Posts Tagged ‘kicker’
Poker And Check-raising 3
9. Don't forget that you can check-raise when you're on a draw. If you have the nut four-flush draw or an open-end straight draw, you can check-raise if you're getting the right odds. Trapping five or more players for an extra bet when you have one of these hands is a great move. It will show a big profit in the long run and have a hugely positive impact on your hourly rate.
10. If you have a set or a completed hand, you can obviously beat one big pair or two pair. If a card comes on the end that could possibly make the other players two pair, especially if it's an ace, I'd definitely go for the check-raise.
For example, if you hold 1049*, the board is JV843474, and you get the A* on the river, another player could very possibly have made aces and jacks or aces and 8s. He could even be holding A*K* and have made top pair with top kicker. Why don't you occasionally give another player a chance to bet in this situation? Check, so he'll bet. When he does, raise him.
Be a little more careful if the river card is a king. If you play mostly high cards, as I recommend, you'll often be in a position where a king on the river could make someone else a straight. If you hold 1049*, and the board is QVJ4347*, a king on the river will make you a straight, but anyone holding Al 0 will beat you.
Answer to Test Your Knowledge Question #8
With a flop of Q47*2V, there's no straight or flush draw out there. So the player check-raising you must have a hand worth betting and protecting. The question is, does he have a good hand and is therefore check-raising to get extra value from it, or does he have a hand that's good on the flop, but vulnerable?
If he's in early position, he's probably holding good cards, like AVQV, and betting for value. If he's in late position, he might have something like Q410*, and be hoping to win the hand right there. He might also be holding 7*74 or 242* in late position and be betting for value. It helps to know your players. In any event, he's not bluffing and he's not on a draw.
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Tags: aces, kicker, online casino, poker