jb

Remember the admonition; "If you can’t bet it, muck it." Well, we haven't mucked our starting hand. So, we should probably consider a bet or a raise. Again this topic requires a long discussion. So much of the decision is based on the particular situation, that a general discussion is almost impossible. There are two rules we can implement to increase our expectation. Some hands Play real well against few opponents, but play real poorly against many opponents. Other hands need several callers to provide the pot odds for a positive expectaion.

After the Flop?

After the flop there are three situations: The flop helped you. The flop didn't help you, or the flop hurt your. Base on your evaluation of those situation you have three options. Selecting the correct option now saves you pain later in the hand.

The flop helped. I've often heard it said that, "I would rather have a great flop, than a great starting hand." If the flop hits your hand, it is, a dream come true. Now your decision is simple and often will turn out with a taller stack. "How can I get the most money into the pot?" Do I bet it out immediately or slow play the hand hoping to trap more players? Unless you have flopped a monster, bet it out. There are still two more cards to come and what looks great now may be very weak after the river. The biggest mistake, by most players after the flop, is to slow play a medium strength hand. Usually trips with a pair on board. If a pair on board matches a card in your hand, bet or raise. This is not a strong hand. In fact if the trips are not the top set, the hand can be an expensive trap, if you allow others to draw free cards. Remember, we make good decisions now so we aren't faced with worse decisions later. Bet it out. If you win a small pot, you didn't lose a big pot. Hands that you might slow play: Nut Flush, Hidden Trips, Nut Straight, Full House, and Quads. If there is a flush draw or straight draw on board, bet trips immediately. Even with the Nut Flush, and Nut Straight, a paired board could destroy a stack. Then we would have to listen to another bad beat story. If you win a small pot, you didn't lose a big pot. When in doubt bet it out.

The flop didn't help. Now the situations are different. Did the flop help someone else? Many people believe that any Ace should at least see the flop. If it is obvious that the flop hit another player and that you are now beaten, fold now. Is your hand good enough to win without help? If you believe that your hand will win at this point, bet or raise immediately. Do not give other players a chance to improve their hand. Win the pot now. Can your hand improve enough to win the hand? You are now on a draw and should bet accordingly. If you are late to act, bet or even raise. At the present time it is a half bet. By betting or raising now, the other players may allow you a free card on the turn after the bet has doubled. This is one of the situations were players make bad decisions that cost them money. A low pocket pair has little chance of improving to a winning hand. If there are over cards, you should muck it. There are only two cards that improve your hand, and forty-five that don't. (22:1 against) Fold.