Hero (Hijack): 20,000
Villain (Big Blind): 50,000

Blinds 200/400

For this example assume we have just been moved so no reads on Villain,

Folds around, we are in hijack and open for 1200 with Ac4c, SB folds and BB calls.

Flop comes Kc 10c 7d

Flop Scenario 1: BB Checks – Hero? (How much do you bet here? Do you ever take the free turn card?)

Flop Scenario 2: BB Leads out for 2200 – Hero? (In general do you raise here? if so how much given pot is now 4800, Do you often just smooth call here?)

Playing big draws is prob the weakest part of my game so any other general tips are welcome

1) You have to bet here for value. If you take the free card and hit, it's quite unlikely you will get any action. Assuming the pot is 2800, I bet 1500-1800 here.

2) Interesting. I tend to smooth call here, but it gives your hand away and you will be priced out when he bets a blank on the turn. If you are going to raise here, I think you have to raise the pot to convince him of anything. The question is, does raising the pot here essentially commit us to this hand? If so, we should shove. I'm curious what others have to say about this.

In one, I make a standard CB of about 2/3 the pot. With no reads, I would almost never take the free card. Betting>Checking

In two, a reraise to 6.6K would basically give us almost 2-1 on the call if villain then decided to reshove. We'd be pricing ourselves into a call. The lead by villain could indicate a weak king, a ten or an attempt to take down the pot cheaply since betting out is cheaper than check/raising. With no reads, I tend to read the lead bet as weak so I would reraise and then call a shove. If villain just calls our reraise then I'd check/fold on the next street; hoping that villain checks to give us a free river card.

With no reads you probably have to play these straightforwardly, which to me means betting out in situation 1, and flatting situation 2.


It may be level dependent though. At high buy-ins with these kind of medium stacks you may very well reverse these plays. If BB is capable of check raising to move you off a draw you may prefer to check behind in situation 1, and take a look at the turn card, especially if youre concerned that an A isnt enough. You have to be prepared to re-push so you see both cards if youre going to bet. In situation 2 you may want to semi-bluff push when you know villain is capable of folding.

What bear said. Problem one, always Cbet, and problem two he could be stealing so a raise is deff what you want here.