4 replies to this topic

[Under_Score]

In what situations would you recomend(No Limit Hold-Em): i)a re-raise on the flop if you think you could get a free card on the river ii)a re-raise on the turn of you think you could get a free showdownhow weak/strong should my draw be?does it have to be a draw?can this play work with more than one opponent left?any general input would be appreciated.Thanks in advanceEDIT:[By "re-raise" I mean "raise"] :-)

[TJ_Eckleburg]

There's a difference between a raise and a re-raise. I think you mean the standard "raise for a free card" play, not reraise. The first person who bets on the flop is betting, not raising. As a former dealer, it drove me CRAZY to hear "check... check... raise..." It's a bet, not a raise.Anyway, the raise for a free card play is definitely a money-making play in hold'em. The textbook situation is in late position with a nut draw.Example: you have As 5s on the button, and naturally limp in, with the 3 or 4 other earlier limpers. The flop comes Js 8s 2h, giving you the nut flush draw. The blinds check, and the early position limper bets with JQ. A couple folds, a couple calls, and it gets to you, so you raise for a free card. The original bettor and the callers will likely call your raise, and then you see the turn.The assumption is that with the nut draw, you'd probably call one bet on the flop and one bet on the turn if you missed the flush on the turn. That costs you one half bet and one big bet for 1.5 BB. BUT, if you raise the flop, that only costs you 1 BB (two half bets), because if you miss the turn, more often than not it will be checked to you. That way you can check through and see a free river with your nut draw for cheaper.Turn that around. If you HIT the draw on the turn, well now you've added value to a pot that you just nutted all over. And, someone with top pair will probably call you down.Typically, the raise for a free card play works best when you're the last to act, and putting in one raise, making it two bets to go on the flop. I personally do it almost every time when I'm last to act with a nut flush draw or an open-ended straight draw to the nuts.It works best at loose passive tables. If you do it too often to the same people, they might get wise, and the original bettor might three-bet you on the flop and lead into the turn.It is generally considered a very good textbook aggressive power poker play, so use it well!EDIT: I just re-read your original post and saw you meant for no limit. The same general concept applies, but everything I wrote above was intended for limit.

[Under_Score]

TJ_Eckleburg said:

There's a difference between a raise and a re-raise.  I think you mean the standard "raise for a free card" play, not reraise.  The first person who bets on the flop is betting, not raising.  As a former dealer, it drove me CRAZY to hear "check... check... raise..."  It's a bet, not a raise.

This makes sense. And I can see how it would be annoying :-) Thanks for the advice and example. Good post.

[Under_Score]

Any more advice?

[RISEorFall]

TJ seems to be talking more of limit hold 'em, where you're asking about NL. They're very different beasts when it comes to raising and re-raising. By raising to get a free card in limit...the worst that can happen is you get 3 bet...in NL you can be put to a decision for all your chips. Big difference in calling one more small bet and the rest of your chips. I think to make a raise for a free card in NL, you should have a rather strong draw. Nut flush with a straight draw or NF with overcard(s). NF draws with pairs (even bottom pairs) are great because then you have even more outs with trip and 2-pair outs. If nobody's bet into you, go ahead and bet your draw. If there are few people in the hand still, the 3 flush on board might slow down action, so I'd go ahead and raise. With more people it's likely atleast one or two will stay in and play with you even after the flush hits. A raise here would still be profitable though. It's kind of a tricky situation. You don;t want to get re-raised for all your chips on just a draw, so you have to pick up something. Decide whether or not the original raiser has a hand he'd want to re-raise you huge with, or if he has a hand he'll just call the raise with. What kind of player is he? How big was his bet? What was the PF action? Raises with flush draws are never really bad...just know that if you do, you should be prepared to dump your draw (unless it has other good draws with it) to a big re-raise.....Jesus I get longwinded (and I hate not having a working enter key)