AJ offsuit. This will usually force out the blinds and put me up against 2 opponents on the flop. When flop comes i have no pair or draws, but I do have 2 overcards. Usually the 2 people will check to me, and I immediately bet. Sometimes this forces both out, and sometimes it doesn't. Usually at least one will fold.So this question is what do you do with the remaining opponent when the turn card comes and you dont improve but still have 2 overcards?It seems to me that a lot people seem to fold on that expensive street, but I'm not sure that if I bet here that I won't lose money in the long run. Currently I've been checking here if he checks it to me. While this does give me a free river card, it seems to put me in a tough spot if he happens to sense weekness here and bets into me after the river card comes. If I didnt improve and he bets, I usually end up folding.Of course this situation depends on the players involved, but I was interested in how most of you handle this situation most of the time.

[Metro]

In my mind, mostly situational depending on the style of the player you are up against. If he check/calls you on the flop, he might have middle pair or TPWK. By betting again on the turn, you might get the best hand to fold. If you check to see the river, he'll sense weakness, and unless an A or K comes out, probably bet at you. If he check/calls you on the flop and the turn card comes out as something bigger than anything on the flop, say - Flop: 2 6 8 Turn: 10, Bet. If he had K8 sooooooted, he might be folding here to the overcard. If a flush hits on the turn, bet at him when he checks. If he check-raises, unless you've got the nut-draw, run. Even then, calculate odds. By showing weakness, you're letting him bet you out of the pot when you might have the best hand, or you might scare away his better hand by constantly being the aggressor.

[KramitDaToad]

If the pot is large enough to play for and your against 1 opponent with position and you feel your opponent is drawing or on a weak pair bet the turn. The goal here is to have them fold, however it will also cut off their bet on the river (which if you check the turn may be a stone cold bluff) and will get you a free showdown which you may win with your A-high.Your other out here is of course to hit one of your over cards.Of course if they raise back or bet the river to a card that doesn't help you, then you have an easy fold.The cost is the same as checking and calling a river-bet, but you give yourself a bigger chance of winning the hand and gain a lot more info on the strength of your opponents holding.

[ddudley]

Where are you playing and what limit are you playing at? This gives us a much better idea of what you are up against.This is a great question and one that I think about a lot since it is a situation I spend a lot of time dealing with at the table. I think playing these tough situations correctly can make a big difference in you win rate. I play 5/10 at Pacific and I will usually try to take a free card about 50% of the time and continue with my bluff the other 50% of the time. That should keep everyone guessing.If I take a free card and don't hit it, then the other guy bets into me on the river, I will fold unless I've got a really good reason not to. Like, if the guy is a complete maniac and I've seen him bluff a good bit I will call. Otherwise I will fold it. You've only got 3 small bets in the pot and no pair, most likely the other guy has much lower cards than you and has hit 2nd or 3rd pair. If not, he bluffed you off 3 small bets when you had Ace high, woop-tee-do for him. I'm sure you can find much better places to put your money in the middle.If I take a free card and don't hit it, then he checks to me on the river, I will bet and try and get him to fold that 2nd, 3rd or 4th pair or whatever busted draw he may have. If he calls and has you beat, big deal, move on to the next hand. Your probably going to win a lot more than that back if he sticks around for any length of time and keeps calling people down with crap.If I take the free card and hit my top pair, then he bets into me on the river, I will usually raise. Unless there are 3 to a straight or flush, in that case I will just call.