Situational Poker - Playing to Get a Free-Card

Thursday, October 20th., 2005 (By the PokerStrategyKing)

Have you ever found yourself in the situation where you have gotten a nice piece of the flop but don't quite have a made hand? You are just hoping to get a free card only to have the player before you make a big bet and push you out? You can do something about it. Take advantage of the situation and raise. When is it right to raise in order to try to get a free card on a later street? The free-card raise is a strategy employed by many players. The concept is simple. If you have a strong drawing hand, raise a flop bet in the hopes of getting a free card later in the hand. By doing this, you will be paying a little more up front, but saving yourself a bigger bet on the next round because of opponents tendency to check to the raiser. If you hit, you will be disguised and will get paid off even more.

This strategy of course isn't foolproof. With a strong hand, the original bettor may come over the top of you and force you to make a decision. Also, if you happen to get your free card on the Turn, miss and then check, you are basically telling your opponents that you're drawing and they are now on to you. You have now lost the opportunity to bluff at the river if you miss. You may also drive out too many opponents which is what you don't want when drawing to the nuts. Having said that, I do think you should still employ this weapon. I just think that some players use this too much. Let's look at some examples.

Hand No. 1 - You are on the button with the 10h 9h. An early-position player, a middle-position player, and the cutoff limp in. You also limp in, and the small blind folds. There is $10 in the pot and five players.

The flop is Ah Ks 2h, giving you a flush draw. The big blind checks. The early-position player bets $10 and your other two opponents call. What do you do? Here it is good to make a moderate raise, perhaps doubling the bet. You can guess that the bettor caught part of the flop, possibly the Ace. Who knows what the other guys have. He doesn't figure to have AK or AQ because there was no preflop raising so you're not likely to get re-raised. Your raise won't push anyone out because its not too big and they've already invested $10 into the pot. Regardless of what hits next, you've seized control and will likely be checked to on the turn.

Hand No. 2 - You are in the cutoff seat with the 9c 8c. An early-position player and a middle-position player limp in. You call, as do the button and the small blind. There is $12 in the pot and six players. The flop is Kc 5c 2h, again, giving you a flush draw. It is checked to the middle-position player, who bets $12. What do you do? I wouldn't raise in this spot simply because there are opponents who have yet to act and someone can easily come over the top of you. Wen in this kind of a drawing situation, you want bottom and middle pair to stay in, not fold.

Hand No. 3 -: You are on the button with the As Jh and open with a raise. Both blinds call. There is $120 in the pot and three players.

The flop is Qh 10c 3d, giving you a gutshot-straight draw with an ace overcard. Both blinds check to you. You bet $30 and only the small blind calls. There is $60 in the pot and two players. The turn is the 8s, giving another straight possibility. Your opponent checks. What do you do? You absolutely must bet here. You are in a heads up situation and in these cases, you should never give a free card without having a made hand. If you check, you are opening yourself to a river bluff.

Hand No. 4 - You are in middle position with the As 6s and call behind two early-position limpers and another middle-position player. The small blind limps in as well and there are $12 in the pot and 6 players.

The flop is 5s 4h 3d, giving you an open-end straight draw plus an overcard. It is checked to you. What do you do? I would advise checking here. You have 5 opponents, a coordinated rainbow board and 5 other limpers and quite frankly, your open-ended straight draw isn't that good because it's a one card draw. In these situations, you can easily be outdrawn or beaten outright. There just isn't enough money in the pot to make a play here. Your Ace doesn't figure to help because of obvious kicker issues and gives anyone holding a 2 a made straight.

Hand No. 5 - You open with a raise from middle position to $10 with the Ah 9h. Only the small blind calls. There is $20 in the pot and two players.

The flop is Js 8h 6h, giving you the nut-flush draw and an overcard. Your opponent checks, You bet $15, and he raises to $30. What do you do? I would re-raise here. You have a monster draw against one opponent and he may be bluffing at you. He may have a weak Jack. You have ample flush outs and you will be involved in this hand until the river so your action may get you a free Turn if the spade falls.

Hopefully you find these examples helpful. We'll tackle some more next time.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing's website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing’s website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )