Exposed Four of a Kind - Check or Bet?

Hi. Come on in. Grab a seat and get comfortable. All I can offer you is half of this hero sandwich I picked up on the way home.

While I was having a discussion with a poker friend, an interesting problem came up. He described a hand in which he held four eights and had action from a full house and a big flush to win a nice pot.

Then, a question occurred to me, and we discussed it: What action should be taken if all four of the eights were showing on sixth street? Let's say you started with an 8 as your upcard. Fourth, fifth, and sixth streets each bring another 8. Your opponent's third- and fourth-street cards are suited connectors, presenting the possibility that he could be drawing to a straight flush. His other two cards are a pair higher than eights, and he could have trips. There are two possibilities why he is still in the hand. The question is, should you bet or check your four exposed eights?

Give it a couple of minutes of thought before I tell you what we decided. That's long enough.

After some discussion, we decided we would bet. Now, before you dash off to your old steam-driven typewriter to disagree, let me illuminate our thinking. We wouldn't want to give him a free chance to beat us, which is what he would have if we checked. It also would relieve him of having to figure pot odds and card odds. We'd be giving him infinite odds, and he could then concentrate on trying to figure his strategy.

We figured we'd want to make him pay for the chance to try to outdraw us, or make him throw away a hand that had such a chance. So, given the problem as outlined, we would bet.

But what about seventh street? Would you bet or check the four exposed eights? That is a different problem. A bet on the last round of any hand, not just this one, is made to try to get a better hand to fold or to win another bet from a lesser hand. In our example, you couldn't accomplish either one with a bet. After all, he can see all of your power lying right there on the table, so he certainly won't fold a better hand – he'll raise. And, of course, since he can see what you have, if he can't beat it, he will fold. So, your bet would not be advisable. You should check.

(By the way, a very similar situation happened to me recently when I checked on the end showing four of a kind. It started a buzz among the players, and they asked me why I did so. I told them it seemed like a good idea at the time.)

Change of subject: Here are some thoughts on game evaluation. This won't be complete, but it will get you started.

Let's assume you don't know any of the players in the game you are trying to evaluate. After all, if you know them, most of your evaluation has been done. Start your evaluation process as soon as you enter the poker room. If you have to wait for a seat, use that time to look over the games in which you might be placed. You're looking for a game with action – a game where players are putting chips into the pot.

You can be up against the easiest lineup in the poker world, but if there is no action, you won't be able to win much money. Ideally, you'd like a game where several people are playing a lot more hands than probability would dictate. This means their starting hands are on the weak side, and you've found a soft spot.

Consider it a plus if the players are drinking – but are not drunk. Booze will tend to loosen up a player so that he gives more action, but a drunk will slow down a game, reducing the number of hands dealt and limiting your win potential. A drunk can also be irritating, especially if you're sitting next to him and he's dropping cigarette ashes into your hot chocolate.

Keep in mind that the dynamics of a game can change with just one new player. If he starts splashing around and having a good old time, it will tend to loosen up the other players. (You, of course, should stick with your same solid game.) Players come and go, so continue evaluating everyone as long as you're in the game. Be constantly aware of what is going on.

Even when there's no change of players, a game can change. For example, someone takes a bad beat, goes on tilt, and starts barging into every pot with mediocre hands. You can re-evaluate him as if he were a new player in the game.

The game dynamics can change for no apparent reason. A player gets hungry and plans to leave soon, so he starts playing more hands, with less value. Someone hits a keno ticket, and this puts more gamble into him. Be alert to any changes.

Done with your half of the hero? I need a nap. Kill the light on your way out.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the best-seller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 40.