Turn Betting

Some players seem to go through various stages of development throughout their hold'em careers when it comes to play on the turn. Initially, many of them always tend to check the turn when having a decent holding because their opponent(s) called the flop bet. As a result, they fear a better hand may be out there, so they try to get through as cheaply as possible, hoping for the best. As a player gains experience, he realizes that betting the turn frequently allows him to win the pot outright, and that when he gets called, he still may have the best hand or have outs to the best hand at the river. Once he realizes the advantages of following through with a bet on the turn, betting becomes almost an automatic reaction. However, the truly seasoned player knows that nothing should be done automatically. This player knows when to follow through and when to back off. The following seven hands discuss some situations in which there is a decision to make as to whether or not to bet the turn. Since these hands were taken from live games, not all of the plays preflop or on the flop are necessarily correct, but most of them are reasonable.

Hand No. 1 ($30-$60 game): You are in early position with the 8 8 and decide to just limp in. The cutoff also limps in. The big blind, a straightforward player, raises. You call, as does the cutoff. There is $200 in the pot and three players. The flop is 7 6 4, giving you an overpair and a gutshot straight draw. The big blind bets, you raise, the cutoff folds, and the big blind calls. There is $320 in the pot and two players. The turn is the A. The big blind checks. What should you do?

Answer: Check. Think about the range of hands a straightforward player would have, given that he raised preflop from his big blind after two other players limped in. They would be A-A, K-K, Q-Q, J-J, A-K, or A-Q. The ace means you cannot beat any of the hands your opponent figures to have. Normally, it is good poker to follow up a strength-showing move on the flop with a bet on the turn in a heads-up situation, but this hand is an exception. Unless you think your opponent is so timid as to fold a big pocket pair here on the turn because of the ace scare card, betting will probably not win the pot for you. Take your free card, since you probably need it.

Hand No. 2 ($30-$60 game): You open with a raise from middle position with the A 10. Only the big blind calls. There is $140 in the pot and two players. The flop is K 7 6, leaving you with an ace overcard. Your opponent checks, you bet, and he calls. There is $200 in the pot. The turn is the Q, giving you a gutshot. Your opponent checks. What should you do?

Answer: Bet. You have only one opponent and he has shown no strength by merely responding to your play. Many players will fold when bet into on the expensive street. With another big facecard showing up, he may fold a pair of sixes, sevens, eights, or nines. If your opponent calls and a blank comes on the river, he will probably check and you can get a cheap showdown with your decent ace. He might be on some sort of straight draw that may not get there.

Hand No. 3 ($15-$30 game): You are in middle position with the A K. You raise an early-position limper. Only the limper calls. There is $85 in the pot and two players. The flop is 10 9 3, giving you the nut-flush draw as well as two overcards. Your opponent checks, you bet, and he calls. There is $115 in the pot. The turn is the 8. Your opponent checks. What should you do?

Answer: Bet. Many players reason that since their opponent called their flop bet, he must have a better hand, so they check and take a free card. But your opponent could have two overcards with a spade or just a straight draw. When you have A-K with position, and your ace is the ace of the flush suit, you should bet so that you will get a free showdown and not get robbed. If called or raised, you have lots of outs.

Hand No. 4 ($30-$60 game): You open with a raise from the cutoff seat with the 9 9. Only the big blind calls. There is $140 in the pot and two players. The flop is 5 5 4, giving you two pair with a backdoor-flush draw. The big blind checks, you bet, and he calls. There is $200 in the pot. The turn is the 4, putting two pair on the table. Your opponent checks. What should you do?

Answer: Check. Normally, it is good poker to follow through with a bet on the turn in a heads-up situation when you have position over your opponent and when you may hold the best hand. However, this hand is an exception. Yes, you are vulnerable to overcards and flush draws, so giving a free card seems dangerous. However, if you get check-raised, you will have a tough decision to make as to how to proceed, since you will frequently have only two outs. If you decide to call after being check-raised, you will be obliged to call a river bet as well, in most cases. I believe it is better to avoid this dilemma by simply checking it back and calling at the river when a blank comes and he bets. You may even induce a river bet from a worse hand by checking it back now.

Hand No. 5 ($30-$60 game): You are in the small blind with the A Q. A middle-position player limps in, as does the cutoff. The button folds. You raise, and the big blind plus the limpers call. There is $240 in the pot and four players. The flop is 10 7 3, leaving you with overcards. You bet and only the cutoff calls. There is $300 in the pot and two players. The turn is the J. What should you do?

Answer: Bet. You are heads up with outs. Your opponent might well fold, fearing the overcard if he is not on a spade flush draw. An ace, queen, or king are all outs for your hand against one opponent who has shown no strength.

Hand No. 6 ($20-$40 game): You open with a raise from middle position with the 9 9. Only the big blind calls. There is $90 in the pot and two players. The flop is J 10 3. The big blind checks, you bet, and he calls. There is $130 in the pot. The turn is the 7, giving you a gutshot straight draw along with your pocket pair. The big blind checks. What should you do?

Answer: Check. Betting is too risky with two overcards to your pocket pair and three parts to a straight on the table. You really don't need to bluff, since you have a hand to show down at the river. You might even snag an 8 for a straight or a 9 for a set, which could be good.

Hand No. 7 ($15-$30 game): You are in the big blind with the J 7. You get a free play after an early-position player, a middle-position player, and the button limp in. There is $70 in the pot and four players. The flop is 10 3 2, giving you a flush draw with an overcard. You bet into three opponents who have shown no strength. The early-position player folds, the middle-position player calls, and the button raises. You call, as does the middle-position player. There is $160 in the pot and three players. The turn is the 10. What should you do?

Answer: Bet. You can represent a set of tens at this point, having bet the flop. This may allow you to win the pot outright against two opponents without having to make anything. The button could have been raising your flop bet with a come hand himself, trying for a free card. He may decide to fold. If someone has a set of tens, you will probably get raised and will have your flush outs to fall back on.

Editor's note: Jim Brier has co-authored a new book with Bob Ciaffone entitled Middle Limit Holdem Poker. It is available through Card Player.